Renewal

For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Self-doubt is a thief;

It takes away courage,

creativity and constancy.

Self-doubt looms over achievement

and hides possibilities.

Self-doubt takes away faith in God,

belief in His liberally given gifts

and success.  

Trust finds unseen paths

along life's journey.

Trust ignites faith

to navigate rocky roads,

ford raging rivers and climb rugged hills.

Trust is God's catalyst, a means

by which we become more

than we ever thought we could be.

Trust

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The winds howl and fear creeps in

Like dust particles seeping in everywhere

On the sill of consciousness

In the crevices of doubt.

In the darkness worry sweeps

Into the false safety of waking

Uncertainty brought to life by the sigh

Of tree branches caught in nature’s dance.

In the moan of sound I hear a cry

Deeply felt but surely not spoken.

No! I made no sound. Or did I utter a prayer

A cry for relief from churning worry?

A calming voice softer than a sigh,

Louder than the wind, stronger than my heavy heart

“Have no fear; I am the light of your salvation

Of whom should you be afraid? None, for I am here."

Joy in the Morning

Yes I Can!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23, 24.

What part of dieting do you like? Anyone have a good answer to that question? Dieting is a negative experience no matter how you look at it. Too often it’s a review of the “can’ts.” I can’t eat when I want to. I can’t eat what I want. I can’t eat too much. I can’t have PIE!

Instead of thinking negatively, try using a healthy living approach and then work at it with all your heart.

I can feel better if I walk regularly. I can eat this because it is healthy for my body. I can lose weight if I make healthier choices. I can be of service when I stop thinking of the negative experience of dieting and start thinking about other people.

That piece of pie you thought you couldn’t do without? Make a gift of it to a shut in, someone who probably needs and wants your company more than they want that piece of pie.

There is always a choice

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Minister and author Max Lucado writes in Everyday Blessings, that the Bible is the story of two gardens, Eden and Gethsemane. Eden was the beginning, and Gethsemane was far from being the end.

In a few words Lucado reminds the reader there are consequences to the road not traveled and the path taken. We have choices every day that take us away from or toward God. Jesus leads the way, but each of us gets to decide whether we will follow. There was one path Jesus took that none could walk with him, the path that led to the hill where he would be put to a brutal death. And then came the garden moment when he was seen by two women who went to honor his death only to find he was very much alive. We enter into the Lenten season to prepare for his resurrection celebration. God with us, God in us and God for us.

Listen and you will hear

Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

I’m part of an online prayer ministry that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The heartbreak comes from realizing how many people are in deep distress. The needs are as wide as a river and as high as a mountain, daunting in scope and depth. My constant prayer is that each requester will be reminded by someone close to them of the words found in 1 Peter 5:7. Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you. 

I am uplifted by the number of people who write in to say, “Thanks.” Thanks for praying for me. Thanks for listening. Thanks for responding. Thanks to God for life and grace.

In our lives at least once a day we come into contact with someone who just wants us to listen. Not talk, not give advice, not judge… just listen.

Shopping Spree

 Proverbs 22:9 - A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

I went shopping the other day,

It seemed a good idea at the time,

But couldn’t find a thing to buy,

I didn’t spend one thin dime.

I came home feeling righteous

Frugal and quite proud

Not adding to my overstuffed closet

Made we want to shout out loud.

And then I looked in the paper

For something interesting to read

And saw stories of hurting children

And many people in need.

Suddenly I knew why I hadn't

Made a purchase to add to my store

It was the good Lord saying

“Others in this world need it much more.”

I'll take my next shopping spree

Where hunger and pain seem to thrive

And through charity and church

Help one family, one person survive.

Renewal

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

As I write this northern New Mexico wind howls outside sweeping away snow clouds; it stirs in me recollections of winters past. When I was a child we lived in Hobbs, New Mexico, where snow was rare, but I recall those magical times when we would come out of church on a Sunday morning and find an overlay of new snowfall that muffled everything, creating a crust of white making the world look fresh and new. That’s what happens when we have a relationship with God. He muffles the noise of the world so we can hear His voice. He covers our transgressions with forgiveness and creates in us a clean heart, one able to take in His love and then share it with others. Just as the snow changes the landscape of the world, God changes us.