But wait...There’s more!

I love flowers, all kinds. Flowers in fields, carpeting the hills with their color, Flowers in potted plants with their showy blooms brightening up their little corner of the world, Flowers on tree branches with their perfume that floats by on a breeze. Flowers bring color to the world and make me smile.

The scent of the orange blossom in the spring is always a wonderful surprise to me. I don't have any orange trees in my yard, but every spring its perfume sneaks by on a breeze and makes me pause and enjoy. I stop for a moment and notice the blue in the sky, the colors around me, and the sound of birdsong in the air. How lovely. A blessing.

The orange blossom flower isn't all the tree has to give. Once the tree has flowered, the oranges will begin to grow. Imagine that...beautiful flowers AND fruit!

I stopped to think about that. You and I are a lot like a fruit tree. There are different cycles to our lives. Growing fruit takes time, though, and the conditions have to be right before we can flower, before we can produce fruit. The growth happens in the waiting.

To those of you in the leaf stage who are waiting and wondering why it is taking so long for something to bloom in your life, take heart it will happen, and it will be beautiful!

But to those of you who feel that you have already bloomed and you are wondering "what do I do now" or "can there be anything to look forward to" I say, but wait...there's more! God is preparing you for the fruit stage. You thought your story had already hit the highlights. God, however, is getting ready to reveal a whole new plan for you, another chapter you couldn't even imagine!

God is the gardener, planting seeds, pruning for growth, admiring the flower, and rejoicing in the fruit!

Remember Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So, grow, blossom, and wait for the fruit! It will be spectacular!

2nd Place Pig

I was 11 years old, in the sixth grade, when our art teacher said we were going to work with clay. We were instructed to create something, and paint it. She would put it in the kiln for us but we would have to wait to see our finished creations until after the kiln process was complete. The kiln, she explained, would get very hot and would dry our clay and set the paint, making a form of pottery.

I decided I would make a small piggy bank for my dad.  I formed it just so and gave it a perky snout and eyes with eyelashes. I finished up with a slit in the top for the coins. I chose a bright red color for my pig. It didn't look red when I painted it on my pig, it looked brown. My teacher said the heat in the kiln would turn the paint to red. She put our creations in the kiln and said we'd have to wait several days to see our finished product. 

The day came and we came to class excited to see our creations! I couldn't wait to see my piggy bank! When I got to my seat, there sat a skinny, brown piggy bank with a spot of red on his snout. I had to hold my tears in, it was so ugly. How could I give it to my dad? I asked my teacher about the color, she said perhaps the kiln wasn't hot enough to help the paint change to red. I was devastated.  The teacher announced that she was entering our artwork and creations in the school's upcoming art show. There would be ribbons for the winners.

On art show day, I ran all the way to the library to see my piggy bank on display. I was hoping against hope the judges would see my creativity and the personality on the face of my pig. I got to the table where my pig was displayed and, wonder of wonders, there was a 2nd place ribbon next to my pig! I picked up the ribbon, so excited, and turned to show a classmate. It was then, I realized, the ribbon wasn't mine...my pig hadn't even won an honorable mention. Well, of course not. Why would I even think my pig had a chance? It really was an ugly pig. I put the ribbon back, picked up my pig, and quietly went back to class with tears in my eyes.

 

That night, I braved up and gave my dad the piggy bank I made for him. I was ashamed it was so ugly. My dad oohed and ahhed over it! He loved the perky snout and bright eyes! He got up and said he was going to put it on his dresser so he could see it and enjoy it. He even gave me a quarter to put in as the very first coin. My dad loved my piggy bank! He kept it on his dresser until he passed away. Then, my piggy bank came home to live with me. 

You see, to my dad, my piggy bank was beautiful simply because I made it. He didn't see the flaws. He only saw that his daughter had taken the time to create something for him. To my dad, it wasn't a 2nd place pig, it was a grand prize!

It has taken me this long to remember the story and to share it. There have been many opportunities to think of myself as 2nd place, or not good enough. But then I remember, I am exactly who God created me to be. I might have some flaws and might not always do or say the right thing, but I am still going through my heavenly father's kiln process and I am not finished yet. I will never need a ribbon to prove my worth because I am already loved, just as I am, perky nose and all!

Are Your Blinders On?

You've heard the expression, "they must have their blinders on." This is usually in reference to someone who looks clueless as to what is happening around them, things others think they should be paying attention to. I think there are times, however, when wearing blinders is exactly what we need to do. Too often we get caught up in what is happening around us, and that distraction keeps us from focusing on what is really important.

