I am always amazed at connections.

The people I know — and then the ones they, in turn, know. We are really only just a few steps away from one another.

And, yet, the Earth is huge! There are places I will never travel. “Corners” of the world I will never step foot in.

I am a little sad about that. I see so much beauty — and, truly, give me all the beauty.

But there is also a share of heartbreak. That is tougher for me to face. And, sometimes, a place is featured for its beauty but, underneath, it takes heartache to sustain the “beauty”. But this isn’t a post about that.

This is a post about God’s gifts, sprinkled throughout the world. It’s the people and the land and the resources that come from the land.

I am amazed at all the gifts God has tucked into various corners of the world. There are resources everywhere — from ever place — that can be utilized for our faith, encouragement, growth, development, and health. It seems just the right things were placed in just the right places. Almost as if by design.

And, there is also a bit of interdependence — and access — that we can now utilize. Prior to international travel, each corner of the world was it’s own little space and connected its own little group. But as travel possibilities expand, each remote place becomes a little less so. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to that. There is a lot to consider there.

But the variety of birds, plants, insects, animals, underwater creatures, foods, weather, and so much more! This whole planet is loaded with so many different kinds of creations.

And then there is the creativity of the mind — there is no end to it!

So, it is a small world in some ways. But I am so thankful for God’s creation of it and that He created it with the option of continuing creativity and beauty.

Thank you, Lord, for your creation — the people, the places, the animals, the plants, and all that is around me. Help me to notice more of the beauty you have placed in my corner of the world!

Blessings on your day!
Liz

I like being comfortable and I also like trying new things.

When everything is new I can get a little discombobulated because I do like the stability of the familiar. But, give me enough routine and steady flow and I am open to changing things up.

This applies to travel, reading, routines, cooking, dining out, movement…truly any area in my life.

Do you tend to resist new things or embrace them? Or are you a creature of habit and are you drawn to the familiar.

You might like praying a certain way because that’s how you’ve always done it. And there is nothing wrong with that. But, it is also interesting to try something new: praying through Scripture, listening to hymns, listening to other kinds of music — I am a big fan of Integrity Music’s Scripture Memory Songs.

There are so many ways to add more Scripture and prayer to your life!

If your prayer life seems a little stale, change it up with a new devotional book, a new time and place for prayer, a new way of thinking about prayer.

As you refresh your approach, you might actually breathe more life into your regular routine. Or, you might divide things up and change things up quarterly with new resources. However you work it out, know God is there with you, imparting His wisdom through Scripture. He is patiently listening to your pleas. And He is molding and shaping you for what is to come.

Blessings on your day!
Liz

When given the choice to listen to any kind of music with a portion of dissonance, I decline.

No, thank you.

I don’t mind if it is something that is a one note, one beat thing that needs to be resolved. But much more than that and it is not something I will choose. And it is something I will figure out a way to get out of my ear. And fast.

I am not a fan.

Similarly, I am not a fan of verbal sparring. Oh, sure, I have had my days when I was younger and was sure I was right about a lot of things. I have certainly been a pot stirrer in my day. But I have grown to see that I wasn’t always right in the past. So a better bet for me is to figure out where the common ground is.

Apparently, this approach is uncommon, or at least less common, these days.

Let’s say you and I spend an average of 12 hours together in a year. That is one hour a month and there are 8760 hours in a year.

Do I want to talk about hot button topics?

No, I want to talk about your family or how things are going after your knee surgery or your five favorite things to do in your town or your favorite new hobby or your three favorite recipes.

What unites us? What brings us together? What excites and energizes you? What is God doing in your life?

Is that ignoring our different perspectives? I suppose so. Or, at least it is not letting them take center stage.

In my life, I gravitate to those who don’t have the exact same beliefs and opinions as I do but do not have to discuss them with me, either.

This might all be a part of the process of getting older. I don’t need to talk about current news or politics. I pay attention to it from a few different angles and I certainly am praying about the endless issues that divide us. But, I have aged out of the age old debates.

So where does this intersect with PrayerPoints? I am sure you have people you disagree with in your life. We all do. I don’t think the point of life is to only surround yourself with people who think just like you do. Relationships are difficult, it’s true. And there will always be a little dissonance here and there. I am praying for a focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.

We all eat, but we don’t all eat the same things.

We all have free time, but we don’t all do the same things with it.

We probably are all passionate about something, we just aren’t all passionate about the same things.

I encourage you to make the effort to find the common ground with the people God has put in your life. Find those meaningful things that connect you and celebrate them. And, hopefully, those things where you are not aligned can be set aside for the little time you actually have together in the course of a year.

Blessings on your day!
Liz

Through the years I have been plagued with a bit of overthinking. For those of us who struggle with it, it can move to overwhelm — all the what-ifs and why-did-I-say-that and why-didn’t-I-say-this and what-not.

What if we slowly changed our overthinking tendencies to over PRAYing? Truly, is there any such thing as over praying for anything?

This change doesn’t happen overnight. I might catch myself in a cycle of overthinking. And as soon as I do, I try to hand it over to God.

I am not always good at handoffs. Sometimes I fumble.

And I would be lying if I said I didn’t take it back sometimes. But, the repeated act of handing over my concerns wears a new path of travel from my heart to God’s. The act of casting my burdens on Him is growing wisdom and trust on my part.

Not to say that I don’t have the trust in God, I do. But I also have a habit of doing my part first before giving it over. Sometimes it is simply the habit: that well worn rut in the road that I fall into without even thinking about it. And then there is the effort it takes to not be in that rut. Sometimes it sucks me in before I even know it!

If you are an over thinker I encourage you to interrupt that pattern by over praying. Give it up to God as many times as you need to to dismantle the habit. Sometimes it isn’t a lack of faith, it is simply a habit. And a habit can be changed, over time.

God’s blessings on your day!
Liz

I will be the first to admit that I have a sporadic and unusual prayer life.

When I wake up in the middle of the night I start praying through my family circle. I start with me and Don and then go through all the kids and spouses and grandkids. Then I move to our siblings and their kids, etc. From there I either cover friends and/or cousins. It does depend on how long I am awake.

Throughout the day I also use little alarm reminders to pray about specific things that are out of my norm.

I try to think about praying first when I have time on my hands. If I am in a line, waiting or on a drive then I like to use that time to pray for people and situations as they come to my mind.

And, if I can see something that requires prayer — like an accident, bad weather, or I am at a crossroads for a task or situation — then I pray about that.

Some days are more full of prayer than others. I don’t have a physical prayer posture because it really just feels like a conversation. I might be interceding for someone, I might be giving thanks for the many things that God has blessed me with,

This just happens to be the season I am in. My prayer life has looked different through the years. And I will bet yours has, too.

How do you pray in this season?

Whether you use written out prayers from Scripture or your church body or you have embraced Martin Luther’s breath prayers, it all counts as communication with God.

He speaks, we listen, we respond — it’s a part of the cycle of relationship.

The most important thing I have learned over the years is that I can go to God directly. Of course, I can pray with others and for others and have other pray for me. But the core of my prayer relationship is that I go to God with what is on my heart.

And He hears me!

And He hears you, too!

Blessings on your day!
Liz

Sometimes you are in a new place and you don’t want to be there.

Sometimes that change of scenery I mentioned yesterday is not because you have scheduled something fun and new but, rather, you are stuck in a new situation that you had not planned on.

I have been there, multiple times. And it can really be painful.

Job loss.
Friend loss.
Illness.
Death.
A move.

This list is endless, but God is there. He can handle your fears, frustrations, questions, anger, confusion, distress.

And there still is the opportunity to see new things — even good things — although, your frame of mind definitely can color how you are looking at the world.

This is when journaling and praying helps me. I can say it all. And then I can wait for God to show me what is next and how He will use the situation. Sometimes I have to wait a while until I am ready to see it.

Going to “new places” isn’t always fun. But God is with us, gently leading and always loving. And those are the places where we learn the most about ourselves and what God can do.

Blessings on your day!
Liz

I don’t have a set routine in a day. I have general work tasks I need to get done during a week. I guess that is the benefit of being my own boss.

But, I suppose I miss the commute, “the office” vibe. You know, gathering at the water cooler to get drink and chat with people. Or the treats people share in the break room.

Yesterday, Don and I left town for a little get-a-way — a nice change of scenery for a few days. We have no hard plans for our time away except we met up with our youngest and a couple of her friends to walk around Nashville, Indiana a little yesterday. Over the next two days we’ll surely enjoy a little nature, a little Brown County fun, and just explore.

I think a change of surroundings helps me see new things or think of things in new ways. I notice more of everything when I am outside of my typical space.

If you get a chance this week, put yourself in a new space and be curious about it. Look around — take in the sights and sounds. You might be surprised at what you notice and where God leads your thoughts.

God’s blessings on your day!
Liz

“As morning breaks I look to you, O God, to be my strength this day.”

I woke up very early this morning with this phrase (and song) on my heart. I don’t remember that I was dreaming, but I do have have a number of things on my mind. You know, those situations you just aren’t sure how to handle. Those things you don’t want to give the energy to. The things that can drain your joy. Yep, I have a few weighing me down.

I can’t believe how quickly I get stuck in my head about things and don’t turn them over to God and lean into His strength and glory. I know He is working things out. I need to trust in Him. And He will give me what I need for today.

And I can give thanks and praise to the God who knows and loves me.

I am sure God sent this as a little reminder to me that I only need Him to be my strength today.

This is from Psalm 63 and is just a delightful song by John Michael Talbot.

Tomorrow starts the season of Lent.

I invite you to join me for daily PrayerPoints until Easter through this blog.

Each day I will post a PrayerPoint. You can take it as it is and pray through it. You can also let it be a jumping off point for your heart and prayers as you color it in with your particular circumstances.

For me, the goal is to add more prayer to my days. And this is the time of year where I publish those things that God lays on my heart.

Feel free to invite others on this journey. Or let it be between you and God.

See you tomorrow!
Liz

P.S. If you have something special you would like me to prayer for during this season, you are welcome to send me whatever it is you want me to pray about and I will keep your special need private as I pray during this season. If you don’t want to share and details, you don’t need to — God surely knows what you need.