“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19

Sometimes we wonder what was going through Mary’s head and heart right after Jesus was born.  Without social media or even a phone, how did she tell her family?  How did she let everyone know she and Jesus were healthy?  How did everyone find out that He was born?

Mary didn’t worry about all that.  Mary treasured.  Mary pondered.

When was the last time you stopped everything so you could treasure and ponder?

Thank God for the treasures He has given to you and ponder His great and gracious and generous love!

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God”. Psalm 46:10

Can we just pause for a minute and relive the glories of Easter Sunday!?  The praise and the celebration of the sacrificial love of God in Jesus goes by too quickly!  But school and work beckon, Easter eggs neeeeeed to be put away, grass now needs to be cut, and much, much more!

Easter Sunday had its day.  Maybe Easter Monday was special, too.  How is your Easter Tuesday/Wednesday/every day?  Let’s be an Easter365 kind of people to a watching and listening world!

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His Name;

Can we just pause for a minute and relive the glories of Easter Sunday!?  The praise and the celebration of the sacrificial love of God in Jesus goes by too quickly!  But school and work beckon, Easter eggs neeeeeed to be put away, grass now needs to be cut, and much, much more!

Easter Sunday had its day.  Maybe Easter Monday was special, too.  How is your Easter Tuesday/Wednesday/every day?  Let’s be an Easter365 kind of people to a watching and listening world!

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His Name;

make known among the nations what He has done,

and proclaim that His Name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.”  Isaiah 12:4,5

Have you heard it?  “My ADHD”, “My arthritis”, “My anxiety”.  We used to be afraid of labels, today we wear them proudly on our hats and t-shirts!

What about ,”My sin”?  Better yet, “My salvation”!? Easter Week is such a special time to remind ourselves of the sacrificial love of God for each one of us as He poured out His wrath on precious and holy Jesus so that we could be reunited with God!  

My sin. His sacrifice. “Receiver of God’s mercy and grace” is the best condition ever!

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Before HelloFresh, Ziploc and DoorDash, there was Tupperware.  Tupperware Demonstrations/Parties became popular by women hosting their friends for an evening of learning how to “burp” their food storage containers…and of course, making purchases so the hostess could get MORE burping containers!  Myyyyy how times have changed!  🙂 

There are LOTS of kinds of demonstrations going on out in the world today…friends (and strangers) gathering to share what is important to them.

What’s important to you?  In whose name/cause are you gathering this Easter? What kind of demonstration are you planning?

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Does the concept of discipline bring you comfort or angst?  Whether we’re talking about one smaller piece of cake or one more round of crunches or one less amount of spending, do you focus on the short term loss or the long term gain?

Waiting on the Lord is never a passive experience. It’s a discipline. What can we do while we wait? Read God’s promises in His Word. Listen to friends share God’s Truths evidenced in their lives. Ask the Lord for His strength and peace to persevere. Journal the journey. And most importantly, celebrate big as you praise the Lord for His presence and provision whatever the outcome! 

“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

Wracking my brain, I could NOT figure out how to finish a project. I tried. And I tried. I was determined to get this thing done! I didn’t have time to waste!

But then God tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me that we are better together. I asked for help. Yes I did! Not only did my helpers help me get the job finished, but we shared such a special time together. Joy. Laughter. And a MUCH better product than I ever could have accomplished on my own!

Let’s drop the selfish pride, reach out and enjoy unity!  (yes, even if it takes longer!)

“put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  Colossians 3:14

Did you know that animals know how to count?  Our sheep can!

We had 4 little lambs born to one ewe this spring.  If one of the lambs is missing (because I am stealing snuggles!), the Mama Ewe frantically looks around, making eye contact with each of her babies, but she is not content.  She knows #4 is missing.  Our Mama knows how to count to 4!

She also knows her colors.  After this week’s rain she stands at the paddock fence and cries because she sees that the grass has turned from brown to green!

If God cares to create and equip animals with such intelligence and purpose, how do you think He cares for you?  God will count to infinity seeking you out!

“Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”  Psalm 100:3

Be
Only as the
Lord
Decides

Regardless of your season of life, a healthy identity can be difficult to maintain.  Peer pressure, social media, time, money, news, world events, and much, much more are constant drains on the positive influences in our lives.  God did not create us to be wishy washy chameleons.  He created each one of us ON purpose for HIS purpose.

Accept that mission with BOLDness!  Spend more time listening to the Lord and less time listening to the nay-sayers in your life!  (including your own voice!)

Be
Only as the
Lord
Decides

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

I took my vitamins today….to work….in my pocket…but I never took them with my lunch!  Do you think the vitamins did any good going for a ride to and from work today in my pocket?  Has my health improved because of me “taking my vitamins”? (for a ride?)

This makes me think of my walk with Christ.  Just because I have a Bible/wear a cross necklace/have a Honk if you love Jesus bumper sticker/etc doesn’t mean that I am truly becoming more like Jesus every day.  I need to continually ingest Him.  Consume His Word.  Drink in His sweet presence.  Humble myself to walk with other believers.

As Lent begins tomorrow, it might be a good season to spend some time considering if you are carrying Jesus in your heart?  Or in your pocket…

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  John 13:17 

Arms loaded with diapers and baby toys…..backs bent helping a friend who needs personal assistance…..hands weary from unloading boxes and boxes and boxes of donated produce…knees bent in fervent prayer….THIS is the Body of Christ!  THIS is how we follow Jesus!  THIS is how we can love and serve each other!  But wow – it can be messy at times!

Just like our message in church on Sunday about the men who lowered their friend who was paralyzed through a hole in the roof so he could be seen by Jesus.  A what?!?!  A hole in the roof?!  That’s not easy!  Or neat!  Or probably very popular to the homeowner!  What a mess!  All so that friend could be made spiritually (and physically) well!

Is sharing the hope and love of Jesus worth a little clean up to you?  A little physical recovery after an exhausting day of service?  A sleepless night so you can support a friend in prayer?

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1,2