The Law

I have been flirting with The Law a bit lately. It always happens on our trips, especially a really long one. I am tired of being in the car and I am ready to get where I am going and, once in a while, I tend to be a little heavy-footed and my speed creeps up.

Are there areas in your life that have you flirting with disaster?

Knowing the law is certainly one thing. Striving to obey it is another. I knew the law and willfully disobeyed it. This is definitely one area in my life where I try to see how far I can get away with breaking the law. I push my “luck” on the open road.

Even though I haven’t been ticketed for speeding in a really long time I know I would completely deserve whatever comes my way. There is a boundary line and if I knowingly cross it and I am mature enough to accept the consequences. That ticket would mean a fine and maybe points on my license. I am sure I would be sorry I was “caught” but that is definitely not the same as being sorry for my sin.

And there is a difference.

When my heart is contrite, I experience guilt, regret, remorse, rue, and/or shame. It isn’t about being caught, it is about the sin in my life. Coming to the knowledge of my sin is overwhelming. But knowing my Savior delivers me from my sin and cleanses me from all unrighteousness is also overwhelming.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
²Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar. [Psalm 51, NIV]

May God’s law work on our hearts and root out the sin that wants to rest there!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: BONES

Meditation

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. [Psalm 19:14, NIV]

We do a lot of traveling for our business. I love the people we meet but I also love the time my mind can wander around and explore different ideas. Of course, one thought leads to another and pretty soon I am way down a path and I couldn’t even tell you how I got there. If I don’t have a “plan” for my thinking time I usually wander, and that isn’t always a bad thing.

But, when I pray and meditate, I like to have a focal point. For prayer, I usually use a word or phrase and talk it over with God. Sometimes that word or phrase conjures up some interesting reflections and reactions from me but, more importantly, I want to learn what His thoughts are on it. When I meditate, I like to mull over Scripture – particularly an area where I need God’s counsel. Sometimes it is just a couple of verses of the Bible but other times it is a chapter in a particular book of the Bible. It’s also a good time for me to use music, particularly soothing music without words. But but hymns and other spiritual songs that fill my mind with God’s Word and Truth are a great way for me to step away from myself and explore the deeper things.

Spending time in prayer and meditation gives me the opportunity to pause and be refreshed with healthy thoughts and concepts. It helps me to uncover those things I might wish to keep covered. By letting God into my thought life I am allowing His truth to correct me and guide me and encourage me.

How do you like to ponder God’s Word?

¹Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers. [Psalm 1:1-3, NIV]

May God bless you as you meditate on His Word!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: UPROOTED

Air

We are dependent on the air we breathe. Amazingly enough, the regular air we generally have access to has the exact chemical components needed to sustain life. Most of us don’t have to give a thought to breathing because it is so automatic and our bodies process it the way it needs to be processed. But for those who are on oxygen or need their air more purified, or who have other lung challenges, breathing isn’t so easy.

Our bodies are designed so that some of the bad things in air are filtered a bit. But if we are surrounded with a high concentration of bad air (ie, air with very little oxygen) we can’t survive for very long. The quality of our “intake” is important.

What are you breathing in?

I try to pay attention to what I watch, read, and listen to because I know how those things affect my heart and mind. It is always amazing to me how a song can lift my spirit or put me in a funk.

I can always use more time in God’s Word. Breathing in the life-giving oxygen inspires and encourages me but also convicts me in my areas of weakness. If I am surrounded by compromised air it makes it easy to look around and decide it doesn’t really matter. In an area where there is a lot of litter? What does my piece of trash matter?

It does matter!

What are those things you are surrounded by that you are numb to and it doesn’t even seem to matter if you join in? It can be a slippery slope!

Who would even notice if I ___________ ?

Pay attention to what you are breathing in. You can only filter out so much on your own. But, by all means, don’t insist you can only work in the purest of places. However, it is important for you health that you are able to breathe healthy air and help others to do the same. This live isn’t all about self-preservation; it is about community, grace, and sharing God’s love in a variety of ways.

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV]

May you find God’s conviction a blessing as He breathes His life-giving Word into your life!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: MEDITATION

Light

¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ²Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

³And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

⁶And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” ⁷So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

⁹And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

¹¹Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. ¹²The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

¹⁴And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. ¹⁷God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. [Genesis 1:1-19, NIV]

From the very beginning there was light but we quickly outgrew what the sun, moon, and stars provided for us and we now have an industry of incredible light variety:

Spotlights. Headlights. Floodlights.

