No, I’m not talking about sexual desire.  Scroll on down through the definitions and you’ll find much more familiar implications, maybe even ones that may seem more acceptable….like a longing, a craving, an intense desire or need or an uncontrolled, strong desire.  Still not with me?  Think endless video games, scrolling, snacking, gambling, drinking, comfort, control, gossip, hoarding, busy-ness and much, much more!  

These idols bump God out of 1st place in our hearts.  May we never take our own lustful thoughts and behaviors lightly.  Let’s hit a reset button.  Drive out the lusting through prayer and repentance.  Return our attention and affection to our Holy God and Father.

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God.:  Psalm 42:1. “My soul yearns for You in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for You.”  Isaiah 26:9

Have you ever seen a baby begin to walk:  the very definition of “baby steps”?
It’s a wobbly, fall down, get up, wobble, cry, sit, get up, fall down cycle.  The process is slow….and one dayyyyyy….steady!

Can you relate in your career?
In your new hobby or sport?
In relationships?
Maybe in your new goal?

I can’t help but think of the victims of Hurricane Helene (and the impending Hurricane Milton)!  Howwww can they face the mountains (of rubble/grief/debt/homelessness/despair/etc) that are before them?  Howww can you face the mountains (or mole hills) that are before you?

Baby Steps!  Take a tiptoe through Psalm 78 and feel the blessing of Your Father’s arms supporting you!

“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold….

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my

refuge”. Psalm 73:1,2,28

Aren’t people wonderful?  I know, I know…sometimes certain people can really mess things up….but for today, let’s focus on the beautiful intentions and contributions of so many!

Watching the news this week, hearing the stories, seeing the rescue efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, I marvel at the many types of first responders God has created for times like these.  People who are not afraid.  People who give up comfort to assist.  People who share talents and strengths and wisdom.  People who give.  And give.  And give.

God in His Word requires us to love our neighbors.  Aaaaand love our enemies.  He sums it up in one statement:  Love one another.  Period.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.”  Romans 12:9-16

There – I said it!  It’s my dream come true!  I love Thanksgiving so much, I wish it came before Halloween.  Just imagine how pleasant shopping would be seeing all the pumpkins and corn stalks and harvest themes without the temptation of candy and goofy skeletons!

But wait – Thanksgiving should be a year round holiday!  We should be thankful EVERY day!  
Let’s readjust our calendars – AND most importantly, our hearts!

Create the spirit of Thanksgiving in your home, at work, in traffic, on the field, everywhere…even in the hard times…even when you don’t feel brave….in ALL things, give thanks to Him who knows what is best for you!

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  I Thessalonians 5:18

It’s crazy out there these days!  Hey – it’s crazy IN HERE these days!  Research shows that we think tens of thousands of thoughts each day!  Just imagine if they were all healthy thoughts we thought!?!  Sad to say though, so many of those thoughts are damaging to others….but mostly to us!

We act like we have no choice but to stay in our lane of muck and mire and doom and despair!  How do we get out of the rut?  How can we redirect our thinking?

King Nebuchadnezzar was stuck in some baaaad thinking.  Read all about it in Daniel.  But God!  Nebuchadnezzar raised His eyes toward heaven and God restored his sanity!  And praise abounded! 

Are you ready to trade in your crazy?

“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.”  Daniel 4:34

Have you ever gotten tripped up by the small box?  No, I don’t mean a diamond ring box!  I mean the small box on the digital form that you MUST address or else the form will never ever go through….no matter how many dozen times you huff or puff or click DONE!  You have to look for the small box and remember every detail.  (Can you tell I’m working with a new software program these days?!)  🙂

And through it all, I pause and wonder what God is showing me through this.  It IS the small things in life that make a BIG difference.  A smile, a kindness, an apology, a spirit of gratitude.  None of these require a lot of energy.  You don’t have to spend any money!  They do, however, cost self.  And NOT sharing mercy, kindness and love can be VERY costly!

So….deep breath!  Read the fine print!  And go small!

We’ve got this!  🙂

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  Micah 6:8

Ready or not – September is here!  (insert groans)

Why do we fear change?  Why do we let ourselves get all cattywampus just because we turn a calendar page?!?  OK – school is back and the alarm clock is set.  Traffic slows.  Daylight fades.

But don’t we all take a deep breath as routine finally settles in?  As the season changes to crisp nights and cooler days, aren’t we all a little kinder and gentler?

Overall, what if we lived with a spirit of gratitude every day?  Regardless of the season or the setting, the mood or the money, choose thanks!

“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the peoples!”  Psalm 105:1

It’s time!  Our precious, tiny, clean, sweet little lambs born on our farm in February are leaving this week.  It’s time.  The boys are ready to go.  I know they are ready because they are getting stinky.  The stink tells me they are able to start their own family…..somewhere else.  They are consuming way too much of our pasture that is designed for a smaller flock.  They are ready to lead their own flock.

Hmmmm….I think this is what God does with us!

We start out as baby believers, needing the care and guidance of a mentor, someone who can disciple us in Bible study and prayer, guiding us through life, shaping and molding us in relational and spiritual maturity.  And then….we outgrow that setting.  (Hopefully we don’t stay there long enough to get stinky!)

We need to step out and begin a new family, a new mentoring relationship where WE are the parent.  We guide a new little lamb in following Jesus.
And then THEY outgrow us and create a new pasture for their friends and family!

Unlike our farm animals, people always have the same Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them.  And He is very VERY good!

“I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me”. John 10:14

When do you experience peace? (check all that apply)
When the kids are all asleep?
When the bills are paid?
When the pain is gone?
When the goal is met?
When chaos ends?
When you win?

Imagine all that focus…all that energy….all that striving….and yet each and every time, that peace is temporary.  The bills will return.  The kids will wake up.  The terms of the goal or the “game” will change.

God’s peace that passes understanding is not just a nice phrase.  It’s not a clever meme.  

It is rock solid Truth.  Build your life on Him.  All else cannot compare.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” Colossians 3:15
“For He Himself is our peace,”  Ephesians 2:14
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7

Yes, God inspired the entire Bible…His written Word…but every day I look and see and hear God’s human bookshelf all around me.  YOU are the books God is writing every day!  HIS story becoming YOUR story!

As you walk around tomorrow…or around the house tonight…consider if you are judging a book by the cover.  Are you investing time into learning the plot, the characters and the setting of your loved ones?  Have you tried the audible version of your coworker’s story?  How have you helped your friend navigate their plot twist?

And don’t forget to spend time getting to know the One and Only Author!

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”  2 Corinthians 3:2,3