This morning in our Friday Morning Prayer Group, we shared blessings and concerns we have for our loved ones and in that sharing of both were uplifted together. We can see how God weaves in and through situations we would not choose but that strengthen us and our ability to trust God as we walk the unfamiliar ground of “not normal”.

We talked about how God personally intervened in our lives and what we love about Him. I shared how God always responded when I felt adrift and how He brings me close to Him and by extension in His great love led me to our small group this morning and others I share in. Community. What do I love about God? His tenderness!

I realized this morning that the most important small group we will ever be a part of is God – Father, Son, Spirit – and us. With Him we are never alone. He will lead us in understanding His love for us and our love for Him and then onward to a network of bridges firm and solid built on a foundation of His love guiding us to each other. Our loved ones are a small group; our friends; our work associates and work friends; our church brothers and sisters. He tells me not to be afraid to walk in the unknown be it illnesses, trials, life challenges I share with others. We learn by experiencing, by accommodating, by helping.

We looked this morning at Acts 1:7-8: He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It is not for you to know the times or dates…yet, what we can know is God. He has always been there. He longs for relationship with us. What had the disciples asked just before Jesus answered them? “Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. Restore the kingdom to Israel?

In the chapter this morning, 2 Kings 22, Josiah is king of Judah. He was 8 years old when he began to reign after his father was assassinated. Israel has been taken into captivity by Assyria. They had just found the book of the law in the Temple after Josiah had reigned 18 years and Josiah is moved to make right all that they had been doing that left them completely unaware of God. Restore the kingdom to Israel? Really? How about Israel today? How about the United States today or any country today? Think of the mess that would be! It is not for you to know the times or dates…

What can we know? How much God loves us and wants relationship with us as we walk unfamiliar ground. When what is normal is no more, what do we do? Ask God to come into your life and form a small group with you that will lead you to a peace that knows it will be okay through every difficulty because He is with you. Notice…attend…wonder! Words of encouragement this morning. Notice God and His blessings in the everyday, ordinary beautiful things; attend by taking moments to let them register; find wonder in those blessings from God. And be there for each other. Love one another and wonder of wonders…feel God’s Presence with you loving you and them. Profoundly. When God’s Kingdom is restored it is in us. Trust Him to lead you to greater love in Him. He is tender, He surprises us, He loves us as we are and is never confined in a box of our making. The most wonderful small group you will ever know is you and God but get ready! He loves us all!