While on Facebook, of all places, I was prodded to change my outlook. I read a phrase that stuck with me. Forget talking about your troubles. Talking about our troubles is a bad habit for most of us. It's what we do. So if we can't talk about our troubles...what do we do? Celebrate our joys! I have a good friend that I chat with irregularly via email. At this time in our lives it's the best form of communication. It's efficient. When we get the chance to talk on the phone....it's a looooong talk. And we usually don't have time to do that very often. Today I … [Read more...]
Have you ever thought about your aroma? Did you just tilt your nose down and take a whiff of your shirt? I'm not talking about your perfume, toilet water, or cologne. I'm not talking about whether you used deodorant after your shower, though that is probably a good idea. There's another kind of scent that I have in mind. We have a spiritual fragrance. It's the essence of who we are. You might know someone who has a wonderful essence. So lovely that you wish that you could wear that same fragrance. You also might know someone who has a less than wonderful essence. You probably find … [Read more...]
Does it seem crazy to think that we can have the same joy as Jesus? It does... but Jesus told us we will be as joyful as he is. Not could be. We will be. I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete. ~ Jesus John 15:11 GW I don't know about you... but I really would like to live a life of joy. What do you think it would look like to live a life of joy? Maybe we should start with the definition... For one it might be to be happy all the time, singing, humming, wearing a smile continuously. For another it might be a … [Read more...]
This morning I was reading some writings of C.S. Lewis, when these words leaped off the page at me: It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He was talking about how we start our days. If we were meeting each other for coffee at Starbucks in the morning, I might ask you, "Did you have a good start to your day?" It's an innocuous question. Purely conversational. And of course, I would hope you had a great start. Because we're friends, you won't cloak your answer with the usual dismissive remark. Instead, you'll tell … [Read more...]
Lately, I've been thinking about joy. This morning I even prayed to have more joy. As I was doing so I realized that I am blessed with a beautiful life. Even if my current situation isn't what I hoped, planned, or even desired. For some time, things have not gone my way... but isn't that true for all of us? And so today... I'm going to concentrate on walking with God. Allowing him to direct my path. Being quiet and listening to him. Because when I do... There I experience joy. True joy. And contentment. You direct me on a path … [Read more...]
Today I sat down to write. I knew I needed to talk about perseverance. There were lots of thoughts running around my mind... but I was unsure where to start. So I did what every good writer does when in that spot.... I went out on an errand. When I returned home, I again got my laptop out to prepare this post. Before typing a word, I checked my email and saw an email which needed my immediate response. While there, I scanned the other items in my inbox and my eye was drawn to a weekend post which contained a touching video. I am aware this video made the rounds last year, so it … [Read more...]
This week has been a week of quiet, solitude, and reflection. Somewhere along the way, I lost my mojo. It's not that I hadn't spent significant time with God. I had. But, my soul was hungry for moments like this... Joy Moments. If you've been visiting with me over time, you know how much I enjoy my nature walks. Those times make my heart sing. And sing. And yesterday, as I walked along a country road and came across the music of peepers... my heart sang with great joy. Some time ago, our pastor shared how singing is God's heart language. If you're a frog … [Read more...]
Put yourself in this story... The man whom you believed was going to liberate you from the tyranny of the Romans had just been cruelly tortured and hung on a tree to die. A few of your friends also truly believed that this man, Jesus, would rescue you. But instead, they are helping you take his dead body down from the cross to bury him in a borrowed tomb. All hope is lost. Not only was Jesus, your leader and friend, dead but surely this would turn to the worse considering all that transpired the last few days. You're consumed with hurt, grief, disappointment. To say you are devastated would … [Read more...]
In many ways, Palm Sunday is a festive day in the Christian church. Children will often march through worship services waving palm branches as the congregations sings, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. There's something wonderfully anticipatory about Palm Sunday because we know that in one week we'll celebrate Easter or Resurrection Sunday. This morning as I was reading the biblical account of this event, I noted this verse in Luke 19:38 Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! comes from Psalm 118:26. So of course, I had to read the whole chapter of … [Read more...]
