Live wise

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

– Ephesians 5:15-17

This is a great vision for time management.

Is there something that you have always wanted to do, see, own, but had to wait because of time, money or responsibilities?

I remember being told when I learned that I was pregnant (so many years ago!) that I should have waited until we could afford to have a child.

I remember when we moved here, being told that we should not have moved because it was too expensive.

But if I would have waited to have children, I would not be a proud mom of three awesome kids.

If I would not have moved, I would have missed out on meeting some incredible people and making my life so much better.

Expect opportunities to happen, and order your life in such a way that you are prepared for those opportunities WHEN they happen.

Take a chance on things that you would normally shy away from, you might be pleasantly surprised with the results.

It would be a shame to have doors opening to you without being prepared to walk through them.

Have a blessed day! 

who is stubborn?

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

– Proverbs 3:7

Have you ever tried to teach someone (or something) that is stubborn, like a child or a new pet?

If we are stubborn, it often means that we think that we know more than really do, and this creates a barrier to learning.

Are you stubborn in your beliefs?

As we become less wise in our own eyes we open ourselves to new knowledge that can change our lives.

This posture requires humility, and the root of humility is in the fear of the LORD.

God is greater than all, and that understanding should cause us to be less dogmatic about our own thoughts and more gracious to the perspectives of others.

Have a blessed day! 

Work with all your heart

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

– Colossians 3:23-24

I’m back!

Sometimes it is hard to come back to work after a lovely vacation or just time away.

Sometimes, when we come back and see that everything ran like a well-oiled machine while we were gone, we begin to doubt our  worth.

Stop that!! Stop looking to your employer or co-workers for validation and start looking to the Lord.

This does not mean to not listen to people that you work with, but understand that it is easy to subtly get your sense of worth from them.

Don’t equate your value with your job.

Lift up your eyes to the Lord and you may find new ways to tap into your passions in life, no matter what your current employment status is.

Oh and by the way – I am glad to be back.

Have a blessed day!

Come away

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

—Mark 6:31

"Come away."

I could be heading home to Arkansas today, but instead hubby and I decided to extend our adventure a little, just for a nice relaxing break. 

We do need to withdraw — not once-in-a-while, but often!

What is incredible is that Jesus invites His disciples (today that's us!) to withdraw with Him to a quiet place and rest with Him. 

This isn't just about getting a good night's sleep, or a nap during the day; it's about taking time in the middle of our wild and crazy days to join Him for a few moments of grace, rest, and refreshment.

Let's make these daily stops in God's Word more than quick e-mail viewing; let's let it be a time to withdraw with the Savior and take a few minutes of rest!

Today, my moment of rest just happens to be on a beach in Florida!

Have a blessed day!

God is in control

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

– John 14:27

Today my husband and I will see our youngest son graduate from Army Basic Training. 

We get to spend the afternoon with him, then we won’t see him again until Christmas.

This time though, we will be able to communicate more than we were able during basic training.

You know, it is a privilege to be in a world that can connect with each other instantly, but there is a downside to our access.

We hear of horrible events and potentially dangerous developments every day.

The daily news can bring our anxieties to new levels, but we have lived in a broken world since the fall of Adam and Eve—we just have greater awareness of that brokenness. 

Yet when we take our eyes off of the media reports and put them on God’s report in Jesus Christ, we can receive peace.

Jesus calms us in a broken world. He promised to do so.

So I send our son to his next base with this verse, knowing that God is in control.

Have a blessed day!

Our heritage

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 

– Psalm 127:3-4

Sometimes, we need a reminder of just how precious and important our children are.

As our culture becomes more self-centered we can send a subtle message to our children that they are in our way, but the Bible reminds us of the blessing that children are. 

Whether you have a houseful of kids or have no children at all, take the time to celebrate a young life.

They are gifts to remind us that things and agendas are not more important than people.

Have a blessed day!

Safe

The Lord will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

—Psalm 121:7-8

Today, as my wonderful hubby and I begin our drive across five states to see our youngest son (for the first time in 72 days), I definitely want to begin with a prayer for safe travel! 

Our lives are not lived out on our own, alone.

The Lord is with us personally, when we are working, sleeping, driving, playing, we are never alone.

He holds our future and our safety in His hands.

The Lord will keep us from all harm!

Have a blessed day!