1 Peter 5:2 ” Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.”
A man decides to build a garage. He has the plans, permits tell him he has the “green light.” He is assisted by another skilled workman. He then employs unskilled youths. The work will go slower, training and teaching will have to take place. He has to deal with youthful emotions, youthful inexperience. Yet through it all, the man remains calm. He counsels when the emotions run high. He teaches life skills of respect, hard work, getting along with others, reading a tape measure, how to hammer, .
The man is skilled, older, wiser. He is teaching by example. He is also their pastor. Not only are these youths learning lifelong skills, they are also seeing a faithful servant of God in action. This man takes his responsibility that God has placed him in and works at it to the best of his ability, honoring and thanking God all along the way.
As Christians, wherever God has placed you, know that people are watching, listening, drawing conclusions based on your words, your actions. Be mindful where God has placed you. Be content. Be joyful. Be the servant He has called you to be.
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”
Vacations. Holidays. Reunions. Gathering together. Eating well. Too much. We are fortunate to live in a country where food is plentiful. Coming together, planning meals. Lots of food. We laugh, share memories, eat. Food is central. Food is nourishment. Food is life.
God has much to say about His food… spiritual food that nourishes the soul, gives knowledge, wisdom. Let’s start our day being filled with God’s word, His truths. Seeking knowledge of Him, to know Him more. Putting our faith into action: sharing, serving, teaching. His words are words of life, here and on into eternity.
1 Peter 2:2 ” As newborn babies, yearn after the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow.”
Matthew 4:4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
The land of plenty. A melting pot. Pilgrims journey to a new land. Ocean waves crashing against the shore. Rippling rapids tumbling downstream. Clear blue waters of northern lakes. Swamps alive, a sustaining ecosystem. Hills. Valleys. Prairies. Mountains. Flatlands. Corn, corn and more corn. Wheat. Fruit trees. Vegetables. Cows. horses. Sheep. Goats. A blessed land for sure that holds its lamplight to the world and says, “In God we trust.”
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.” Psalm 8:9
HOT is the word of the day. Heat index to reach 105+ degrees. The need to stay cool, stay hydrated is a must. Outdoor activities should be limited. Shade, water close by. It’s summertime. We expect this but are still surprised when it hits. We are mindful of the heat, our bodies, our liquid intake.
Just as we are mindful of self, God is mindful of us. Psalm 8 reminds us of the glory, majesty, power of God. We praise Him for who He is. We praise Him for what He has done. We praise Him for His creation. He has blessed us and we glorify Him when we speak His truths, seek His counsel, and testify of Him.
Psalm 8: English Standard Version
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Fitness. Nutrition. Healthy Living. This doesn’t just happen. You have to get out of bed early. Change your eating habits. Keep moving forward. In my case, I am an aging athlete who loves junk food, chips mostly. Some days it is just easier to sit on the couch, binge watch tv, chips and salsa by my side. Since I’m not as young as I used to be, changes need to be made.
I am intentional with meal planning, making nutritious meals. I am focused when shopping. No chips in my grocery cart. The night before, I set my alarm so I can work out first thing. I am a great procrastinator so this works for me.
Thankfully, I don’t do this by myself. My husband enjoys eating just like me, so we work out together most days. Friends encourage me to work out (Tracy, Brooke, Jessica). My daughter-in-law is the queen of couponing so I try to look for deals when I shop.
Don’t let the naysayers hold you back. You are doing this for you. You will encourage others. People will be watching. Some days will be harder than others. Make a commitment. Be intentional.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Being gone for 10 days has been great for the mind, body, and soul. Not so much for our window boxes filled with impatiens. The right window box is coming back, the left, well, we still have hope. We are giving it special attention. It is a burden we gladly bear to make our front porch pretty. A little pop of color.
Are you carrying burdens with you today? A health concern? Relationship issues? Career opportunities? From where does your counsel or help come from? Maybe you seek out your spouse, a trusted friend, a parent. You want advice, a guiding hand to lead you through the turbulent waters. Seek out your trusted family and friends. Listen to what they have to say. But also, turn your burdens over to God in prayer. His hands are leading. His way is sure. His counsel is wise.
Psalm 77:19 “Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.”
Psalm 85:6 “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
Vacations are nice. Going. Seeing. Doing. Relaxing. Taking it easy. I enjoy traveling. The excitement of visiting new places. Little gems to discover. New activities to try. Most of all, it’s the “memory making” with family that fills my heart.
