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

Did you see the snow the other day?  Even just an inch or two blanketing our dreary winter landscape reminds us beautifully of God’s covering over messes and stains.

But then it rained.  And rained.  And rained.  The mess and floods return!   And yes, I’ve said it a time (or twenty) recently…all this rain could have been snow…2″ of rain today = 20 inches of snow!   Just imagine how beautiful God’s handiwork would be then!!  How frustrating that it’s rain!

Sounds like I know better than God….hmmmm….maybe…just mayyyyybe God has a different plan!?  One that doesn’t involve sled riding (and shoveling!)

When have your expectations been left unmet?  When has your contentment been challenged?  Who is on your throne of priority and focus?

Let’s look to the Lord instead of out the window.  Give thanks for what God sends – even if it isn’t what you thought you wanted.

“Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

I love a celebration!  Second chances!  Grace and redemption!

I chuckle every time I hear about resolutions and fresh starts beginning on January 1.  The percentage of failed or forgotten new habits and intentions just a few days in to the new year is very high.  We actually set ourselves up for disappointment.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Hasn’t God given us a new beginning every moment of every day?  Can we redeem each new day, conversation, scroll and text?  Don’t aim for the whole year.  Begin right now – even if it is evening time.  Drop your trying and humbly listen for the Father’s gentle voice calling you to something different.  Abide in Him and He will bear much fruit.

“Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5

Eliminating cable has caused quite a stir in my Christmas movie watching habits.  No more reliable storybook romances ending with a high school sweetheart reunion at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Small Town, USA.

Tonight we watched a very non-traditional Christmas movie.  NOT Hallmark.  This one was not easy to watch.  We were not sure about a happy ending.  There were a LOT of messy people in this one.  Romance was not the answer at the end of the movie!  

Were we disappointed in the wild ride movie for the day after Christmas instead of a warm and fuzzy one?  Yes!  But was there a GREAT lesson to be learned?  Absolutely!  You see, people ARE messy.  We get on our own nerves sometimes, let alone those closest to us!  We are all flawed, broken people….BUT GOD!  This IS the Christmas story!  The reason for the season!

 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  John 3:17

“God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8