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

Would you rather…..run fast…..or run far?
Have your paycheck go fast….or go far?
Vacation fast….or far?

We have choices to make every day.  And each choice has consequences.
If you run too fast, you might not be able to run very far.
If you spend your paycheck fast, there will be nothing left to go far.
And vacation!?!?  We don’t even need to debate a fast vs far vacation!  🙂

This discussion begins with an African proverb:
If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.

Now let’s apply it to our spiritual lives:
Your walk with Jesus….alone?  or together?
You can’t go far if you won’t go together.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…” Hebrews 10:24,25

1932 = Gasoline cost 18¢ a gallon!  It was a very good year for more than just gas prices though!  My mom was born on April 26, 1932!  Happy 90th birthday to my amazing Mom!

To the one who juggled raising 5 children plus the countless friends and neighbors who were always welcome at our house as well as a long list of pets and cars and activities and parents and schools and LOTS of groceries and laundry:  THANK YOU!!!
And to the one who continues to give and give and give!  Need a roll of pink wrapping paper?  Yep!  Mom has one!  A bag of toilet paper rolls?  Sure!  And countless seashells? Ohhhhh yes!  THANK YOU for teaching us to always be ready!

But most of all, thank you for introducing us to Jesus!  God has used your faithful devotion to the Lord to change our lives and the lives of many others!  Sitting next to Mary C at church while she sang in her soprano vibrato was always awkward, especially as teenagers, but we watched you model the love and patient kindness of Jesus!  THANK YOU!!!

This priceless, timeless gift is for you!

“The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26