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

It’s that very special time of year…..it’s time for first days:  first day of Kindergarten…first day of a new school year…first day of college….first time for empty days and empty nests.  How did time fly so quickly?  Where has summer gone?

Let’s not allow any more time to slip by.  Let’s embrace and celebrate each season – trusting that God has a plan and purpose and a provision for each one of us!

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Have you ever held a young chick?  One that looks so soft and fluffy and sweet and cute?  After closer inspection, however, you realize that the chick’s feathers are a little stinky!  The downy softness may even be matted down a bit.  What does this little chick need?  This little chick needs its mother to pick and poke and preen and clean it back to its sweet self!

I take this analogy personally.  I can get pretty matted down by this world.  A little stinky at times.  But God welcomes each one of us to come to Him as-is….and He covers us with HIS feathers.  He not only gathers us close to Him, but He lovingly picks and pokes and preens and cleans us as we rest under His wings as our refuge.

Would you rather:  Stinky?  Or safe?

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely He will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge;

Hs faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”  Psalm 91:1-4

It was the cutest little sunflower blossom getting ready to open, grown naturally and freely right next to my sidewalk.  Until one night….a deer came along and bit the flower right off!  How did it even know it was there!?

But God!!!

The deer actually blessed me!  You see, that one little blossom, chomped off before its time, has re-sprouted….and it now has FIVE sunflowers!

When has your plan been thwarted – but God has blessed you richly instead?

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

The deer really got me a few weeks ago.  I had a prized sunflower which the birds had planted by a random seed drop.  

Did you ever try to do it all yourself?
How did that work out for you?
Or have you ever relied on those around you – and you accomplished great things?

I was with my amazing church family tonight.  Each unique person brought a special component to our gathering that could not have been accomplished without them.  No division.  Boundless care and compassion.  

Beautiful unity because of the Name of Jesus.  
Find your people – love like Jesus – and shine the love of God wherever you go!  

“equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” Ephesians 4:12