Today is Trey’s birthday. He would have been 18 years old! My nephew, our Young Warrior!

But God!

Jay, my brother and Trey’s dad, reminds me often that God didn’t want Trey to be 18. God wanted Trey to make it to 6 years old. And so….Trey was a good listener! Jay and Rachel were sacrificial parents, surrendering their son to the will of God. Of course we still miss Trey every day in every way. He was an entertainer/charmer/pistol like no other! 🙂

And so we press on as Rachel, Trey’s mom, says: Trey was a joy and a gift! Is there someone who needs to hear that they bring you joy? Let them know today in honor of this Young Warrior.

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

Do you ask or tell your AI platform to help you?

Interesting concept, right? Not worth another thought because AI is not a person. No feelings to consider. No respect to be earned/given.

How is your prayer life? Do you ask or tell God to help you?

Interesting concept, right? Worth EVERY next thought! Worthy of EVERY drop of respect and awe!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,” Psalm 78:4

The praiseworthy deeds of the Lord: Can you name any? Can you count them? Can you share them with someone spiritually younger than you are?

If you can name 3 praiseworthy deeds of the Lord each day, you will have named over 1,000 blessings in just one year!

Let’s get started! I’ll go first and you keep the list going….
– Springtime
– Safe travels
– Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” Psalm 78:4

I heard a funny illustration about Palm Sunday. What if the donkey thought the Triumphal Entry was for him? It certainly could have looked and felt that way: The crowds were gathered and cheering for him and they were throwing their coats down on the street to protect his little feet! 

We all know Palm Sunday was really about Jesus coming to proclaim that He indeed is the Messiah. Well, what was the donkey’s role? He was the vehicle to introduce people to Jesus. He carried the message that Jesus is the Christ. He got out of the way so Jesus could be known!

I want to be like the donkey! Don’t you?

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

Well, we made it to springtime – exploding with summer-like temps! Are you happy now? 

Happier than when it was winter?If/When syndrome keeps contentment juuuuuuuust out of reach. “If it’s nice weather…when gas prices come down…when the kids are asleep…when my husband gets home…if my team wins…etc.”

What will it take for your joy to be complete?

“truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:3,4

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!

It is interesting that many times we study the Last Words of Jesus before He was crucified. Have you ever considered his First Words after his Resurrection? 

Let’s listen in on John 20 where we get a sneak peek into the First Words of Jesus on that Easter morning:
Jesus: “Woman, why are you crying?”
Mary Magdalene: Thinking he was the gardener…

Jesus’ first words were filled with gentleness and compassion. Mary was crying and Jesus saw her. But did you see what Mary was doing?! Mary didn’t see Jesus because she was crying and caught up in her thoughts!

Hmmm….Sound familiar? Ever get so caught up in your swirling mind that you miss what God is doing right before your eyes? Or is your imagination so busy that you craft a story, like Mary…thinking Jesus, her Messiah, her Savior, was gone and this man was the gardener?!

May you hear Jesus call your name. May you know Him. May you see Him.

“Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).” John 20:16

In Math, do you remember how to deal with parentheses and exponents before adding or subtracting? That’s OK – not many people do!  🙂

The order of operations in the life and death of Jesus is critical.
Isaiah 53:5
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

“By His wounds we are healed” – Thank You God for loving us so much – even when things seem out of order to us.

Do you recognize God’s order of operations in your life? The storm before the calm? The blessing found in the pain? The faith grown through unanswered prayer?

“Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

What is your favorite parade: 4th of July? Disney? Or cheering on your community team? Just imagine: arriving early to get a good seat….Lining up your family….and then cheering on the hometown hero!

Let’s rewind to Palm Sunday….the crowds, the sounds, the anticipation of the arrival of Hope! Their Savior! Their Messiah! Their excitement and zeal so fierce that people threw down their coats and lifted up their arms and desperate hearts: Hosanna! Save us!

Known longer than Mickey, more important than our country’s independence and better than any Super Bowl Ring or Pennant, let’s shout it from the bottom of our hearts and the top of our lungs for the whole world to know: 

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” John 12:13

I heard an older woman laughing so hard the other day about a memory she and her friends shared. She could not control herself! It wasn’t an annoying sound! It was contagious! The people around her just took a glance and smiled! (Maybe we were all a little jealous, too!)

God tells us that, “a joyful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22 And, “a happy heart makes the face cheerful,” Proverbs 15:13

So what are you waiting for?

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!” Psalm 100:1

What DID Jesus do?

Years ago I did a verb study on Jesus. Walking through the book of John (NIV), I highlighted every action of Jesus. What did Jesus do? How did Jesus act? How did Jesus speak? And pray? And live? And lead?

Need a Lenten devotional? Consider what Jesus did and follow the leader!

Jesus went.
Jesus decided.
Jesus saw.
Jesus found.
Jesus declared.
Jesus spent time.
Jesus baptized.
Jesus sat down.
Jesus visited.
Jesus asked.
Jesus gave.
Jesus told.
Jesus looked up.
Jesus knew.
Jesus taught.
Jesus showed.
Jesus prayed.
Jesus cried out.
Jesus loved.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.” John 20:31