Can you feel it?!  It’s almost time to get the seeds in the ground!
Maybe some of you adventurous types have seeds in soil pots under heat lights!
Such a hope-filled partnership with God in bringing forth life from dormant morsels.

What other dormant morsels do you have in your life that need the effect of Light?
Any little ideas sitting around waiting to be planted?
Any bad habits that need to be buried in the dark so the Light can bring them to a newer better life?

Think of the fruit, the bounty and start digging!

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

Feel the sand between your toes.
The heat of the sun warming your bones.
The sound of the ocean drumming away, wave after wave….

But instead of waves of water at the beach, consider the steadfast, unconditional, never ending love of God:
Feel His peace washing over you.
The Truth of His Word protecting you.
And the power of His love washing over you again and again and again…unearned, unmerited, totally out of your control and responsibility.

Bask in the glorious gift of Him!

“Many waters cannot quench love” Song of Solomon 8:7

Spring break is coming soon for students everywhere!

Set aside images of beaches and parties and lots of everything else……and focus on the fact that Spring Break is coming soon – therefore SPRING is coming soon!

What a difference hope makes!

Through snow and ice, it’s time to start planning your garden!
Through cold and wind, conditioning is beginning for your spring sports!
Through sickness and health, you need to plan your summer vacation soon!

So bundle up, butter cup, and savor these final weeks of winter!  🙂

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11

Let’s cheer each other on today!
What victory – big or small – are you celebrating?

Debt reduction?A good grade?
Successful potty training?
Weight loss?
A great sale?
A near miss?
There’s enough competition and comparison in this world.Let’s use our time and our words to celebrate our victories together as we give thanks and praise to the Lord in a weary and watching world!

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.”  Psalm 105:1

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen.

I love great music!  Especially powerful worship:  Quality music!  Phenomenal yet humble musicians!  A posture and Spirit of adoration of our Almighty God!  Yet……..today in a small group, after a precious time of prayer, we ended in a simple, acapella singing of the Doxology.  Just us.  And God.  WOW!  What more could we need!  So absolutely beautiful and simple.

Read/sing it over a few times slowly and carry the posture of praise to God throughout your day:

It’s a new year!  We’re all supposed to be striving for new and improved versions of our tired old selves…..how’s it working for you?  Are you focused?  Driven?  Determined?  Have you stepped out of your goal-oriented bubble long enough to be run over by the reality freight train?!?!

Now what?!?!

Remember to adjust, refocus and get back on track in knowing that it’s God’s goals that we should be chasing:  prayer, friends, worship, Bible, serving and loving are great goal tools!  🙂

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”  I Peter 5:10,11

Winter time is a great time to dust off the old puzzles and spend some peaceful time creating a masterpiece one piece at a time.

Start with the edges.
Then find the words.
Then the big pictures.
End with the same color background.

Sort of like life:  One piece at a time God is crafting His masterpiece called YOU!  🙂 We may not see the lid of our life puzzle box right now, but God can see it!  Can you trust your Creator?  Believe in His design?  Accept His plan?  One day it will alllllllll make sense!

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

New car?  We all know how quickly a brand new car will depreciate….
How about your new year?  How quickly has it depreciated?
How are you doing with your resolutions?

God’s not surprised by what is going on in your life.
Everything is not out of control for Him.

Don’t try to get out of everything around you.
Invite God in to your chaos.
Watch for Him in your story.
Rely on the comfort of His everlasting presence.
Lean in and follow His still small voice leading you.
And know He loves you dearly!

“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…He will come to save you.”  Isaiah 35:3,4

To have snow or not to have snow – that is the question/debate!  Winter weather is only 1 teeny tiny matter of opinion dividing us these days.

Can we agree on some vital truths, though?  Love of others.  Community.  Brotherhood.  Compassion.

A local family lost their entire home – and 3 members of their family – in a tragic fire early Christmas morning.  Howwwwww can the survivors begin to comprehend what has happened?!  Howwwww can they possibly take the next step in life?  GoFundMe support has been amazing, but money can’t replace what they lost.  Time will probably never heal these wounds.  Love is their only hope.  Love of family and friends.  Love of community.  And most importantly, the love of God in His Son, Jesus.

Please pray for the survivors to know Jesus and His love through this tragedy.

“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  I John 4:10

Every day!
Everywhere!
Its effects are in places you can’t even see!

No, I am not talking about germs….I am talking about the effects of Christmas!

Take a look around this week and next.  Notice how easy it is to make somebody’s day.  To make someone smile.  Consider all the thoughtfulness and joy that goes into getting ready and giving gifts.

Make a list and check it twice.
Find out who is naughty, nice and everything in between!
And offer each one of them the love of Jesus – our Hope – our Everlasting Father – our Prince of Peace!

“I bring you Good News that will cause great joy for all the people.”  Luke 2:10