What if your stillness is caused by a delayed flight – again!?
Or a summer sickness imprisoning you in your bed?
Or in a holding pattern waiting to hear news from the doctor…or the bank?

In Psalm 23 the Psalmist begins with, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

That doesn’t sound frantic or frustrated, does it?  It sounds like his focus is on what the Lord is doing right now.  He trusts that God cares and knows and is leading him to what is best.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”  God provides and we are blessed.

“He leads me beside still waters”   Rest in God’s grace and care.  
He knows.  He sees.  He loves you!

“He restores my soul.”  Psalm 23

I hope you enjoyed some refreshmentS this weekend:  Nice cold beverages and savory and sweet treats!

But I really hope you were able to enjoy some refreshmenT this past weekend:
Hot days!
Cool nights!Rugged mountains!
Crashing waves!
Peaceful kayaks on the lake!
Fast motorbikes!
Quiet books on the porch!
Loud gatherings of family and friends!
Sweet days at home!
Awesome adventures away from home!

Most of all, though, I pray that you are always refreshING in the Lord!  Abiding in Him, resting in Him, Jesus being your joy and peace!

Don’t wait for next weekend or the next holiday – begin right now!

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”  John 15:4

Which of these is your favorite:
Strawberries?
Raspberries?
Blueberries?

As I look forward to this fruit season I am reminded of the discipline required to grow a healthy garden:  the soil, the seeds, the water, the money (!), the effort, the time….and then….the fruit!  🙂

Until….
the weeds
the thorns
the birds

But yet….the fruit!

And so it is with following Jesus: the discipline, the investment, the commitment, the care, the time….the fruit!

How is your growing season?

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

I recently experienced God’s spite.

Not the kind of spite you are thinking of, though.  Not a mean spirited intent to harm, but God moving in mighty ways DESPITE my shortcomings!  God becoming real to people IN SPITE OF my doubt and fear!  Glory Hallelujah!

The humble posture of prayer can move mighty mountains!  It’s an honor to partner with God, being the hands of feet of Jesus wherever we go!  Loving and giving and serving in His name can be done on any level!  The opportunities are endless!

Jump in and declare His glory with your life!

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.”  I Chronicles 16:23

Made you look!  🙂

Yes – the word ‘notice’ commands a second look – but how often do we NOT even notice all that is going on around us?  What does it take to notice a 1/2″ toad like my grandson?  Or a beautiful sunset in your same old backyard? Or the sound of your favorite person’s vehicle coming up the street?

It takes experience.

And interest.

And desire.

What do you notice around you?

” in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Philippians 2:3,4

Herding cats
Relying on the weather forecast
Gardening with deer and bunnies watching….

All futile:  pointless, ineffective, unprofitable

Those examples are so easy to label as futile, although we keep trying to accomplish them…..but I’m not one to try and tell a cat to do anything!

The easy ones don’t trip me up (as often) as the more subtle thieves of worry, envy, bitterness, etc….except for the intervention of God!  Earlier today God very quickly changed my futile thoughts of fretting to songs of praise to Him after I laid it all down before Him.  Because I know God, I can go to Him, lighten my heart, surrender my futile thoughts and exchange them for thanks in glorifying Him!

Do you know God?  Do you glorify Him?  Give thanks to Him?

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  Romans 1:21

All at that same time:  Stay, Be and Go!

1.  Many times in Scripture God tells us to NOT be moved:
“But none of these things move me” Acts 20:24
“Stand firm” Galatians 5:1
“Cease striving” Psalm 46:10

2.  But yet, God WANTS you to be moved:“a time to weep and a time to laugh” Ecclesiastes 3:4″Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:15″our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. ”  Psalm 126:2

3.  So how do we do it?!  Stop, Go, Hurry, Wait?!?!  Yes – all of the above!  🙂

Everything is summed up in Galatians 5:25.  We don’t need a spreadsheet or an app to figure it out.  Pray often and listen carefully:  “let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Jesus very clearly gives us the answer.  We don’t need words!  We don’t a t-shirt!  We don’t even need a cross necklace!

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”John 13:35

What if you lost the ability to speak?  How would people know you are a follower of Jesus?

Five little words….squeezed in between….Sometimes what we think is the focal point, God squeezes in between His greater lesson.

I was reading about Hannah this week, Samuel’s mother, as found in I Samuel 1.  We read all about her life situation, her priestly counsel and her fervent prayer.  Hannah’s life story is important to all that God was getting ready to do.  Hannah thought it was all about having a baby.  Five little words tucked in a verse,  “(Hannah) gave birth to a son” I Samuel 1:20.  That pinnacle moment was NOT the end goal.  God had bigger plans for His redemption story as lived out through Hannah and Samuel.

What are you waiting for?  What “end” are your prayers seeking?  Consider that your goal may be God’s great beginning!

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”  Hebrews 4:13

Dear Tomorrow Self,

Don’t worry about it!  Whatever it is that is on your mind, your list, your nerves….let it go!  Tomorrow will be just fine.  God has a perfect plan, so stick close to Him and He will guide your day the way HE wants it to go!

Love,

Today Self

Confused?  Yep!  Me too!  I forgot to write my “Today!” devotional yesterday because I was too worried about my tomorrow (Wednesday).  But that’s OK – God used the opportunity to help me realize how independent I was being, driving my own agenda….without pausing to listen to Him.

Anytime we borrow time from tomorrow…..or yesterday…..we are robbing today of its purpose!  Listen for God…He is ready and waiting!“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5,6