One night awake at 2 a.m., as I lay in bed, I tried to go back to sleep. I could hear a little bird chirping outside my bedroom window. I thought you cannot sleep either.
All in Quiet Time
Breathing Worship
One reason I love our church is singing our praises together each Sunday. Whether we are on key or not, we have the privilege to vocalize our love for Jesus. Some enjoy quiet hymns others fast-moving praise songs. If we are truly showing the Lord how much we love Him, it’s worship!
Quiet Movement
What moves you?
I mean … moves you to action … compels you to do something.
Anger? Injustice? Anger can motivate.
Sauntering
As I longed to be out on the mountain trails this summer, the following quote by John Muir, writer and naturalist, caught my eye:
“People ought to saunter in the mountains, not hike! …people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, ‘A la sainte terre, to the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers.”
The Importance of Prep Work
If Jesus took the time he needed to get on board and ready for the day, how much more do we need to do the same thing. Spiritual readiness does not happen by accident, we must be intentional about it.
When My Heart Burns
“Mommie, my heart hurts. I think it’s Jesus kicking it because He wants in!” my granddaughter announced on the way to school. Did she feel preschool anxiety or had God created an opportunity for a spiritual conversation?
At the Savior’s Feet
She listened to Jesus’ words, believed them, and embraced them. It was Mary who later acted in belief of Jesus’ words that He would be killed in Jerusalem and raised to life.
Stories of the Faithful
My first job as a journalist was working the night shift at a newspaper, so part of my job was to write obituaries. The reporter I was replacing gladly handed me the obit basket. He didn’t like writing obits and even created a standard template so you could fill in the blanks. I remember looking at the basket and flipping through the forms. Sure, they had basic information, but—call it the inquiring mind of a rookie reporter, or a nudge from God—I wanted to know more about each person’s story.
In the Silence
The sound of silence… Do you know it?
There are times with God though… when it is too quiet.
Blind Trust
I enjoy the crazy ride of a roller coaster.
All the surprises of things that you cannot see ahead of you… twisting and turning… ups and downs.
But to ride them… it is a step of trust.
A Second Time
Wait… can I try that again?
The gift of second chances.
God was so kind to Jonah. Do you know his story?
The Impossible is Possible
Is there a situation that you are facing that seems hopeless right now?
I have been there.
Fingerprints
I looked out the back door window enjoying the country view of pine trees.
Something blurred my vision… I could see fingerprints.
I had just cleaned the glass… but there they were… again.
I recognized the hand pattern.
Hmmm… I knew who the fingerprints were from.
God has fingerprints…
Your Story
My heart broke when I heard her story.
Pain and difficulty caused by others and sometimes herself.
The struggle to forgive.
Then my heart jumped for joy when she shared the difference Jesus made in her life.
Making the Most of it
His heart hurt, he was frustrated.
I asked, “What are you going to do?”
He said, “I am going to thank God anyway.”
Crossroad
As I sat at a crossroad, I was unsure of which direction to turn.
I have never had a good sense of direction.
If anyone gets lost… it’s me.
Can you relate?
What rules your heart?
The words just spoken over me tore a gash in my heart.
Harsh words can hurt.
In a moment… I had a decision to make… How am I going to respond?
Unanswered Prayer
Do you like to share your dessert?
It can be a nice way to have a tasty treat by sharing a small amount.
But what happens when the group partaking becomes selfish… and the spoon almost seems a weapon?
How Well Do You Multitask?
We used to think we could get more done by multitasking, but the latest research shows this to be false. According to numerous studies, multitasking causes more errors than focusing on a single task.
Look Around
Usually when I start something new, there is… training.
Typically, it is from someone who has been there before me.
And often, I am very thankful for the training.
But it can be a challenge for both the trainee… and the trainer.