When worries about family, jobs, health, or even what's going on in the world overwhelm us, it is time to put our blinders on to keep us focused. Blinders do not block our sight, they narrow our focus. Our focus should be on the One who who is creator of all things and is above all things. He knows our every situation and already has has a plan for us. We need only to focus on Him and not on what is going on around us. He will carry us through whatever our current circumstances are and can give us peace in the process.

There is a story in the Bible about Peter being in a boat and seeing Jesus walking on the water. Peter said, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you." Jesus said "Come" and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). You see, as long as his focus was on Jesus, he could walk on the water. When he took his focus off Jesus and focused on his surroundings, he began to sink. Jesus reached out his hand and saved him. Jesus can reach out his hand and save you, too.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." We are not to focus on our understanding, our perception, or our circumstances, but instead focus on Him and trust him, with all our hearts. We can submit our ways and concerns to Him, and He will make a way for us.

Friends, when circumstances and our surroundings are overwhelming to us, let's "put our blinders on" and narrow our focus to the One who can give us peace and will carry us through.  

Sometimes blinders are a good thing!




Prov 3:5

Giftwrapped People

Don't you love a beautifully wrapped gift? The colored paper, the multi-looped bow with curly tendrils cascading over the side all seem to say "open me, first!" What about a gift wrapped in plain brown paper with a homemade bow? Let me ask you this...is the gift any better in the fancy wrap or any less in the plain wrap? I know you are probably thinking what matters most is what's inside and the meaning that is behind it. 

People are a lot like this. Some may be fancy, some may be plain. Some may be sparkly, some may seem dull. Some might dress fancy to be better accepted. Some might dress plainly so as not to be noticed. Some may even dress in a seemingly attention-getting way, but it may be more about the attention on the wrapping and less about the attention on them.

Too often we judge someone by their "giftwrapping" and don't take the time to get to know them. When we judge someone by what we see or by our rules and feelings, etc., we miss out on the treasure they really are. Each person is unique with their own "amazingness" built in. Each and every person is a gift. People are put in our pathways for a specific purpose and reason. It is our job to learn more about their gift. 

What happens, though, when we judge our own giftwrapping and think "I'm not good/pretty/handsome enough" or "I'm no fun, I'm boring"? Maybe we need to take time to look beyond our "giftwrapping" and see the gift we really are. Each of us was created with our own gifts, talents, and "amazingness." 

Always remember, whether it's about others or about ourselves, it's not about the giftwrapping, it's what's inside that counts.

The Perfect Puzzle Piece

Do you ever feel like you don't fit in? Like a puzzle piece that doesn't fit no matter which way you turn it? Even if you could force it to fit, you know it wouldn't fit the picture. 

Well, there's a reason why it doesn't fit. You may be trying to fit your puzzle piece into the wrong picture. God created you to be unique, special, gifted with your own talents, your own ways, your own smile. You are exactly perfect for the picture of your life he is creating. Even though you may only see small sections of the picture, trust that each piece is carefully planned, carefully placed.

Sometimes we look at another's life picture and wish ours could be just like it. They seem to have a perfect house, a perfect job, and a fun group of friends. The thing is you can't see the work behind the picture, and all it took to build it. What might work for their picture may not be right for yours.

Your puzzle picture is a masterpiece in progress. Get excited about it coming together. Live in full color! Take time to admire the picture as it builds. Don't be a missing piece in your own picture. You are the perfect puzzle piece for your masterpiece!

Palm Sunday: A Time of Celebration, a A Time of Reflection - His Love Cannot be Canceled

Palm Sunday...a day of celebration, a day of reflection. "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Blessed is the king of Israel!" " John 12:13

Jesus had come into Jerusalem during Passover and the crowds were shouting and celebrating him. They had either seen or heard of the many miracles he had done and of his message. They thought he was coming to be their king. Yet...in less than a week some of the crowd called for his crucifixion. What happened? Did he change? No. They did. When he didn't meet their expectations, when he didn't "fit" their perspective of how things should be, that crowd not only no longer supported him, they sought to cancel him completely...and they thought they did. But God had other plans. God cannot be canceled. His plans were and are beyond any this world can conceive.

On the morning of the third day after Jesus' death on the cross, they came to the tomb, saw the stone rolled away, and found it empty. "Two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning said, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has risen!"" Luke 24:1-6

Jesus came to show God's love for each of us and that love is beyond anything we could think or comprehend. Beyond "group choice", beyond societal agendas, beyond cancel culture. Before you or I came to be, before we could even make any of the mistakes we would surely make, he had a plan to show us his love for us and to reconcile us to him.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the wold, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

You see, God had a plan to include us...not to cancel us. We can be forever loved, forever His. We need only to accept this incredible gift of love that He offers us. Believe. That's it. Believe. His love for us cannot ever be canceled. We cannot be canceled.

