A day that forever will be etched in my heart.

Almost 7 years ago my precious nephew, Trey, beat cancer by entering Heaven!  He is dancing with Jesus now and living his life to the absolute fullest!

Surgeries, treatments, emergency rooms and medicine all fade away in the light of eternity….for Trey.  The memories are still very vivid, though, for Trey’s family and friends.

But Jesus!  🙂

Knowing Jesus doesn’t make everything bad go away, but knowing Jesus brings hope and trust in a future greater than any of us can comprehend!

“I trust in God’s unfailing love

for ever and ever.

For what You have done I will always praise You

in the presence of Your faithful people.

And I will hope in Your name,

for Your name is good.”  Psalm 52:8,9

I would MUCH rather play a game of Scrabble than a game of Risk!

Political conflict and conquest are not my idea of a fun family event!

Yet – Jesus lived a life of risk.
He is the greatest military hero/KING ever!
He desires absolute allegiance in His army!
He considers owning the territory of your heart a great victory!
And He has the greatest conquest over sin and death!

What is one move you can make this week to risk for Jesus?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”  I John 3:16

Do you know what you want?
My granddaughter does!  🙂

As most almost-one-year olds, my granddaughter isn’t speaking full sentences yet.  She also can’t reach to get whatever she wants.  So she figured out a way to have her goals met.

Thirsty?  Point to the sippy cup
Sleepy?  Point upstairs for bed
Lonely?  Point to her Granny (me!) for some loving!  🙂

Pointing isn’t socially acceptable for adults, though.  So how are we to aim our hopes and dreams?  How can we know the best direction for our goals?

Two thousand years ago Jesus answered that question for you:
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.”  John 14:6

A nurse without a patient
A food server without a guest
A home builder without a client
And a catcher without a pitcher

We need each other
We build each other up
Challenge each other
Even compete with each other

“Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17
We probably don’t know what it’s like to work with dull iron, but if God says to sharpen your iron, then I’m going to do what I can to stay sharp!  And that will only happen close together.

Will there be iron shavings that sometimes fly and scrape us?  Absolutely!
But you’ll need your friend to help you clean yourself up!

Will it be noisy as the sharpener does its thing?  You bet!
But talking and laughing together will make you forget about the noise!

And how will you even learn to sharpen your iron without a mentor or coach?

“The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”  Exodus 18:18

I feel like wherever I go, I always come home with a story. Especially if I’m with a friend! 🙂  A typical stop at the deli or a ride on an elevator can turn in to a storytelling episode worthy of popcorn and a box of M+M’s!

Stories about silly encounters are fun, but what about real life, authentic, honest stories of trials and troubles, iced with faith and hope?  There is no secret method to sharing what God is doing in your life.  Just do it.  Try it – you’ll like it! 

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.” Psalm 78:4

For all those who wonder how God could love them – even after alllllll they have said and done – tell them to take a look at their dog!  (NOT their cat!) 🙂

Morning breath?  Dogs don’t care – actually, I think they like it!
Grumpy days?  Dogs wag and wag until you feel better!
Silent treatment?  Dogs space invade until they can love you closer!

Now imagine….The Creator of the universe, the One who hung the stars and created every gorgeous flower, bird and labradoodle, loves you even more than that!

And even MORE unconditionally! (And you don’t have to feed or walk God!)

“We love because He first loved us.”  I John 4:19

Some would argue that Lord of the Rings is the best trilogy ever!
Some may say Toy Story, Indiana Jones or Austin Powers.  (Not sure exactly whoooo would choose Austin Powers, but go ahead and look it up:  It’s real!) 

I’m thinking of a different trilogy.  One with more lasting influence. 🙂
1. Rejoice in hope.
2. Be patient in affliction.
3. Be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Hope, Patience and Prayer.  Can we focus on those 3 disciplines?
Memorize them?  Talk about them?  Practice them?

How differently our days will go if we keep God’s perspective!
Will there still be traffic? Yep!
And sickness? Yep!
And annoying people? Yep!

Problems and distractions won’t go away, but our stress levels may!  

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  2 Corinthians 4:17

Speedy deliveries!  How did we ever live without them!?

Whether you are looking for tonight’s dinner, your pet’s favorite treats, or an outfit for Friday night, you can have results on your doorstep in a short amount of time.

Super speed with little cost.  That is how delivery works.  Deliverance? Not so much!

Doing the hard work to learn and grow from where you are today, to where you want to be in the future cannot be bought with a membership or service fee.  There is no such thing as free shipping and handling when it comes to habits, fears, injuries, addictions, and illnesses.  God, in His ever powerful and yet gentle love, offers us His deliverance one baby step at a time…creeping closer and closer to Him and further and further away from the weakness.

Are you willing to lean on Him?

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalm 18:2

My favorite cookie – rich and chewy and full of deliciousness!
Together yes, but each ingredient?  Not so much!
The baking soda – that’s kind of bitter.
And the flour – well, that’s too pasty.
And the raw eggs – not a fan.
But stir them all up and bake = glorious!  🙂

Has God ever done that with you?  Given you the ingredients for something beautiful in your life – but you just let them sit there – and they felt and tasted pretty bad.  BUT THEN!  God stirred everything up and something delicious came to be!

Peter was in prison.  Yuck!
In chains.  Ouch!
He was scheduled to be on trial.  Yikes!
BUT THEN!  His church family prayed and God rescued him!

God stirs things up so we can keep His Story going!  
Now THAT is a delicious recipe!

“Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.”  Acts 12:18

On a recent trip to the beach I enjoyed watching the little sand piper birds scamper along the shoreline. They ran juuuuuuuust ahead of the waves lapping up on the shoreline….digging their pencilthin bills in to the sand in search of tasty seafood!

And then I watched the big goofy looking pelicans….flapping and soaring juuuuust above the water….gliding their massive bill and pouch until they pounced in to the ocean for fish!

What testimonies of God’s creative power! Each bird doing what God created it to do!

What about you?  Are you living the life God has created and equipped you to live? Are you a living witness to God’s creative power?

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20