Whether you are traveling across town, cross country or looking out the window  today, pause and consider the amazing privilege you are encountering.  See God’s creation with a new perspective – even if you have seen that same view every day for years!

What do you see/hear?
What catches your attention?
What is the biggest/oldest/God-est thing around you?

Fill your tank with praise and glory to God!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”  Revelation 4:11

I feel bad for August – it doesn’t get a fair chance….it is soooooo misunderstood!

All August wants to offer everyone is a few more weeks of fun in the sun, but nooooo….the hauntings of the dreaded return to “normal” consume and distract to the point of wasted time and opportunity!

And then there is poor July!  The demands!  The pressure!  The graduation parties and weddings and reunions and vacations and pool trips and romps in the great outdoors all smashed in to one month!

All we have is today!  How can you and your family celebrate God’s provision right now?

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

No, don’t get any ideas – I don’t qualify for federal Social Security – yet!  🙂

But we all, however, are under the influence of social-security every day of our lives.  Whether we believe in social media, social circles or anti-social attitudes, we are social beings wired with the need for community/belonging/connectedness.  We need to find security in the people that God has woven into our lives.

Likes, followers and subscribers aren’t any indication of your social security.

Seek first God’s Kingdom.  God’s wisdom.  You are His.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

Faced with a tough situation?  In over your head?
Don’t fake it until you make it!

FAITH it until you make it!  🙂

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
I Corinthians 16:13

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