"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)

Do you feel canceled? Feel unloved? Run to the Father today and receive the love he already has for you. Bask in that love. It will never go away, you will never be canceled, you are loved forever ❤. 

It is Finished - Turning the Page

Well, it's finally done. My sister and I completed the sale of my mother's house. In August, it will have been two years since she's been gone. It has been a difficult two years. A long journey. A journey we did not choose.

God could have made the journey go quicker, but quicker isn't necessarily better. He knew that in order for us to get to the other side of this journey, we would need to go through it...and he would be beside us every step of the way.

Emptying a house of lifelong memories, and all that entails, feels almost like you are erasing your loved one. You are afraid to let go, afraid you'll "forget." Navigating through those two years required us to revisit the different decades of our lives with our family. With every picture, every memento, every saved birthday card, we paused...and remembered. There were a lot of memories, relived and reloved.

The closing of the house was difficult. With this pandemic, only the people signing the papers were allowed to attend. Since my sister was the estate representative, I could not go with her. I waited in the car in the parking lot and prayed for her. While waiting in the car, the thought came to me, "It is finished." As time passed, I opened up my phone to Facebook, just to think about something else. The first thing that appeared was a friend's "like" of a pastor's message called "It is finished." I had the distinct feeling that this was a message for my sister and I, that the long journey we had endured was finally over.

We had spent nearly two years enmeshed in the journey and saying good bye to what once was. We were stuck in time and couldn't even allow ourselves the chance to grieve. There was so much that had to be done. If you've walked this journey, then you know it's kind of a "put one foot in front of the other and keep going" mindset. So when the "It is finished" thought came, it was like a message saying, it's ok. This journey is finished. It's time to breathe, again.

Going through the house contents and the memories, saying good bye to the house, handing over the keys, were all hard things. We couldn't rush through it. God knew we needed the time. Time to remember, time to heal. With the keys handed over, it was time to take a step into our new journey. The journey where there would be new memories made. We will never stop missing our mother but she will always be with us in our hearts. We know that we'll see her again, one day, in heaven.

If you've lost a loved one, you know how hard the journey is. Moving on can feel like you would be "forgetting them" and leaving their memory behind. The truth is they were always a part of us and will always be a part of us. They are a part of our story.

Each of us has our own journey to follow and each journey takes its own measure of time. I know now, that "It is finished" is not a closing of the book, it is merely a turning of the page into a new chapter. I can go back and "re-read" the memories any time I want to, but it is ok for me to step forward and take those memories with me.

May God bless those of you in the midst of your own journeys. I pray that you are held by the one who will never leave you and who will walk with you through your own journey, to help you as you "turn the page."

The Scenic Route

I don't know about you, but I'm a planner. If I'm going on a trip, I make a list and check off the items as I complete them. If I'm going to be traveling by car, I check which route would be the best to travel. Even if I'm just going someplace in town, I'll check the maps to make sure I'm going the right way. If I am in town, I want the shortest route possible, because I'm probably trying to get someplace on time. If I'm going on a road trip, however, I may choose a longer route to see other places along the way.

The other day, it occurred to me that I tend to live my life the same way. I plan things way ahead of time so there are no "surprises" along the way. If I have a plan, I know what to expect, right? Maybe planning ahead helps me to feel that I have some control over the way things happen in my life. Maybe if I'm "always prepared," I can avoid the stress of sudden changes because "I have a plan for that."

The only trouble with that, is that life rarely "goes as planned" and if I'm always following "the plan," won't that be boring?

I've notice something else. God prefers the scenic route.

When I'm all about getting from "Point A to Point B," He's all about what happens BETWEEN "Point A and Point B."

All this time I've been so busy planning when He's had a plan for me since before I was born. In Psalm 139:16, it says "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (NLT)  Not only that, but He has GOOD plans for me! (Jeremiah 29:11)

So, why I am so busy trying to plan every little detail?

The thing is, I LOVE road trips and the scenic route!!! I love seeing new places and all the interesting things along the way. I love going through the little towns with the "mom and pop" stores. I love seeing the different types of trees and flowers as I go from place to place. I love meeting the people in the different places, too.

Just maybe...God already knows that. Maybe He's trying to tell me to leave the planning to Him.

It's OK to have a plan and to plan for things. Trying to have a plan for everything, though, means that I might miss some really wonderful things along the way.

Yes, there might be some surprises and changes, but maybe the plan is for me to travel through them. Maybe there are valuable lessons to be learned that I wouldn't know if I took the shortest route, or even a longer route around them.

Oh, I'll probably still have a plan for a lot of things, but I think I'm going to leave most of the planning up to my Travel Agent (since He already has a plan). Wherever it takes me, I'm going to do my best to enjoy the Scenic Route!

