Our sweeeeet grandson had his 5th birthday last week.  To celebrate this avid angler, we took him to Cabela’s to enjoy the aquarium, the trout pond and to gaze at and touch every single solitary fishing lure!  Halfway through the store he looked at me and said, “You did all this…for me?”  This Granny heart melted on the spot!

Holy Week begins with the Triumphant entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday as He makes His way to the cross to face an agonizing death and punishment for our sins.  He paid the price for every stupid, careless, intentional, mean thing we have ever thought, said or done so that we can enjoy sweet fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  May we gaze at God this week (and always!) and consider: “God, You did all this….for me?”

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45

My water bottle had a tiny crack in it….water seeped out daily drop by drop. Whatever was in my bottle dripped out.  Until one day…..my water bottle landed in the dirt.  Now….what was OUTSIDE my water bottle leaked INSIDE!  ps. Sludge is not my favorite beverage.

Yes, I can get a new water bottle.  I can also immerse myself in fresh, clean surroundings in order to protect and enrich what I am taking in.

What are you letting inside your “cup”?
Who are you surrounding yourself with to keep your “cup” fresh and pure?

“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  I John 4:4

Stumped by a decision the other day, I called a friend, “I couldn’t figure it out, so all I had left to do was pray!”  Left to do!?  Why didn’t I pray first?!? And most!?!?  Beyond thinking or planning or discussing!?  I had it backwards!

Are you stumped about _______ or sooooooooo frustrated about ___________?

God knows all that we face and He patiently waits for us to come to Him.  He is our gentle and POWERFUL Lord and Savior, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, showing loving devotion to a thousand generations – and that includes each one of us!  🙂

Let’s let God be God.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”  I Thessalonians 5:24

Lately when I’m worried about something, I can hear the shouts from the audience on the Price is Right as contestants guess the price of the refrigerator or new car!  “Higher! Higher!”

When I fret about worldly things my mind is stuck in the mud.
I need to think, “Higher!”
I need to lift my head and heart Higher to the Only One who can solve my problems!  With this posture I exalt the King of Kings and humble my weary self trying to take care of everything on my own.  Getting myself out of the way and submitting in prayer clears the way for me to hear the voice – and comfort of God!

Are you a prize winner in prayer?

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1,2

Long ago, before Taylor Swift was even born, popular female performing artist, Barbra Streisand, topped the charts singing a song about the need to be connected to other people:

People…People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world…

Warm and fuzzy, right?  And yet, when you have a bad day driving or at the store or at work, what is most likely the source of your headache!?  People!

God’s not surprised.  He feels our pain.  That’s why He sent Jesus!  The One and Only Perfect Person of Jesus!

So let’s dish out a little grace with those in our path.  You won’t do it perfectly.  Take one baby step.  Today!

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ”  Ephesians 4:1-4

Hmmm….what to share today?
Snow devo?  Or one about:
Valentine’s Day?
Sports?
Taylor Swift?
Grocery Prices?

What if Today’s message had nothing in it?
No guidelines of how to reach out to God….no prompt to hear Him better….nothing to spur on your thoughts and plans to seek Him first and most?

What would you do with the silence?How would you manage the emptiness?
Here you go – I give you nothing…..nothing but God’s Word and His Holy Spirit!
The BEST COMBO EVER!  🙂

“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.”  I Samuel 3

God loves you!
Period.

Despite what the world says, what your friends say, what social media algorithms predict, even what you think in your own head, you are loved!  You are LOVABLE!

Your spouse is lovable too!
And your coworker!
And your neighbor!
Your boss!
Your client!
And even the package delivery person who does it wrong each and every time!

Maybe it’s time we put on our Love Goggles and see each other the way God sees us!

“The Lord your God is with you…
He will take great delight in you…
He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17

Do notifications get on your nerves?
Do they ever startle you?

Just imagine lonnnnnggggg ago when we only had landlines.
The harsh shrill of an incoming call.
No caller ID to know who was on the other line.
No voicemail to dodge the message.
And golden silence when you drove in the car or went shopping!

Sure….some people would like to return to those days…..but we can’t.  Culture won’t.  So…we learn and grow where we are.

In what other areas of your life do you need a new spirit of resolve/contentment/acceptance?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7

Imagine how Norm Peterson felt each and every day as he walked in to Cheers and heard his name shouted!

Where are you known like that?  At work?  At the gym?  At a bar?  In the neighborhood?  At church?

A little boy was lost in church on Sunday….except he never realized it!
He was very comfortable being among church family and friends!
He felt safe.
He felt accepted.
He was known.

God knows YOU!
He loves you!
He cares sooooooo very deeply about every bit of your messy crazy life!
You are safe!
You are accepted!
You are known by the Savior of the World!

“You have searched me, Lord, and You know me.”  Psalm 139:1

Yes, it’s true….NFL in PA is over for this year.

It was fun putting on our fan gear, cheering for the home team and sharing the journey with friends.  For better or for worse.

So now what do we do?

What jersey do we put on?  Who do we cheer for?  What cause can you now rally around together with your people?

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love,”  Colossians 3:12-14