Being on the long road home, little side trips as we journey to our final destination, I think Dorothy said it best: “There’s no place like home.” Happily unpacking, hugging our fur babies, settling back into familiarity with friends and family, back to the day to day, routines that fill our day. Our hearts are full. It’s been a good trip. So much to be thankful for as we reflect on time spent away.
Not only have our bodies been able to rest (sort of), our minds have been able to, as well. No deadlines, no meetings, no agenda, etc… Phones are put on silent, silence is available. Thoughts to meditate on. Minds slow down. Our souls are refreshed, as well. Spending time communing with God, seeking Him, enjoying His creation while embracing the solitude.
Psalm 71:9 “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”
We live in a disposable society. Something breaks, buys a new one. It looks old, replace it. It is very easy with express pick up, free shipping, apps, buttons that allow for scheduled delivery. It helps make our busy lives easier, one less thing to think about. We are thankful for the convenience.
As we are aging, so are our parents. They aren’t as young, aren’t as apt to go and do, may walk a little slower, hands may shake, memory beginning to fade. How important it is, though, to be there for our aging parents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, acquaintances. Taking the time to help them. Bring them a meal. Share a cup of coffee and enjoy their company. Invite them to your son’s baseball game. Put shelves together for them. Trim the bushes. Clean the high shelves. It is these small, seemingly insignificant tasks that make their day. Allow them to be appreciated. Let them know they still have value.
We “ooh” and “ahh” over the tiniest of human life. Let us have that same interest when they are older and need that same attention. Listen to their stories. Accept the wisdom and advice they are sharing.
Job 12:12 “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
I’m not all that techie so I am amazed, that while traveling, my sister just pulls up “restaurants,” reads the reviews and finds us a place to eat that is off the beaten path with phenomenal food. She uses her phone to find places to eat, salons, shops, coffee houses, activities to do, places to hike and they are all usually “spot on!” I always learn new things when I am with her.
God has made us all unique with our own gifts and talents. I don’t envy my sister’s tech abilities, I admire her for it and trust her to use this talent for our good and His glory. Let us all use the gifts and talents God has blessed us with and be a blessing to someone today.
“Fishermen in France, before setting out, would say this prayer: ‘Keep us, our God; for your ocean is so wide and our boat is so small. ‘ An unknown author commented on this prayer, saying: ‘We are so weak, so helpless, so forgetful of God’s loving-kindness. Tossed to and fro at the mercy of the world, except He hold us, we perish.'” (Richard DeHaan)
As I am preparing to go canoeing, I am reading this as my daily devotional in the book, “Together with God: Psalms.” It is no coincidence that this just happens to match my activity of the day. What is God telling me? Come with us, God, on our canoe excursion. Keep us safe. Our boat, our skill is small but You, O Lord, are mighty.
It is a beautiful day, magnificent views. We have snacks, water, paddles, life jackets. We set off. We know there will be minor rapids, level 1. They are short, less than 1,000 feet long. The first 3 are relatively easy, kind of fun. A change of pace from the smooth, gentle waters we are navigating. Then, the fourth rapid we see is a little more challenging in that we see large rocks jutting out. We try to follow my sister and her husband as they are more experienced. We make a mistake, head for a large rock. I don’t know my role in the front position so I don’t react appropriately. Our canoe sways, we tip, start to take on some water and we need to bale. We quickly find our footing but now we have to traverse the rest of the rapids on foot while also moving towards the shore. We are not panicking. We are communicating. I am focused on my footing, while also holding onto the canoe. The water is not deep but the current is strong. My sister and husband retrieve a paddle and some items that have floated towards them. We are thankful to make it to shore, thankful to be back in the canoe now, thankful to be advised on how to react in the front position. We have gained experience from this mishap. We have a good rest of the day and are able to laugh about it later.
It is through trials and tribulations that we learn, gain wisdom. We trusted God before our trip began, we trusted Him in the canoes, and we continue to trust Him each and every day. Psalm 70:5b says, “He is your help and your deliverer. He will not delay.” So, whether you find yourself in water trying to get safely to shore, an appointment, a confrontation, your job, etc… know and believe that God is with you. Hold on to Him in the calm days and in the storms of life.