Act Your Age?

Have you ever heard someone say "Act your age!"? Now I ask you, how can anyone act their age? It's the first time they are that age. They've never been that age before. There are no manuals or guides telling you how to act at any particular age. There are, however, countless people with opinions of how one should act, dress, or live, at every age. I'm not sure where they get their information from or how they became the "Age Sage," but they sure seem to know how everyone else should live.

For example, growing up I would overhear things like "She should cut her hair. At her age, she shouldn't have long hair." Or something like, "Is she trying to look younger? She's too old to wear that outfit!" I'm quite sure that there are no rules for either. And how would you know the cutoff dates, anyway?

This year, I've decided to start acting my age. The only problem is that I don't know which age to act. Should I act my chronological age? Should I act my creative age? (I feel like I'm just getting started so that would be closer to 6 years old.) Should I act my fun age? (It would be hard to choose just one, as I have had many fun ages!) Should I act my "just graduated high school with the whole world ahead of me" age? (That was a good one, too!) I have so many ages to choose from and since I have so many...I can choose a different age for each day!

I have a very good friend that lives her life to the fullest. She has, and continues to be, an inspiration to me and to many others. She is a joy to be around! Several years ago, my friend started referring to Tuesdays as Tutu Tuesdays. On the day she retired, someone gave her a tutu and she wore it! What fun! (When I grow up, I want to be just like her!)

Yes, I know that there are times in life to be serious and to think as our "chronological age" should think, but for all of the rest of the times, we should be free to think and act whatever age we feel like!

Life was meant to be LIVED, so I'm going to do just that!

How about you? What age do you want to act today? Pick one and go have fun!

Wait...I think I hear laughter at the playground. Gotta go, there's a swing with my name on it!

How Long Would You Hold Onto a Hurt? 100 Years? Maybe It's Time to Forgive.

I read an article, recently, about Olivia de Havilland's relationship with her sister, Joan Fontaine. From the information in the article, it would seem that the sisters were frequently at odds with each other to the point of going many years without speaking with each other, and, in fact, had been at odds since childhood. Each side had their own version of the hurts the other had caused and felt they were justified in their hurt. The recent article was from an interview with Ms. de Havilland, who turned 100 years old earlier this year. Ms. de Havilland mentioned an estrangement between them that did not change in the last years of her sister's life. Ms. Fontaine, who was 1 year younger than her sister, passed away in 2013 at 96 years old.

Let the sadness of this sink in for a moment. If these sisters were truly at odds with each other from childhood, their hurts impacted their lives for almost 90 years. Imagine all that was lost or all that could have been gained had there been a true reconciliation and forgiveness from each, for each. Imagine the impact this had on their families' lives. Each sister probably had what they thought were valid reasons to hold onto their hurts and not to extend forgiveness.

Life hurts. Whether the hurt comes from a loved one, a friend or a stranger, it is no less a hurt. Some hurts are so big, we don't know how we can move beyond it. We can't even think about, and won't even think about, forgiving. "They don't deserve it and never will!" is the thinking that often keeps us chained to the hurt.

The biggest problem with holding onto a hurt, is that we are the ones who are mostly likely to be damaged by it. The longer we hold onto it, the more of "a hold" it has on our lives. It begins to affect our outlook, our everyday life, our mental health, and our physical health.

Another big problem with holding onto a hurt is that it also begins to affect our loved ones' lives. There are families so estranged by the hurt between two family members, that all contact is lost among the family members. In many cases, no one really knows what the estrangement is about. In some cases, the reason is remembered and repeated throughout the generations, lest the reason "to hold the hurt" is forgotten.

Maybe it's time to forgive.

When we forgive someone else for hurting us, we are not saying we are "ok with" or accepting of what they did. We are also not saying that we'll act like it never happened. A true hurt is never really forgotten, but true forgiveness will enable the person to move beyond the hurt and break free of those chains holding them to the hurt.

Extending forgiveness is one of the hardest things there is to do in life. In many situations, we can't do it on our own. There is a line from Matthew West's song, Forgiveness, that says "It's the opposite of how you feel, when the pain they caused is just too real, it takes everything you have just to say the word...Forgiveness." He goes on to say that when you forgive "It'll clear the bitterness away, it can even set a prisoner free; There is no end to what it's power can do. So, let it go and be amazed, by what you see through the eyes of grace, the prisoner that it really frees, is you."

Holding onto a hurt keeps you a prisoner. Forgiveness sets you free.

Do you want to be free? Are you having a hard time forgiving? Tell Jesus about it. Ask him to help you forgive. He will give you the grace to do what seems to be impossible.

