Spiritual mentors

Throughout my life I have had multiple people who bestowed spiritual wisdom on me.

Of course, a lot of that has come through God’s Word. I have been reading the Bible and gleaning spiritual truths from there for decades. But then there are writers and speakers of more modern times — some who passed away long before I knew they existed.

Then there are those who are still living who don’t know me.

And, finally, there are others who are in my life — they know me.

I have considered sending a note to some of the living — to thank them for their words and their impact on my faith.

So, think about the spiritual elders in your life — your neighbors, special friends, church members, or family members — and let them know their impact on your spiritual growth.

And if it isn’t easy or possible to express your thanks to the people, thank God for their presence in your life and ask God to bless them.

Put your own mask on first

If you have flown anywhere you might remember the instruction to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping someone traveling with you who cannot do it themselves.

And that is how it is with giving to others. We need to be sure we have something to give from.

A depleted soul is in need of receiving — of being filled up. And it is easy to be depleted these days. There are so many worldly things clamoring for our attention. There are also worthy things we need to focus on. And all of it can be draining.

God is in the business of filling us up with His mercy, grace, love, peace, and more. But a constantly moving vessel cannot easily receive. It takes time to absorb and soak in God’s Word. When we pause with God’s words — through a sermon, personal study, prayer, or music — and allow it to captivate and engross us, we will find that is time well spent. We know God will meet our needs and give us enough.

May we go to the Source for our needs and be still enough so God can fill us up for the demands of the day!

Clear vision

This week I will have surgery to address the cataract in my right eye. While I have cataracts in both eyes, only the right one is a problem at this time.

Have you ever noticed your vision or perspective change slowly over time? I rarely do. But, when things get to a point when it really feels different then I seem to realize that something has been happening, over time.

It’s kind of like the frog in the kettle. You don’t really notice where you are — maybe you are lulled into complacency — until it is (almost) too late.

Of course, I don’t feel like I am too late dealing with this cataract. And, by the end of the year my left eye might need to be done, too. That would be convenient, “deductibly” speaking.

But, if we are speaking about the way of the world and the destructive rabbit trails and worldly views that can subtly and quickly surround us, now that can really cause some issues.

How do we stand guard and protect or ensure God’s perspective is coming through?

By walking close to God.

Surrounding ourselves with Scripture is a big help. Regular communication with God — even if it is lamenting 😊– just keeping that door open is also important. Attending church services or Bible studies — and having Faith- filled friends and family are all ways to ensure — or at least help — your spiritual eyes to be aware and in synch with God.

And, sometimes, you might need to go “under the knife” to address the issue.

God is there, too!

The little seeds…

It’s time to be thinking about our outside garden.

What will we plant this year?

Is the soil depleted from last year?

What needs to happen to prep the garden area?

Are there seeds we should start indoors?

I have a little mustard seed necklace. I don’t exactly know who gave it to me but I received it when I was about 5 years old.

That little seed reminds me that something small can grow and flourish in unimaginable ways.

Don’t doubt that tiny seed.

Plant it.

Nurture it.

Tend to it.

Pray for it.

You will be amazed at what God is doing through that little seed and how that one can grow and spread its own seeds.

It’s a beautiful thing to watch unfold!

Tasks

The list for today is long, as it seems to be most every day.

What I want to do.
What I need to get done.
What I should do.

And then there are the things I maybe should leave space for…

While it is important to pray for the people in our lives, it is also important to pray for the tasks before us: that we can focus and give a good effort and that the tasks we are tackling have a good impact.

We cannot always guarantee an outcome that is commensurate with our effort. I do believe that is God’s business. We need to be about planting the seeds and setting the stage.

May the things we do aid in creating the setting that helps hearts be receptive.

If not you, than who?

I haven’t always valued the opportunity and privilege of interceding for others in prayer. In my younger years, it was kind of hit or miss. As I get older, my prayer times are more regular and even more frequent. There are so many situations and people to pray for.

