#forward #itsok #littlemorelikejesus

Today didn’t start as I planned. I found it hard to get out of bed. I seemed to move slowly in getting ready for the day which meant I was running late for work. When I sat down to write for you I struggled to get my thoughts together. In fact, what I did write is not even what I am now sharing with you. Since I was feeling so unsettled in my spirit I decided it was best to not share what I had written and to wait until I was feeling more at peace. Then I walked into the kitchen and found two sinks full of dirty dishes put there after I went to bed last night. Needless to say, this was fuel for the bad attitude I already had. As I poured my coffee I started questioning where I went wrong in my parenting. Have I allowed my children to think I am the live in maid and will clean up all their messes? Everywhere I looked caused me to feel grumpier and grumpier. I left the house feeling a sense of failure and defeat.  On my drive to school I prayed and listened to the Christian radio station and this is what I heard God saying to me.

God reminded me that I was letting Satan distract me and to steal my joy.  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

God reminded me that I must look forward, not get stuck in my bad attitude, and trust God to help me. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

God reminded me thru the song, “Maybe It’s Ok” that it’s ok if I’m not ok.  It’s ok for me to sometimes feel broken so I will know what it feels like to be whole. https://youtu.be/XPZ9p00gOUU

God reminded me thru the song “Little More Like Jesus” that what I want more that anything is to be more like Jesus and less like me.  https://youtu.be/DOOVx9lBMOs

In 1 John 2:6 ESV we are told “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” What does it mean to “abide in him”? Abide means to remain, continue, stay.  Here is what I want you to hear today friend. ALL of us have daily struggles. ALL of us have times of weakness when we let Satan cause chaos and turmoil. ALL of us have times when we feel stagnant and stale. The way we get out of those times is by putting one foot in front of the other. We must keep fighting the good fight. We must remain, continue, and stay with Christ. Some days you are going to feel lost but keep doing those things that grow you spiritually. Continue reading the Bible. Continue talking to God. Continue to move forward. God loves you and me with such an overwhelming love. God will always love you and me. God hasn’t given up. Let’s not give up either. “Keep moving forward!”

Please spend some time listening to the words of the above songs and meditating on the above scriptures. Allow God to speak to you and give you peace.

We have all heard the saying, “Don’t cry over spilt milk”. Well some days that’s all it takes. This past Thursday morning I had a leaky milk carton that created a big mess. On a normal work day this would have been a catastrophic event but today working from home I am more relaxed. I couldn’t help but to laugh once I realized my mom’s puppy, Prince came to my rescue on cleanup duty. He couldn’t lick up the milk fast enough.

Just like Prince, isn’t it like God to rescue us. We don’t always see the rescue mission in the moment because we are too busy having our meltdowns. If you listen to this song, “Hold On To Me” by Lauren Daigle, you will uncover a lot of truths that many of us have let make a mess of our lives; https://youtu.be/R1EwKwayzLM

Are you someone you believe in? Have you let go? Are you tired of pretending? Is the weight of expectation too much? This song speaks to me on so many levels. Mainly because I put too much expectation on myself. From the 3/14/21 Steven Furtick Podcast called Surprise; “Don’t let your struggle keep you from accessing your strength”.

A biblical character I can relate with on a daily basis is Eve. Everyone knows that the fall of Eden happened because Eve ate the apple. Sometimes I feel as if my struggles are tattooed for everyone to see. We read in Gen 3:13 “Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” In reality we must give ourselves grace because God forgives us daily. Maybe it’s like the Sunday School toothpaste lesson, where I can’t put my miss spoken words back in the tube. Maybe it’s making idols in my life instead of putting God first. The little daily sins are like the deceptive serpent. The good news, we don’t have to stay stuck in the past with Eve. Will you allow God to hold on to you even when you feel as if you have let go? Will you choose to cry or laugh over the spilt milk?

Focus (noun): the center of interest or activity
One year. Tomorrow marks one year since the last day of school for the 2019-2020 year. One year since our world was turned upside down. One year of becoming all too familiar with words and phrases we could have never imagined would become part of our daily vocabulary; quarantine, social distancing, pandemic. One year of “new normals”. One year of our focus constantly changing and being challenged.
Today let’s take a moment to ponder our focus journey over the last year, but let’s not stay in the past for long. Remember when we were focused on scoring a pack of toilet paper or paper towels? Remember when the daily COVID-19 press conference seemed like our lifeline to the reality that was upon us? Remember the rollercoaster of emotions? Remember the mourning we experienced in so many different levels? All of those things have altered our focus over the last year.
Now that we have reflected, let’s “keep moving forward” as Walt Disney said. I pray that through this all your true focus was our Savior Jesus Christ. Through it all, He was the one unchanging part of our lives. However, if you have moved away from Him, let’s look ahead and re-focus. Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil.”
Today examine your focus. Where are you gazing? Which way are your feet going? Is your focus on God, God’s love and God’s will? Are you “living in the moment” and enjoying the gifts God has given you today? Or are you still focused on the hurts of the last year and allowing all that was lost to occupy all your focus and time?
For me, last night was filled with much hope. Last night renewed my focus. Last night I had the blessing of watching my son play baseball. Tomorrow will be one year since he had been able to play the game he loves so much with his high school teammates. Last night was filled with much hope. Although it was different, I was able to see many I haven’t seen in so long, I was able to sit in the school stadium watching baseball, and I was able to hug my parents without the worry of them getting sick. I know our “normals” will continue to be new, but may we all be able to stay focused on the blessings within each moment that God gifts us. May we all “look straight ahead and fix our gaze before us.”
P.S. Always have extra toilet paper for “just in case” emergencies. LOL

I am excited to say that I turned 40 this week. Some may wish to be like Mother Gothel in Rapunzel and have some magic trick to keep them youthful or access to the fountain of Youth known as a mythical spring, that restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. I however am looking forward to my 40’s and the dreams God has in store for me. According to C.S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.

Rather than relying on some fad trick to keep me young, in the book of Rev 22: 1-2 we read about Eden being restored; “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations”. 

If I desire to be a fruit bearer, I must plant myself near the water of life. In Ps 1:3; “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leave does not wither – whatever they do prospers”. How can I be fruitful, youthful, and planted in God’s word? Number 7 is the number for completion in the bible: 

1.     Stress less! Mat 6:34; “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Ead day has enough trouble of its own”.

2.     Surrender more! Pro 16:3; “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”. 

3.     Give thanks always! 1 Thes 5:18; “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. 

4. Love myself more! Mar 12:31; “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

5.     Build a healthy tribe! Pro 27:17; “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”.

6.     Rest well! Ps 46:10; “Be still and know that I am God”. 

7.     Find Joy in the Journey! Neh 8:10; “For the joy of the Lord is your strength”.

We have also heard that laughter is the best medicine for the soul. From Walt Disney, “Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are never forgotten”. I can laugh as I say, “40 is the new 20”. Stay planted and stay young. Keep dreaming with me!