How long will you hold onto your hurt? How long will it keep you from all that could be in your life? I'm not sure that the de Havilland sisters intended to hold onto their hurts for almost 90 years, but they did. So much time lost.

If you'd like to hear the incredible story behind Matthew West's song, Forgiveness, I've provided a link, here. It's a story about someone who had every right to hold onto their hurt and did, for a period of time, but they chose to forgive.

Don't let a hurt keep you prisoner one day longer than it already has.

Forgive. Be set free.

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!

There is a fun ride in Disney World® (and in Disneyland®) called the Haunted Mansion. You are in a slow moving ridecar and meander through the Haunted Mansion. Toward the end of the ride, you hear the narrator tell you to "Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts" and you see an image of three ghosts hitchhiking. You pass a mirror in the final part of the ride and you see yourself and one of the "ghosts" appearing to be riding with you. It's all in fun and you know it's not real.

Thinking about that ride and the "hitchhiking ghosts" made me think about real-life ghosts. No, I'm not talking about spirits or ghosts from "another world," I'm talking about ghosts from our past. The ghosts of regret, past mistakes, past pain or even bad memories. These are the real-life ghosts we need to beware of.

You see, we all have things in our lives that can pop up at any point and try to "hitchhike" along while we try to live our lives. Sometimes we don't even know that we've allowed them to come along for the ride. We may even have thought we were "finished" with whatever has reappeared and are surprised to find that it's back on our minds, weighing us down.

It is difficult to live our everyday lives while carrying the "ghosts" of yesterday.  And we shouldn't.

We can learn from past regrets or mistakes and change things, going forward, and we can seek help for those things in our past that caused pain to help us know how to live, going forward.

Today and tomorrow are new days. In order to make the most of them, we need to truly live.

Life is an amazing ride, live it to the fullest....and beware of those "hitchhiking ghosts!"

What's Your Wattage?

Shopping for lightbulbs, nowadays, can be a confusing experience. They come in all shapes, sizes, and wattages. There are spiral CFL ones for lamps, yellow bug lights for front porches, long flourescent ones for over kitchen sinks, and on and on. You also have to know the wattage that you need for the fixture. (Why do there have to be so many different kinds? Did Thomas Edison know it would get this complicated?) It is important, though, to have just the right bulb with just the right wattage to get just the right amount of light.

We are a lot like lightbulbs. We come in all shapes and sizes, too, but our wattages can vary from day to day or from moment to moment. Some days we really "shine brightly" and other days it's like someone hit the "dimmer switch." Sometimes, we can even be like one of those "3-way" bulbs, that with a turn of the switch we choose to be brighter or dimmer based on the situation or who we are talking with.

Did you ever walk into a dark room and turn on a lamp? Didn't it fill the room with a nice glow? Have you ever met someone like that? Someone that just seemed to glow from within, that their smile just brightened up the room? Have you also met someone for whom "the light within seemed to have gone out?"

Our "light" is important. To our families, to others, and to ourselves.

We have the ability to shine a light in the lives of others and in our own lives, but we need to be aware of our wattage. Some situations require only a soft glow. You wouldn't want to use a 100 watt bulb in a small, study area, would you? Similarly, a friend might just need only the soft glow of friendship during a difficult time. There are times, though, when the glare of a spotlight might be needed, especially if it's an area of your life you need to work on.

The most important thing to know about your wattage is that you need to be "plugged in." Without power, it won't matter how many watts a lightbulb has, it won't shine.

There are many verses in the Bible about light. The two below, I believe, really speak to how we can shine:
John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke, again, to the people he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Matthew 5:14 - You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
If we have "the light of life" within us, we can shine like a town built on a hill.

You see, it is up to each one of us how we choose to shine. You just might be the light that makes a difference in someone else's life. Your light can encourage others to shine.

How do you shine today? What's your wattage?

Stepping Into the Unknown....

I recently returned to the town where I started my life over 30 years ago. I came to be with a dear friend who had just lost the love of her life. I came to pray for her and to pay my respects. She is stepping into a life she never wanted with no idea how to continue. Driving the same streets that I drove on all those years ago, I remember feeling something similar.

30 years ago, I had to make a decision for myself and my children. Suffice it to say, we could not stay where we were. I needed to take my children to live someplace where they could have a safe, happy environment to live. It was a scary decision. I didn't want to make it, but was forced to. I had no idea how to continue. For a long time, I just put one foot in front of the other and immersed myself in my children and their lives. I don't know how long it took for me to move from merely "existing" to "living." When you are in a "place" in your life that is so far from where you used to be, and you know you can't "go back," it takes everything you have to just move forward.

Little by little, as time passed, I began to "open the door" and look out at what had become my new life. I got a job and went to work and learned new skills. I met someone at work I became friends with. She invited me to go to church with her. I took the children to the park every weekend and let them play to their heart's content. We were growing into our new lives. It took a long time, but one day I realized I had begun to "live" again.

