Because of Grace we Press On
Do you pray? No, really. Do you pray? I’m not thinking of the simple ‘Now I lay me down to sleep’ or ‘Bless us oh Father and these our gifts’, although that’s a start. I’m talking about praying to the almighty and holy God who is omnipresent (everywhere at all times), omnipotent (all power to do all things), and omniscient (all knowing of all things at all times). I mean praying to that God. Do you ever wake up praying? Many of us have made a habit of praying as …
Have you ever glanced at something, and in a flash had a creeping feeling of dread? How can a split second of visual make such a powerful connection with your brain that, in a snap, moods are altered? This morning, I bounced down the stairs to my office – not in a falling down the stairs bounce, but in true Tigger fashion, a joyful bounce. As I turned on the light my eyes were drawn to an open magazine article with a huge elegantly printed title “Desperate for more” – …
Be careful with your moments because they become your memories. When this is over. When years have passed. How do you want to remember this season. What can you do to make it one of your finest?
When I was in 8th grade my dad caved in to my mom’s insistence that we have a piano. Not a castoff or old upright, but brand new Kimball console. You might not think that’s strange, but as I watched the men from our church unload the monstrosity from the truck, I was as mystified as any 13 year old girl could be. As soon as it was settled in the living room I had to ask. “Who’s going to play it?” You have to understand that we lived in …
‘When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.’ This is what friends do.
If you wonder, “What should I do today? How should I fill my active time?” Start here: Guard what you allow to get into your heart. Just be kind. Think before you act. Think before you speak.
Do you ever feel invisible? Think about it. Here’s what I mean by that. It isn’t that you want to be on display, receive applause, or even be the center of attention, but maybe simply to be noticed. We all go through times when we want someone, we care about, to notice us. Maybe we don’t even recognize it as a need, but we are created for relationship – and being noticed is the first step. At least it seems like a first step to relationship is becoming visible by …
Just wondering . . . have you ever had a day when everything went right? Me either. That’s for ‘other’. Well, I take that back. Sometimes I am one of the ‘other’ people. I’ve had a lot of days when everything seemed to be OK and then there are those other days. Those days seemed upside down until I remembered that there were threads I couldn’t see, weaving together the circumstances of the day stuck in the irritation cycle – you know like when the thread and bobbin don’t agree …
Don’t give up! Have you ever listened to someone’s story and heard these words, “Fine for you to say, but you don’t know what I’m going through here.” When we listen at heart level, we become aware of problems people are going through and they are traveling the path right beside you. We can relate to being thrown into the spin cycle of problems that never dry out. How many times have you thought, “If I had a towel, I’d throw it in?” There are many reasons not to throw …
Do you ever worry? This morning, I told a friend, “I’m feeling anxious and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s worry for some reason. I’m not sure.” I recognize the signs because I’ve been here before. Maybe you have too. I know what happens when worry is allowed to fester. So, in case you ‘re wrangling with worry too, let’s dissolve it together, before it has a chance to rob you of your hope and potential of this day and maybe tomorrow. If today is one of those days entered …