Florescent lights. LED lights. Incandescent lights.

Candle light. Glow lights. Grow lights.

Black lights. Flashing lights. Neon lights. Stop lights.

Flashlights. Nightlights. Firelight.

Solar lights. Reading lights. Happy Lights.

We have so many different ways to illuminate and most are designed to help us see better. When we are able to see better, we are able to share light with others. As you think about the concept of light and darkness and love and hate where are you feeling convicted?

⁹Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. ¹⁰Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. [1 John 2:9-10, NIV]

⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [John 1:4-5, NIV]

May God enlighten you in the areas of your life He is calling out of the darkness!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: AIR

Space

As we have traveled through some wide-open country we have enjoyed some amazing sunsets and sunrises. Some days the sky has been full of clouds and other days there wasn’t one to be found. And then, as we drove through Kansas, there was an amazing harvest moon. It was all beautiful.

When we lived in New York, we weren’t in the BIG city but we were in the middle of a long stream of cities all butted up against one another and we had to drive a bit to get to some open space. I actually don’t know how people can live and work so much in the heart of a major city without getting out to find some space. It is so refreshing for me!

Room to grow. Space to think. Time for refreshment.

You might not be able to take a road trip but creating space in your day or at least in your week can be really beneficial. Creating boundaries on your time can be a part of self-preservation and actually free you up with energy to tackle the things you either need to do or want to do. It can also help you see what you are busy-ing yourself with that isn’t really essential. There are some activities we all participate in that are not helpful nor beneficial and end up stealing important time from us.

Search Scripture. Ponder. Pray.

When we move over and allow God to have some space to be in and move in our lives we can often better see what He is doing. But, even if we can’t, as we are saturated in His Word we will grow in our trust that He is working things out. It is easy to let other entertainment or activity crowd Him out, but taking a break from our regular routine and inserting some additional time with God can give us a new perspective.

⁶I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
⁷Show me the wonders of your great love,
    you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes. [Psalm 17:6-7, NIV]

God’s blessings as you discern where you have the opportunity to create space for God to work in your heart and life!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: LIGHT

Footholds

If you have done any sort of climbing you know that having a place to plant your foot is vital. Losing a foothold is not something to be trifled with. Being able to set your foot and keep it still could be mean the difference between life and death. When we are climbing something, we want and need footholds.

But let’s flip this idea around for a moment. What if we are the mountain and satan is looking for a spot to gain access? Remember, he is like a professional climber. He knows his stuff and will take every occasion to plant himself where we leave space. If we think about our sin being a place where we are giving satan an opportunity to gain a hold on us allows us to see, in a visual way, the importance of things dealing with the sin in our lives.

See it. Confess it. Root it out.

Those thought patterns that don’t seem like a big deal or those secret sins that are growing in strength – those are all the places where Satan can hang around and, if it feels like you have a monkey on your back, well, that might not be a bad way to look at it.

I think we all generally know our areas of sin. Of course, some new ones might creep in, but most people understand they have areas that need work. Getting to the root of those issues and letting God really deal with them through His Word will help eliminate footholds for Satan.

See it. Confess it. Let God root it out.

²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold. [Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV].

Blessings as you consider those places where satan wants to place his foot in your life.

Liz

PrayerPrompt: SPACE

Layers

The initial “hellos” give way to more profound discussions. For some relationships, deep conversations can come quickly, particularly when time is short.

It could be there is just a short amount of time face-to-face due to busy lives but it could also be there is a terminal illness in the picture. Whatever the reason, peeling back the layers that may have been built up against the regular world and having conversations of substance are important.

Sometimes, when I meet someone, we dive deep right away. But, most often, it is over time that a relationship gains trust and leads to richer conversations. I enjoy discussing the deeper things; the challenges, the discoveries, but I am also good with the mundane and silly. Sometimes hanging in the deep for too long can get heavy and there is a need to take a break from it. But allowing time for relationships and discussions to deepen is important.

I know I am guilty of squeezing conversations into a short period of time. The lingering cups of coffee and opportunity to really get into some meaty discussions are set aside in favor of whatever I am in the midst of dealing with.

Have you made the time to peel back the layers of life to delve into deeper discussions?