A little over a week ago I went to a butterfly event at Meijer Gardens. Walking through an indoor tropical garden hoping to see a few fluttery creatures was the perfect way to spend an end-of-winter afternoon with a friend. Butterflies are beautiful creatures, but have you ever wondered what the purpose is to their existence? We know that they feed on the nectar of flowers and similar to bees they are helpful to the pollination process of the flowers. It isn't a pleasant thought, but as caterpillars, they provide food for creatures higher up on the food chain and to some degree as well … [Read more...]
Think about a time when you made something. Remember the feeling of pleasure you had at creating something special? Did someone comment on it and appreciate your handiwork? Your music? Your story? Your art? Your garden? Slowly over time I've come to realize that we see the glory of God when we take time to admire his handiwork. The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 I'm learning that God takes pleasure in the time I spend in marveling at the works of his hands. It's during that time he draws me closer to him. It's an intimate … [Read more...]
I'm a good person, you're a good person, what could we possibly be tempted with? A cookie or piece of candy we shouldn't have? For me, often times I'm tempted to worry or fret. One day I'll overcome temptation to worry or fret. But, until then... I've acquired an arsenal of weapons to use when I'm tempted to start a journey of worrying or fretting. Just in case you need one too... I am sharing mine with you, today. Now that I've fessed up... Do you worry? Do you fret? I know, it feels kind of icky to admit it doesn't it? Usually that's something we think we keep to … [Read more...]
Are you bold? Would you call yourself a risk-taker? Or... does that cause you to feel anxious? In the past I was a bit of a risk-taker. Except in areas where I might injure my body. It's amazing what one broken arm and sleeping with ten pounds of sand hanging from a cast, while trying to sleep sitting up in a chair for six weeks, did to cure me from that. And then, there was that bad business decision which has made me much more cautious. I think we can agree that we need to use discretion, common sense, and wisdom in our daily activities. Fear, however, should not control … [Read more...]
I'm a sheep caller. You laugh. Truly, I am. You see, one day as Tim and I went for a long walk in the country, we noticed a good number of sheep scattered all over the hillside. They were happily grazing near the farmhouse and the adjacent field. As we got closer I started talking to them. I'm friendly like that. I'll talk to horses and cows and maybe your dog. Though I am afraid of dogs I don't know. When I talk to animals I don't really expect that they're going to respond to me. After all I'm a city girl. … [Read more...]
There's a saying... "Talk is cheap." I'm pretty sure I used to hear my dad say that. Lately I've been thinking about love and I think we could say, "Love is cheap." There's the controversial movie... the broken relationships... the 400,000 children needing a home in the U.S. alone... the issue of human trafficking... and on I could go. If you were new to our world, you would think that love was cheap and love had no apparent value. Times were probably like that back when the Apostle Paul penned these words to the people in Philippi. And this is my prayer: that your … [Read more...]
I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "Let it go!" many times. Something bugs us and just like a tick, it gets under our skin. And like the tick... it will fester and bring disease to our bodies. Some of us have control issues. [ahem!] We have trouble letting go, don't we? This scripture jumped off the page when I read it... Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. ~Psalm 46:10 Did you see it too? Then. Then you will know that I am God. And just for good … [Read more...]
The questions... "What makes you afraid?" or "Of what are you afraid?" do not seem to hold the same intensity and emotion as this grammatically incorrect question... "What are you afraid of?" What are you afraid of? Maybe it's surgery, or loss of a job, or loss of a home, or illness, or accident, or... Most of us, if we're honest, we struggle with some sort of fear. I know I do. I have a friend who is anxious about an upcoming court date. Knowing that the judge can rule in her favor or not is almost debilitating. She's asked me to pray for her and I do... but aside from praying all of us feel … [Read more...]
