Take the time

Sometimes I want to get to “the other side” of an experience and so I try to bulldoze my way through it.

If it’s cleaning or a task or something that doesn’t involve human thoughts and emotions, it is usually doable.

I can power through laundry, shopping, cleaning….

But powering through things like a disagreement with someone I care for or working through a complex relationship situation or processing some difficult news is just not something to expect of myself or others.

These things take time.

We all need time to think, mourn, process, feel, understand, pray, and work through all of the emotions of difficult situations. Be sure to take the time to work through things and not just try to breeze through them. Sometimes, a good friend can be a great resource but don’t forget a pastor or a Christian therapist might also be an important resource.

Take the time.

And be confident in God’s work in you through the difficult circumstances. He loves you and is with you every step of the way.

Invitations

When we are invited to do something, we have an opportunity to decide if we want to participate in it.

God gives is plenty of opportunities to connect with Him — from sunrises to Scripture to intercessions to giving thanks to worship to Baptism to Holy Communion and more.

Each and every day He calls us — by our name — and invites us to be with Him and to join Him in the work He is doing.

May our ears and hearts hear the invitations and accept the gifts He offers us!

Overload

I love how God has wired us as humans.

We all have different capacities for different loads. One load is not better than the other. They are just different.

Our stations and situations in life differ wildly. We are spread out all over the globe. We might be single or in school or employed or retired.

While we don’t all travel the same path, as believers we are headed toward the same direction — growing in our relationship with Christ.

As for me, some days I am running joyfully in my spiritual life. Other days I am distracted and I wander off course. And sometimes I am just putting one foot in front of the other, burdened with the weight of struggles.

And when I hit overload, I can feel it. What are the demands I put on myself? Have I committed to too many things at once?

Now is as good a time as any to take stock of what things look like. If it is a short season — like a week — you might be able to stick it out. But longer then that and you likely need to reprioritize. What is sustainable? What is healthy? What is doable for you?

Ask God to give you the wisdom and discernment to know what are the things you should put down for a time as well as those things you should pick up. Call it a bit of spring cleaning — for your schedule.

There will always be needs around you. Ask God for discernment on those things that are really yours to do.

We can be so hard on ourselves…

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you are harder on yourself than you are on others?

Well, maybe you are also hard on others and you maybe should check on that.

Those voices that are in your head? Sometimes they aren’t kind at all. But, first you need to notice that they are there.

And those thoughts that are not loving and kind are not from God.

Does God love every thing we do and say? No, but He does not condemn us. So take note of the tone of voice floating around in your mind. Ok, it might not be audible, but there is such a thing as self-talk.

Negative thoughts make their appearance and take root at a variety of points in our lives. At some point we need to work through them and dismantle them.

But, spending more time in God’s Word and surrounding yourself with Scripture is definitely an important first step. I didn’t come up with this phrase but I think it can be helpful — it is hard to stand on Scripture when you aren’t in it.

You know how satan’s schemes. He distracts us and we even distract ourselves. Will we ever get to the bottom of it all? Maybe. Maybe not. But spending time with God, offering intercessions for others, expressing gratitude, and memorizing encouragement from Scripture is never a waste.

Write out your thoughts and prayers. Offer them up.

And give yourself the grace you are so inclined to give others!

May God grant you His perfect peace!

Not good enough

So many times we undertake a new thing and quickly judge ourselves for it not being “good enough.”

It’s easy to browbeat ourselves, but it isn’t very helpful.

I am guilty of expecting something closer to perfection when I embark on a new project even though I know this isn’t how it works.

We are blessed to live near our young grandchildren and we see them at least once a week. They have been learning to feed themselves, walk, talk, recognize letters, color, and all sorts of things. Everything is new for them and they aren’t great at most of it the 1-20th try. And yet, they keep trying new things — ALL DAY LONG!

It’s true, sometimes they get frustrated but we encourage them and cheer them on when we make progress.

Do that for yourself, too!

Even though I might be taking baby steps, I know God sees the bigger picture of my development and He is pleased with progress. And He can also work with the setbacks. He is the Great Redeemer!

So as you consider adding something new to your day — let’s say, 5 minutes of prayer or 10 minutes of walking or an extra glass of water — don’t chide yourself for not taking on a bigger challenge. Small steps add up to big progress.

And, today is a great day to start that new thing you’ve been thinking about.

Refreshment

Are you looking for a tangible way to feel refreshed, renewed, and reborn?

Take a shower!

But, not just any shower. Take a shower and remember your baptism.

God wants us to come just as we are!

— no need to clean up

God wants us to let Him wash away our sins!

— no need to clean up first

God wants us to trust that His work is enough

— there is nothing we add to His work

Think it over. How can a simple shower remind you of God’s work?

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me!

Your rearview mirror

I don’t always recommend looking back — mainly because it can throw us off while moving forward. You need your eyes to take you where you are going next.

But, that is the beauty of using a rearview mirror. It’s a glance. And, that is all it should be.

Unless, of course, you are remembering God’s faithfulness over the course of your life. That is a place to spend some time, especially if you are looking forward to something that is unknown like a job change or relationship change. Maybe there is an unexpected death or medical diagnosis.

God is with you!

It is worth it to look back and document how God has provided for you in the past —

Have you gathered some stones for a remembrance spot? Have you marked the places of God’s faithfulness by journaling? How do you remember?

We have many accounts in Scripture highlighting God’s faithfulness. Have you written any accounts of your own? Do your friends or family members know of your faith journey?

Think about three important times where God’s faithfulness was apparent. Consider writing or otherwise recording those times. Find someone to share it with. And consider making or buying something tangible that can help you remember His faithfulness. A faith marker can serve as a quick reminder. Yes, we should be looking forward and ready to embrace the day. And when we glance in our rearview mirror, seeing all the faith markers along the path of our life helps us remember He was, He is, and He is to come.

God is with us!

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.

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!

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?”