Time keeps passing whether we want it to or not. We cannot change the things that happen in life. And for awhile, we might not be able to do more than just live one moment at a time.

Let me say, my story cannot begin to compare with what my friend is going through. Anyone who has ever lost someone close to them, who has lost the love of their life, is in one of the very hardest places in life. There is no comparison to the grief, the sadness, the feeling of loss they are going through. none. They are forced into a life they didn't choose, a life without their loved one.

To my friend, I am praying for you. As you move through this time of grief into a life you did not choose, I pray for grace to hold you closely. I pray that the good memories and the love will fill the empty places in your heart. I pray that I'll know how to help you, how to walk with you. And I pray, that one day, you will be able to see the sun shine again.

Did You Put on Your Sonscreen? What's Your SPF?

I was driving to work the other day and the radio DJ was talking about summer. He said now that summer was approaching, we needed to remember to put on our sunscreen if we were going to be out in the sun.

And just like that...it came to me...SONscreen. We need spiritual Sonscreen coverage everyday, and not just in the summer.

Growing up in South Florida, I know all about sunscreen and sunburns. When the sun is hot and high, you'd better be slathered up with the sunscreen or you'll be sorry later. What a lot of people don't realize though, is that you need to wear the sunscreen even if the sun isn't "hot and high." If the sky is overcast and you are going to be outside during the day, you still need the sunscreen. The UV rays are there, whether it's sunny or cloudy.

It's the same way with Sonscreen. We need His "coverage" everyday, regardless of the "weather." There's good and there's evil in this world and I'm sure you've seen both.  It's easier to protect yourself against things you can see, but it's not so easy to protect yourself against things you can't see. There's a lot that goes on in the spiritual realm "behind the scenes" that we can't see. It's a battle between good and evil. In 1 Peter: 5-8, it says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." The devil (and his representatives) are looking for ways to trip you up, to lead you down wrong pathways, and to try to ruin you.

Have you ever said or done something you wish you hadn't and then had it repeating in your mind over and over? Even after you tried to make amends with the person or seek forgiveness? You feel badly or guilty every time the thought comes back. That's not God reminding you. In God there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). The devil would like nothing better than for you to feel guilty and will remind us of our failures to get us to focus on that instead of the goodness of God and His forgiveness.

What we really need to do is to put on the Sonscreen with the highest SPF (Spiritual Protection Factor).  In Ephesians 6:10-17, it talks about putting on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the plans of the devil. In verse 16, it talks about taking up the "shield of faith" so that you can "quench the fiery darts of the wicked one." Now that's some serious SPF!

I don't know about you, but I'm going to try to remember to slather my Sonscreen daily. I want to be protected.

How about you? Are you covered? What's your SPF?

Rejection or Redirection?

What if rejection is really only redirection?

The thought came to me the other day as I was pondering some changes in my life. In many of the cases, what seemed to be a very difficult time or circumstance actually was almost a blessing in disguise. If the one door had not closed, I would not have looked for another and would not have found the better door to walk through.

Have you ever experienced a rejection? Rejection hurts. It doesn't matter where it comes from, it just hurts. Sometimes it's hard to get past a rejection. It can affect how we feel about life and how we feel about ourselves. It can keep us from moving forward.

Sometimes, we won't make a change until we are forced to. Even if we're uncomfortable. Even if we know it's not where we need to be. Sometimes, rejection is exactly what we need to move forward.

What if we changed how we thought about rejection? What if we just considered it as redirection, instead?

Have you ever tried to navigate one of those maze puzzles? There's usually only one way in and one way out. Getting out of the maze involves making several wrong turns, having to change direction at dead ends, and keeping on going until you find the right path out.

Life can be a lot like a maze. It's full of opportunities to change direction, isn't it?

The next time we face a rejection, we can choose to consider it as a redirection and then take a different path to move forward.  The new path might be exactly what we need and might take us to wonderful places we never even thought of!

Are You "Puzzled?"

Growing up I really liked doing puzzles. There was just something about getting a new puzzle and knowing that if you put it together just right, it would be a beautiful picture and look just like the picture on the box! There was also the challenge involved in finding the right pieces. Sometimes you really had to look hard for them because the pieces looked so much alike. It helped if you could find the pieces that had the same color. I would always start with the corner and edge pieces so I could build the framework for the picture. Piece by piece the picture came together. You simply cannot rush putting a puzzle together. It takes patience and quiet thought. But, oh the satisfaction when it was finished!