¹⁶May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. [2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, NIV]

Blessings to you as you make time and space for the important conversations!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: FOOTHOLDS

Hospitality

Isten Hozott is a Hungarian phrase that is understood to mean “Welcome” but the literal translation is “God brought you”. Isn’t that a lovely way to think about the concept of hospitality?

I have been on both sides of hospitality – as the giver and as the receiver.

When I hear someone is coming by to visit for a cup of coffee, a meal, or an overnight (or two) it is an exciting addition to my life! I truly enjoy the preparation and the anticipation of the opportunity to have a chance to sit down, chat, and catch up on life. It makes my day! It is also a great excuse to clean a little deeper than normal — I love a fun excuse to tidy up the house.

When we are traveling, we often get the opportunity to meet up with or even spend the night with friends and family. This part of hospitality is also exciting for me – It is fun to explore different areas of the country but I love to have that time where it is just 2-4 people who can connect on a deeper level about how life is really going. These days it seems to be about health issues, aging parents, grandchildren, and the hectic pace of life but faith and what God is doing in our lives always seems to come to the forefront.

But, digging a little deeper in hospitality – it isn’t always about hosting those we know. Hospitality is also the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of strangers.

Can you recall a time when you were not greeted with a generous reception? When it was made clear you did not belong? I don’t want to dredge up old, yucky feelings but remembering how that felt will (hopefully) encourage you to do what you can to generously welcome others who land in your space. You may not be called to open up your home, but you might have the opportunity to engage in a friendly conversation or provide resources for connecting or a cup of water, an ear for listening or even more for someone traveling through your life.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ²Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. [Hebrews 13:1-3, NIV]

May we treat those around us to feel as though “God brought them” because He surely did bring them into our lives!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: LAYERS

Contemplation

The Lenten season is a great time to be introspective and examine the life I lead. Am I practicing what I believe? Am I being regularly infused by God’s Word and evaluating my thoughts, words, and deeds against that? Am I more concerned about what I think others should be doing that I am not spending enough time making sure I am in a spiritually healthy place?

When I travel I have a lot of time to think, reflect, plan, ponder, and pray. I love the opportunity to get out of my space, observe people, and the changing scenery around me. I might see mountains, an ocean, streams, lush vegetation, and desolate deserts. And all these different views have my mind bouncing all over the place. As my mind moves from person to person and situation to situation the process of praying helps me pull all my thoughts together (even if they are a jumbled mess) and give them to God.

It is important for me to slow down from the busy-ness of these days and reflect. When I drive, I just pray but when I am a passenger, I always benefit from writing things down – it allows me to be reminded of things I have worked out — because sometimes I need reminded that I already worked through a situation. But, mainly, slowing down and spending time in prayer helps me to get out of my own situation and have a conversation with the One who knows me and knows the ones I care about.

¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. [Romans 12:11-13, NIV]

Blessings as you spend time contemplating during this Lenten season!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: HOSPITALITY

Vision

Have you ever read the book of Daniel? That was a man who had many visions and was known for his wisdom and intelligence. His specialty? Dream interpretation.

I don’t think there is anyone alive today who has Daniel’s reputation. We have the concept of “vision” although it takes on a different meaning outside of Scripture. Daniel’s visions seem unlike those of any other.

We can think about our future with wisdom and discernment – even if all we see is difficulties around us. Sometimes what we see can give us an opportunity to envision something better, something that helps us not focus so much on our circumstances but to contribute to a greater good. Many people have been encouraged to fight some level of devastation or need by creating a platform for others in a similar situation to feel support and connection and learn how to cope with or prevent something. These types of visions can help us transcend our immediate circumstance and infuse us with hope.

Check out the sweet family behind Fritz & Friends. What a beautiful example of a family taking their own experience with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and creating a space for others to learn about it and create a support network for others. During difficult times, holding on to faith in God and His bigger picture and the hope we have in Him is so important. This world is full of difficult circumstances. Each of us has had challenging life situations at one time or another but clinging to God’s mercy and grace is what makes any situation bearable.

I am thankful God can knit together our past and present experiences, our strengths and inclinations and move us into action. It helps us sort things out and make some sense of it. And it can help us share God’s hope with others!

⁵Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
⁶Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. [Psalm 62:5-6, NIV]

My your soul find rest in Him!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: CONTEMPLATION