Well, today it is official!

The holiday season is upon us!  Ready or not – here it is!  Can you believe that 54 days ago it was Labor Day weekend – and just 54 days from today it will be Christmas weekend?

What are we to do with the time God has given to us? We can endure it – and we all know that’s not fun or healthy – or we can redeem it!  🙂

Use your jack o’lanterns to tell of the amazing work of Jesus redeeming your yucky self and shining His light through you!
Turn the month of November into a season of daily gratitude.  Or serving others in small ways every day.  Or sending very overdue thank you cards to your many loved ones.
And December?  Make a list of gifts of love – ones that can’t be wrapped but will never be forgotten….and share Jesus in story, song, cookies, time and selfless giving.

For everything there is a season – and the season is NOW!  🙂

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

I recently heard a message on God’s grace and mighty power.
God’s grace.
Mighty power.
Simple phrases….DEEP implications.  I can dwell on these 2 phrases for days/weeks/months and yet never fully comprehend God’s incredible provision available to each one of us!

What verse has God used lately to capture your thoughts and your heart?

“By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving Him” Ephesians 3:7,8

Pumpkin prices seem to be pretty reasonable this season:
Big pumpkins
Tiny pumpkins
Huge pumpkins
Even white pumpkins

But if you want a bumpy pumpkin with warts, it will cost you more!

I smiled as I walked past a pumpkin display and realized the Biblical lesson found here.  You see, cut any of those pumpkins/gourds open and inside you will find the essentials for life in unique proportions: flesh, pulp, seeds and of course, the gooey, stringy guts/goop/slime/plain old yucky stuff called fibrous strands.  We are so much more than what is seen on the outside; it’s what’s on the inside that matters!

SO why do we pay more for looks?
(I’m not just talking about pumpkins here…)

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7

Have you realized it yet?!?
Allllll those math lessons really truly ARE important!
Long division, three digit multiplication, even fractions!
But one of the most important functions we need is to “carry the one”.

Those of us who learned old Math remember that when you add 27 plus 89 you think to yourself, “Seven plus nine is sixteen.  Write down the six and carry the one.”  And so on.

That’s a great life lesson just the way God would want it.

We need to be responsible to write down/hold on to what is ours.
And we also need to be kind to our neighbors and coworkers and everyone we meet…We need to put down what is ours, look around for those who are struggling or curious or worried or lost and….Carry the One.

It’s what Jesus did for you.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

Swimming pool
Lake
Hot tub
The beach
A water park

Are you with me?

What about this lineup:
Floods
Storms
Drizzle
Downpours

Not a fan?
What’s the difference?

Choice.
Control. 
Perspective is a powerful tool. Hang up your towel, dive deep in to God’s will and be immersed into His good plan!

“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”  Job 2:10

I hang out with a lot of preschoolers these days and I love it!  I love their unending joy and zeal for life – and dinosaurs – and baby dolls – and snack!  Their impulsivity, however, often results in their caregivers reminding them to slow and down and use their words.  Don’t grab or whine or pout or fuss….use your words.

It doesn’t take me long to transfer this experience to my relationship with God.  I love the blessing of being able to use my words with the Creator and King and Lord and Master of the Universe!  I love slowing down and praying Scripture, sharing my heart and singing praise to Him!  But….when I’m tired and weary my cry out to God for help or wisdom is not eloquent.  I sound like a preschooler.  And that’s OK!  God, our Heavenly Father, our Abba Daddy is ready and waiting to hear our cry – whatever it sounds like!

Grab your blankie and cuddle up – share your heart with our Ever Listening Lord!

“Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.”  Ephesians 6:18

Slightly green?
Only yellow?
Or brown spots?

You want to shake up your friendship?  Have a conversation about the perfect banana!  HA!  It may sound silly, but our expectations and preferences can have a strong influence.  Influence on our relationships and influence even within ourselves.  Our contentment.

You see, if we will ONLY eat a banana that is the perfect color….(or insert a particular life condition that we have perfectly crafted in our minds)….then all else falls short and we are the victims….we search elsewhere….we get angry at others who have received “better”.  Can you feel the unending discontentment?

Our joy and our worth won’t begin when __________.
God never runs out.  There is plenty for everyone.
Let’s begin Today!

“…be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

How do you know you are doing a good job?
At life?
At your goal?
Your budget?
Your diet?
Your job?

It has been said that what gets measured gets celebrated. It’s easy to measure money and time and miles and pounds – not so easy to measure kindness or devotion or respect or grace.  So how do we know “how” we are doing?

It’s called faith.  And grace.

Faith to seek God’s goals for us.
And grace to rely on His provision.
THAT scale is worthy of celebrating!  🙂

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”  Romans 12:3

Whyyyyy are bad habits so hard to break and yet good habits so easy to break!?!?  

Allow your 8 year old child to skip brushing their teeth before bed ONE TIME due to crazy unforeseen circumstances….they will NEVER brush their teeth again….EVER!!!  Buttttttt drive thru a remote ice cream store 50 miles from home and you/your children will crave that treat every day!!

I headed out the other day, all prayed up.  I had heard from God and was assured of Him leading me where I was going.  I was ready!!!  Until I was waiting at a red light and one teeny tiny thought crept in….fear took hold….doubts flared….and faith had gone out the window.  What happened?!?  I felt like I was sliding around and around the mouth of a funnel, spiraling down down down…..

BUT GOD!  I could sense Him calling me back to our quiet time of prayer that morning.  I had to choose to stop the spiral.

I leave you with a favorite child-like verse.  May you remember to cling to its simplicity to keep you out of the funnel and resting under the shadow of the Almighty.

“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”  Romans 12:9

Let’s gather together as many transition in to a new school year – whatever that looks like this year:  first timers, last timers, new schoolers, homeschoolers, freshmen away from home, online at home, new jobs, old jobs, traffic tangles, last minute retail, meal prep, endless paperwork and everything in between!  Praying for children and teachers and bus drivers and support staff and administration – and parents, too!  🙂

Heavenly Father, Lord and Master Teacher, how we love and trust You as a new school year with many emotions unfolds!  We pray that our children will remember You and recall Your truth as they go about their schooling each day.  Help them be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, guarding their words as they interact with others. We pray that they can easily forgive when offended and show love and mercy in all situations.  Help them to shine brightly for You, Jesus!

God, we ask that you provide a blanket of peace and security this school year over our parents, staff, and students. We ask for protection and safety for them all. 

Yours is the Kingdom!  Yours is the Power!  Yours is the Glory!  Now and 180 days and forever!  In Jesus’ name, Amen. Matthew 6:13