Let me ask you, do you know who prays for you? Can you name a person or two who regularly carries you and your life to God and asks Him for His blessing? What a special thing. The older we get, I might say the less people there are to offer prayer. Often a parent or grandparent prayers for their children and grandchildren. But we are in that upper generation. It is now more important than ever.

I have really been working through my prayer list in the evening and in the morning. I start with my immediate family circle, then I pray for all the siblings/spouses and children, then I take it out to the cousins. I also pray for close friends and neighbors and others I know of who are traveling through illness or grief. Sometimes I just go state-by-state and I usually add in the people I know in other countries. Sometimes God brings people into my view and I know it is so I remember them in prayer and to reach out with some encouragement.

If you don’t pray regularly, I encourage you to start today by praying for that inner circle of your favorite people. Ask God to bless their mental, spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial health. Or simply name them and ask God to meet their needs as He is the one who knows them all. As you place these people into God’s loving arms, you can be confident He will meet their needs. And, don’t hesitate to call or message them with. “I prayed for you today!” Or even ask them, “Is there anything I can pray for you this week?”

Better late than…

A sleepless night and a day booked all the way through and, here we are. But it is a good reminder to me that not everything must happen like clockwork and that life happens.

And, thankfully, God accepts our offerings — our prayers and our devotion at any point in life.

Sometimes we are waylaid and bound up. Maybe we are distracted or lost. Maybe we are otherwise occupied — we might even be doing very important things.

There are times we have made some plans for God — we expect Him to show up in a certain way. Surely He is absolutely there, wherever it is, but we have an expectation on the “how” He is supposed to be present. He isn’t ever late. He isn’t never waylaid or bound up. He’s not distracted or lost or otherwise occupied —

But, sometimes He does not show up in the way we wan’t Him to.

Lord, let me trust in the how, when, and where that you choose for my situations. It may never looked how I imagined but it can be even more beautiful if I let You work things out in Your time and Your way. Let me completely trust You with my days. Amen.

All of a sudden…

my age is sneaking up on me.

I am discovering more aches and pains and limitations. Of course, we all have some level of limitation — that’s the way of it. But when you are not able to do what you once could, that can be discouraging.

The amazing thing is that God uses each of us despite our limitations. And sometimes, His work can be done because of our limitations!

Imagine that!

You might also be looking at some limitations that are revealing themselves. Some might be able to be fixed — like my cataract. Some issues may not be able to be fixed but they can be held at bay with medication. Or maybe a change in diet. Some of these things are things we have to live — and die — with so we might as well learn how to adjust. And ask God to show us His Kingdom perspective.

What are those important things that need to be shared? Most likely you are in your second half of life — or possibly your last quarter. Some of us may be in our last year of life and we have no idea.

How are we living with our limitations? Do those limitations open up new avenues for God to work in and through our lives?

Knock, knock

I never really know what is on the other side of the door. I can try to peek out from a curtain window or I can look through the peephole if there is one.

Might it be flowers? Bad news? An opportunity to assist? Am I needed?

There are so many ways a day can go. If you can start your day by being the one to “ask, seek, and knock” you might find that you are in a better position to adjust to the needs of the day.

Approaching God and recognizing His gifts of forgiveness and grace puts our heart in a good space. Offering our prayers and intercessions is a beautiful way to start the day.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Taking the time

I am sure there is just a slight bit of difference between the “taking the time” and “making the time” — maybe it is all the same.

While we all have 24 hours every day, these hours are often chopped up in so many different ways that it is hard to have two identical days. At least, for me, that is the case. The general week looks the same, but the day to day is full of so many interesting things to do. And I love the flexibility to respond to last minute opportunities. Of course, some days have more margin in them than others. And some seasons of life have more margin than others. And, still yet, sometimes I am in a better mental space or physical space than other times. All of these factor in for when I am able to take/make/carve out the time.

There are always things on the front burner and on the back burner, I just need to remember to turn off the burners and tuck some things away until I can work through them.

I encourage you to commit your plans and your day to the Lord. Ask Him to direct your steps. May we have a calendar that allows us the opportunity to respond to the needs of others while still taking time to care for our own needs.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV