Not Today…..YES Today!

Did you ever run out of power?  Our home was with without power again due to the wild summer weather we’ve been having.  Living semi-rural we lose many basics when the power goes out.  It’s fun and cozy at the beginning, but the novelty soon wears off.

Have you personally ever run out of human power to continue on?  Sick children?  Empty nest?  Mountains of work?  No work?  Broken relationships?  No relationships?

Even though we see no human benefit from these circumstances, will you take a leap of faith with me?  Let’s set aside our expectations and entitlements and lay them at the foot of the cross as we surrender in worship to the ONLY ONE who EVER has it ALL together!

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  Psalm 103:1-5

Created to hold over 100 times the info a traditional bar code can hold, the QR code, the “QUICK RESPONSE code”…was created to be the fast transfer of information with the simple swipe of a digital device.

Let’s repurpose the QR code!  Let’s still call it a QUICK RESPONSE code, but instead of zapping it to find a restaurant menu or find a website, we use that visual to remind us to stop and realign ourselves with God.  

See a QR code?  Stop in your tracks, either physically or mentally, and make a QUICK RESPONSE:  Readjust your priorities.  Redirect your anxious thoughts.  Regain a Godly perspective.

Make a QUICK RESPONSE today!

“Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.”  Malachi 3:7

When I was a little girl I played school with real curriculum and even a real chalkboard….but…..I had pretend students.  That didn’t stop me then from being a teacher, and if you know me now, God so firmly planted those seeds that I still love teaching!

My daughter played veterinarian when she was a little girl and today she is one of the best animal whisperers I know!

Some kids play cops and robbers….aaaand we’ll just leave that one right there!  HA!

What seeds/dreams has God planted in your heart and in your life?  Have you faithfully watered those seeds?  Fertilized them?  What can you do today to make God’s dream for you a reality?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

Driving on a beautiful country road….searching for peaceful music….and the car radio produces…static!  Voices, slow songs, fast songs, white noise – all at the same time!

Sort of reminds me of life today.Can you hear it?  Can you feel it?
The constant influence of people and media and agendas and goals and thoughts and hopes and etc…all at the same time!
It’s easy enough to turn off the power to the static in my car.  How do we tune out the static in our minds and in the world?
Get a clear signal with the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  God Himself is waiting for your undivided attention and loyalty to Him.   Next time you go to reach for a device to fill the time, seek the Lord and His Word of His unfailing love!

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in You.

Show me the way I should go,

for to You I entrust my life.”  Psalm 143:8

Drive Thru coffee
Online banking
Robots vacuuming your house

We live in a VERY fast paced world!  (Except for these lazy summer days – let’s keep them creeping by…)

What do you do with all the extra time you have now that automations are working for you?  What?  You are still so busy and out of time?

A watching world is hurting.  Waiting for someone to notice their pain.What can we do?  You don’t need a master’s degree in order to follow Jesus.

Find Him in His Word.  Follow the leader.  Live like Jesus.

All we need to do is LOOK and LOVE.

“Jesus looked at the man and loved him.”  Mark 10:21

United States of America

United….hmmm….if you’ve spent any second driving around looking at yard signs or browsing news channels or scrolling through social media you can clearly perceive that we are not a very united country.  We aren’t even playing as nicely as a bunch of toddlers in a sandbox!

What do we think God means when He calls us to be united?

“being united in spirit and purpose”. Philippians 2:2

“we have been united with Him in a death like His” Romans 6:5a

“be united with Him in a resurrection like His.”  Romans 6:5b

“be perfectly united in mind and thought”. I Corinthians 1:10

“But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.”  I Corinthians 6:17

Doesn’t sound like God is kidding.  He wants us to be united with Him and with those who call on His Name.  How can we possibly do that while living in this world?

His Truth

His Name

Above ALL other names!

“Teach me Your Way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your Truth; unite my heart to fear Your Name.”  Psalm 86:11

Ever wish you had something to show for this summer season of fun in the sun?  Something other than a tan that will fade and a camera roll of photos you WILL one day make in to an album?

Choose a Psalm.  Any Psalm.  And memorize it this summer.
Write it on notecards and leave them in strategic places to help you practice.
Include the Psalm in texts and notes of encouragement.
Claim memorizing as a shared family experience.

Create a legacy of summer adventure that will last a lifetime!

Here’s a short Psalm to get you started:

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.”  Psalm 117

Dawn Dish Soap:  Tough on Grease, Gentle on Wildlife – We are in the middle of verifying this one as our daughter’s dog was sprayed by a skunk tonight and they are on wash #4 or 5!

Windex: Big Fat Greek Wedding would use it for literally everything!

And then there is Apple Cider Vinegar!  A shot a day keeps the doctor away!  Aaaaand you can use it as a window cleaner or fabric softener!

These commercial cure-alls are fun to consider, but God has the ULTIMATE Cure-All for everything and everyone, every time and place:  Prayer!  
Talk to Him.
Listen to Him.
Spend time with Him.
Trust Him.

Whatever is going on….He IS able!

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”  I Chronicles 16:11

Let’s talk about ice cream.  REAL ice cream!  Not the frozen dairy dessert or soft serve confection popular at this time of year.  I’m talking about the kind of ice cream that freezes rock solid and bends your spoon as you try to sneak a little scoop!

Real ice cream is costly – it’s an investment!
Real ice cream takes patience to scoop – it’s worth the wait!
Real ice cream has good ingredients – it’s better for you!
Real ice cream is delicious – it’s worth it all!

How are your friendships these days?  Like real ice cream?  Or like a frozen dairy dessert?
How is your relationship with God?  Soft serve?  Artificial?  Cheap?
Or a sweet investment worthy of your all?

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”  Psalm 34:8

Good Beginnings is the name of our Preschool at our church.  (It actually should be called GREAT Beginnings!)  As you can imagine, there are many wonderful celebrations of a child’s firsts at Good Beginnings: first teacher, first recess, first time reading, first time owning a Bible!  🙂

Life is filled with good beginnings – even when they feel like endings.  Ohhhhhh, all the emotions and hopes and dreams and fears and unknowns woven in to a life-changing ceremony like graduation from kindergarten, high school and college; a wedding; new baby; retirement, etc.

Cheer!  Enjoy!  Weep!  Gather with friends!  And always remember:  God is good!  All the time!  ALLLLLLL the time!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17