It occurred to me the other day that we are a lot like puzzles. We make our plans for life much like putting a puzzle together. We know what we want and make a plan to get there. It's kind of like we're building the framework of our lives with the corners and edge pieces. We go to school, get a job, get married, have a family, etc. It's when "life happens" that we have a hard time figuring out what to do. Sometimes we try to fix things by looking for just the right answer or puzzle piece. Sometimes we try to fix things with something that looks like it will help, or fit, but it's actually is just a short term solution. That's like when we find a piece for the puzzle that looks like it will fit, but when we try it, we see that the picture doesn't make sense.

When I'm in the midst of trying to find the right piece or make the pieces fit in my life, it helps me to remember that there's someone who already knows what my "picture" will look like. He knows the picture on the box because He's the one who created my puzzle. In Ephesians 2:10, it says "For we are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

You see, he planned my puzzle picture long before I was born. He knows all the pieces and how they will fit. I don't need to worry about finding the right pieces at the right time and I don't need to feel pressured to make the pieces fit. I just need to trust the Puzzle Planner and have patience. My picture isn't finished yet. But when it's done, I'm sure it will be beautiful!

Do You Need a Friday?

Who doesn't look forward to Fridays? Fridays bring the promise of THE WEEKEND for many of us. We imagine what we can do with our WEEKEND. It might be filled with fun activities, time at the beach, getting together with friends, or just hanging around the house. Whatever plans we have or don't have, we still look forward to the WEEKEND.

Why is that?

I think, for many of us, it is a break in the routine of "have to's." Monday through Friday, we might "have to" go to work, or you might "have to" take children to school and help with homework when they come home, or you might "have to" go to school, yourself, and worry about tests and homework. Whatever your "have to" is, you look forward to Friday and the WEEKEND, and not having to think about the "have to's."

Did you ever stop to think that the WEEKEND can be a state of mind? What if we changed our thinking? What if we broke from the routine and had a WEEKEND day in the middle of the week? What if we took a Wednesday off and just did whatever we wanted to?

Of course, that's not always possible, due to finances, jobs or responsibilities. But...what if every now and again we took a day just for ourselves and changed things up just a bit? If we can't take off from work, we could change it up by taking a different way to work, stopping someplace along the way to pick up breakfast, and listen to our favorite music on the way in. Or...we could pack a lunch and go to a park at lunchtime and just breathe it all in.

Sometimes, all we need to lift our spirits is a break in the routine and something to look forward to.

The next time you find yourself bogged down in the "have to's," take a break in your routine and find a way to have fun! Plan a WEEKEND day in the middle of the week!

Look forward to your "WEEKEND!"

Happy Friday Eve!

Are You a Spotlight...or a Lighthouse?

Have you ever been in one of those home improvement stores in the light fixture aisle and seen how many different types of lights and bulbs there are? There seems to be a light for every purpose. There are bright lights, soft lights, colored lights and nightlights. Some lights are used to brighten a room, some lights are used for reading, some lights are used to guide the way in the dark, and some lights, such as spotlights, shine to keep someone or something away.

Did you ever notice how we are a lot like lights? Sounds kind of crazy doesn't it? When you think about it, though, some of us brighten a room when we walk in it, some of us are encouragers and try to "brighten" a day for others, and some of us are lighthouses, shining a light to help someone find their way when they are going through a difficult time. Some of us, unfortunately, are spotlights. For the wrong reasons. We may think that by "shining the light" on someone else's failings or difficulties, we may be "helping" them change when, in fact, we are actually pushing them away. There certainly may be times in our lives when we need to be the "spotlight" to friends and family members, but, for the most part, if we find ourselves acting more as the spotlight and less like the lighthouse, we may be doing more harm than good.

The difference between the lighthouse and the spotlight, is that one shines the light in such a way that it shows the dangers and the way out of the danger and the other focuses only on what is right in front of it. Lighthouses were built to shine the way to ships traveling in dangerous waters. The ships could see the rocks and the open water and could navigate safely. Spotlights are usually fixed in one direction and shine on whatever is in its pathway.

I think we need to pay more attention to "the light" we are "shining" to others.

Do we want to truly help? Do we want to make a difference? Do we want to help someone find their way?

The next time we are in a situation and have the opportunity to be a light, we should pray about what kind of light is needed. Then we'll know whether to be the spotlight or to be the lighthouse.

Shine on!

Bricks: Are You Building a Foundation or a Wall?

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that made me stop and think. It said, "A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her."

I think what it was trying to say was that you shouldn't let the words or actions of others get you down or hold you back. Instead, use what you learn from the situation to become stronger and move forward.

Whether or not they are momentary acquaintances or someone close to you, people can be very hurtful. Sometimes the bricks (hurtful action or words) were not "thrown" on purpose and sometimes they were. The end result is still the same, it hurts.

Anyone who has ever had "bricks" thrown at them, knows the hurt and pain associated with it. Many of us react the same way...emotional or physical pain, tears, and questioning "why they would do that to us." For some people, the next reaction is anger or fear. You are angry at the person for the hurt or you are fearful that they might hurt you again. Sometimes, it's both.

Bricks are painful, of that there is no doubt. What we choose to do with the bricks, however, can either cause us more pain, or can pave the way to freedom from the pain.

Some people choose to "throw the bricks" back. Unfortunately, this can cause even more damage and can become an unending "brick" war. If you've seen couples in the midst of a messy breakup, you know what I mean.

Some people, although hurt, try to ignore the bricks. They may think it is safer not to respond or think that if they don't "think" about it, it can't hurt them.

Sometimes, whether out of fear or self-preservation, hurt people use the bricks to build a wall to keep themselves safe. The problem with this is, although they are building the wall between themselves and the "brick-thrower," the wall continues to be built until they are completely "walled off." What they think is their safe "fortress" has actually become a prison.

The better choice is to use the bricks to create a foundation and a pathway. When we stop and actually look at the bricks and the brick-thrower, we can learn things about both them and ourselves. We can stop and value who we are and realize that we are much more than the bricks thrown. We can make choices to either speak to the brick-thrower or to put distance between ourselves and them. We can build a stronger foundation and make changes within ourselves to know what we will and will not accept going forward.

There will always be "brick-throwers" in life and there will be times when we are hurt. What we choose to do with the bricks, is up to each one of us. And we do not have to "go it" alone. There is One who can help heal the hurts and can help with the laying of our new foundation.  In Psalm 147:3, it says "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." In Psalm 27:5, it says, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his secret tent and set me high upon a rock." The Master Builder is always ready and waiting to help. We need only to ask.

Are you building a wall or are you building a foundation? One holds you back, one gives you strength.

You are much more than the bricks thrown. Choose to build a foundation today, then start creating a pathway. Who knows, it could become your own "yellow brick road" to all the good things ahead of you!

Sensible Shoes

Do you remember going "school shopping" when you were a child? It was always exciting for me! We didn't have a lot of money, but we always got a new notebook, fresh notebook paper, a box of pencils and a pencil case. We also got to get a couple of new outfits and a new pair of shoes. I loved school shopping day!

When it came time to pick out a pair of shoes, we always had to choose the "sensible" ones...the ones that would last the longest. Often, they were just a tad big, to allow for "room to grow." Now, I must say, the choices of school shoes in the 60's simply did not compare to the choices children have these days. The popular shoes for girls were saddle oxfords, penny loafers, and mary janes. I don't really remember much about most of the shoes I wore in elementary school, but I know they were "sensible." I do, however, remember a pair of shoes I got to get when I was in the sixth grade.

I can remember sitting in the shoe department looking at the Buster Brown image over a selection of shoes while my mother was getting shoes for my sister and my brother. My eyes were drawn to the most beautiful, soft gold leather slip-ons with a little laced bow at the toes. They even had a little, flat heel. They definitely WERE NOT sensible. But they were BEAUTIFUL! I could almost imagine myself wearing them walking to the bus stop and to my classes. Oh the outfits I could wear with those shoes! I picked them up and held them as if they were magic shoes.

Of course, my mother came over to me and saw me holding the shoes. I showed them to her and sang all sorts of praises about the shoes and how they were PERFECT for me. She said they weren't sensible and that I needed a sensible pair of shoes. She must have seen the look on my face, and in that moment, I believe, my mother must have remembered what it was like to be a young girl and really want a pair of beautiful shoes but knowing you would only ever be able to have the sensible ones. My mother bought those soft leather gold slip-on shoes for me that day. I have never forgotten it. Sensible shoes made sense, but my mother seemed to know that I needed a pair of beautiful, magic shoes. Shoes that made life fun, shoes that made you want to skip on your way to school, even if you were 11 years old, now, and shouldn't be skipping anymore.

Life is a lot like wearing sensible shoes. We work, we come home, we eat dinner, we pay bills, we do the things expected of us. We do the things we know we need to do. The sensible things. Sometimes, though, we need to do the unexpected. Sometimes, we need to break from the routine and put on our fun shoes and do something completely NOT sensible, something unexpected, something magical.

Yes, there is a time for sensible shoes, but there is a need for magical, fun shoes, too. If you have spent your whole life only wearing sensible shoes, you need to go find the most magical, wonderful, amazing, unsensible shoes you can find. Put them on and wear them.  Don't leave them on the shelf. They will make your heart sing and you will feel alive! You might even find out that those are the shoes you should have been wearing all along!

Happy shoe shopping!