Do what you are called to do!

Good Morning Dear Friends:

I hope everyone is doing well on the first work day of the New Year. This morning's verses are short but powerful because so many of us get caught up in the "small battles" that present themselves every day.

When someone challenges you or treats you poorly for seemingly no reason, these are distractions. Don't allow distractions to diminish your focus on the task at hand. If Jesus was persecuted for performing miracles and teaching the truth, expect that you may not be appreciated for your talent or the good works either. It doesn't make us feel good when we're not appreciated by those we work with, but we should expect this, and use the "hate" as the energy we need to keep us focused on what we're called to do.

Stay focused and prayerful today. Also remember, as Jesus said, no prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown.

Have a great one!

K.

Luke 4 (The Message)

^{16 -21}He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God's Spirit is on me;
he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to
the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, "This is God's year to act!" He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."

²²All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, "Isn't this Joseph's son, the one we've known since he was a youngster?"

^{23 -27}He answered, "I suppose you're going to quote the proverb, 'Doctor, go heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we heard you did in Capernaum.' Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown.