Share your joy. Skillfully.

“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”

Psalms 33:3 NKJV

I just spent a few days with my 10 yr old daughter in the oldest city in the US on a class field trip. 

This could have gone anyway....

Fortunately it went very well.

 It is such a blessing to see your children grow up and become their own people. Their own personalities. Their own friends. Their own talents and their own way looking at things. 

It's also fun when they share a passion with you. 

On the bus ride home someone decided it would be a good idea to show the movie Frozen. Well, my daughter can sing and quote every word. Frankly so could I. We are born singers. We love music and have a difficult time keeping quiet when our favorites come on. I mean it is physically painful to keep silent. So I looked at her, pleadingly (for the poor dads who happen to be sitting nearby) to not put on a full blown, sing from your gut concert on the bus. She understood and kept it to a low tone. Whew!  

She hasn't learned yet that sometimes people don't understand you are just belting out what's in your heart. It's not to show off. It's not to entertain. It's just what's in her and she's just gotta 'let it go'...

God made us with gifts to share. He gave us joyful desires. He gave them to bless us and others. Some people find joy in writing. Some people in a game of ball, some people in art. Some people love to give. Some love to teach. Some can belt out the baritone. We should take joy in our gifts. Practice and perfect our gifts whatever they are. We all have them. They are all God given. We should use them to please Him. To honor Him. We can do this by remembering who gave us our gifts. To give him thanks for them. To enjoy them. 

I'm happy she is ok just belting it out. No matter who is around. I hope it never changes for her. 

Blessings

In the beginning

“In the beginning, God....

Genesis 1:1 

In the beginning there was God. He created. He organized. He gave instruction. 

In the beginning, God

I always pause there. 

Because sometimes life gets confusing. Sometimes life gets all out of shape. Sometimes we just need a do over. So we start at the beginning. 

We start with God. 

Not what you have been told ABOUT God. Not what YOU THINK about God but God. The one who created a perfect world for us to reside in. In the beginning. Before selfishness showed up. Before greed and want were in the picture. Before death. 

We have so much information slamming our brains every moment of the day it is hard sometimes to even form your own thought, your own opinion. We get lazy and just accept someone else's thought as our own. 

God gave us a roadmap. He gave us a book with wonderful examples in it. Both good examples and bad. Even more than that He gave us himself, born in a humble barn, sacrificed on a cross so that we can have a relationship with Him. God. 

He wants us to know Him. He wants us to seek Him. He promises us we will find Him. 

Where do we start?  In the beginning, God...

No preconceived ideas. Just you and God. He will rock your world. 

Blessings. 

Wisdom

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:”

Proverbs 1:20-21 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.1.20-21.esv

“Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.”

Proverbs 8:1-4 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.8.1-4.esv

“The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,”

Proverbs 9:13-15 ESV

http://bible.com/59/pro.9.13-15.esv

Reflection on Proverbs 8:1 – 4

Wisdom calls out to us (see Proverbs 1:20 – 21; 8:1 – 4). Apparently, so does folly (see Proverbs 9:13 – 15). Their methods of communication are similar; they sit in public places shouting their advice to all who will listen. The difference between them is in what they say and the hearts they connect with. Those who are inclined toward God — who love him and want to do his will — will hear the voice of wisdom and respond. Those who have little depth and no desire for God — who can’t see beyond themselves and the present moment — will hear the voice of folly and respond. Two voices, two kinds of hearts; as a result, two drastically different journeys.

Which voice will we choose to trust? The question is more complicated than it seems: It doesn’t involve just a single choice but rather a series of choices every day, and sometimes folly imitates wisdom. But prayer, patience and a commitment to truth will reveal the difference and give us the discipline and courage to choose well. Hearts that crave wisdom will choose the right voice.

I'm reading the @YouVersion plan '7 Days Of Wisdom In Proverbs'. Check it out here:

http://bible.com/r/Xz

Purposeful and Present

I never seek out the words that are going to be my focus for the year. I never even think about them or ponder what they might be. They just come to me. I can't remember what mine where last year, but I know by the end of the year it was something like insane and crazed!!!!

So I found it interesting when these words came to me. Purposeful. Present. Yes. I had became a boat in a sea of waves going this way and that. Just blowing in the stormy winds. I began to think 'maybe this is the way we are suppose to live' ,'live for the day' they say... 

I am an only child and ultimately desire calm, quiet, and peacefulness. I had none of that. We ran from one thing to the next. We ate out constantly because I couldn't even think to plan.  Spent wasted time because I couldn't make a decision.  Christmas Break was well needed. 

I don't know what happened because our lives haven't stopped being any busier really, but somehow God has stepped in and given me these words and reminded me that He is my purpose and that He has placed people around me and I need to be present for them. I can't treat them like schedules or tasks. They are people I love. My life is most full when I am around them.  We grow and learn together. They are what is important. If I am not purposeful and present my life begins to look like a bunch of tasks that never end. 

Somehow just putting things back in the right order has made all the difference. God is amazing. He always rescues those lost in the storm, tossing about in the waves. He brings us to a beautiful place of peace and rest. Rest for our souls even if our bodies still move about at a rapid pace. 

My prayer is that January 7, 2017 I will remember these words and they will be an important part of my year. 

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

Psalm 107:28-32 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.107.28-32.esv

Blessings

Busy, Busy, Busy

““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””

Psalm 46:10 ESV

http://bible.com/59/psa.46.10.esv

Be still?!?!?!?

Is that even a possibility this time of year? 

Still is a strange concept. It can mean so may things. Some might call it laziness, some may call it Godliness, some might call it...Impossible!  

When I think of Jesus and His time here on earth I think of peacefulness. He never seemed caught off guard or rushed or perplexed. He always seemed peaceful. The opposite of stressful. He was busy though. Preaching to 100s of people, healing, teaching...no laziness there. 

What was his secret?  Well other than He was God in human flesh of course. 

Jesus trusted God's plan. He trusted that God would complete the plan He had for His life. And He trusted that the plan was good. Maybe not always comfortable, but always good. He wasn't running around trying to figure out the plan, He wasn't panicking about the plan. He just trusted. 

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might...

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV

http://bible.com/59/ecc.9.10.esv

God has not called us to laziness either. He has plans for us. He will make them happen. Let's be willing participants and spend less time complaining, worrying, fussing and fretting. Do what God has placed in front of you today with joy as if serving the Lord and give him you worries and concerns about tomorrow. Trust in His path, pray, read His word and allow God to do great things through you today. 

Blessings

Praises to God

“Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?”

2 Samuel 7:18 HCSB

David was amazed at the LORDS goodness in his life. He was overwhelmed by the blessings bestowed upon him by God. He sang praises to the LORD and we get to hear it all these years later.

Have you ever looked back on your own life and all the ways you have been blessed by God?  Take the time to do that today. See all the times He has His mighty hand on your life. The times He has spared you from choices in front of you. The times He has protected you from injury. The times He has helped you make the right choice. Praise Him today for all His mighty works in your life today and rejoice in His goodness just like king David. Read his song of praise below. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+7%3A18-29&version=NIV

Blessings

Continue On

“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”

I Samuel 30:6 NKJV

Yesterday was a long day. A lot of my days are long right now. It is, as I like to call it, my busy season. Sometimes I am not sure God has really called me to all the things I have going on but either way here I am. Busy. 

I love all the things I get to do. They all involve serving people that I really care about. But sometimes I get tired. And then I get distressed. So I love this verse I read this morning. 'David strengthened himself in the Lord'!  

We have the same opportunity as David to get our strength for the things God has given us to do. He will refresh us, encourage us, give us the Hope to continue on. He will give us the direction we need to continue on. He will give us the desire to continue on in the things He has layed before us. 

I encourage you to find His strength today. Read His word and quietly spend time talking to Him. Let Him fill you with all that you need to continue on. 

Blessings.