Silence as a Teacher

"Be still, and know that I am God"  Psalm 46:10

It seems every New Year, we all take some time to reflect on a resolution that we can make to better ourselves.  I know that I have entered each new year hoping I will eat better, exercise more, etc.  I have “hoped” that I will be a better person, give people more time, listen better, etc.  Each year I enter the year with much to “do”.  January 1^st hasn’t hit yet and I’m already exhausted.

Rarely do I say I will enter the new year and be still, be silent.  Yet, as I look at my life and the long “to do” list that I seem to constantly have, being still and silent don’t seem to be on the list.  I tend to be a “doer”, finding plenty to keep me busy, even in the smallest of moments.  Looking at this verse, though, our dear Lord wants one thing from me – to be still.

Does this seem as daunting to you as it does to me?  Can I really sit still?  Can I truly be silent?  This new year, I am going to try.  Why?  Because my Lord is asking me to.  My God is telling me to be still, to be with Him, to pray to Him, to show time and attention to Him.  He certainly deserves that from me – that and so much more.  What does that entail, to be still with God? 

I believe this will mean different things for different people.  It may mean meditating on a verse that you hold close to your heart.  It may mean sitting in your favorite chair and talking to God.  It may mean wrapped up in your favorite blanket and looking at your favorite picture, knowing how loved you are by God.  I pray that it also includes time for our minds to be quiet and still, and waiting for God to talk to us.  The Holy Spirit is so powerful, yet many times we aren’t still enough or silent enough to hear him.  He is always there, waiting to tug our hearts, our minds, our souls to be close to him.

As we begin this new year, may we take time out of our busy schedules to “be still” and silent so we can hear God.  Let Him pierce our hearts with his love so that we may live out our lives loving others.  Happy New Year to all!!

Heavenly Father, help us this new year.  Help us to be still and silent.  We know that in the silence you can teach us so very much that we need for our daily lives.  May we choose time away from the lists and the activities to spend time with you, in silence.  May we hear your voice as you speak to us and move forward with you.  In your merciful name we pray, Amen!

Sounds of Christmas - Silence

"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."

Habakkuk 2:20

So quickly we are at the fourth Sunday of Advent.  This season, we explored the sounds of Christmas.  You may not believe silence is a sound, but I do.  I believe it is probably the most profound sound we can experience.  Whether we are the ones who are silent or others are silent around us, silence "can be golden".

We have explored the other sounds of Christmas, the choirs singing, the angels' hallelujahs, and the animals speaking.  Today, we see the importance of silence on the most holy of nights.  Although this verse from Habakkuk is not one typically read at Christmas Eve services, I do believe it eloquently shares the picture of Jesus' birth.  

Jesus coming to Earth was anything but typical.  There were no midwives to be found, no comforting pillows, no water close by.  The scene has many sounds, but I am sure there was also the sound of silence.  God's perfect son made his way to Earth to be the salvation for each and every one of us.  As the star rose in the sky, as the shepherds watched in wonder, time stood still.  For it was at that moment that the world changed.  It was at that moment that the devil would be the one tested.  It was at that moment that God brought forth the one and only savior - Jesus.

The earth was silent before him.  At that moment, neither Joseph or Mary could even fathom where Jesus' life would be take him.  The silent night broke through all the other sounds.  The silent night let us know that the extra ordinary had arrived.  

There are many beautiful sounds of Christmas, sounds that help me to celebrate this incredible season each year.  Yet, it is the silent night, when I sit before the tree with all its lights, and look at the nativity scene, and I realize what God did for me!  He loved me enough to send me hope.  He loved me enough to send me his love in an earthly form.  He loved me enough to send me joy.  He loved me enough to send me a savior.  

I pray that for everyone reading this post, your Christmas finds at least one moment of silence.  May you experience the hope, love and joy that God sent to us in his son, Jesus.  Relish the quiet, reflect on your faith and may you bring the love that was given to you by God to each and every person that you meet.  Merry Christmas to All!

Dearest God, silence seems to be in short supply these days, especially during the Christmas season.  We find ourselves so busy with preparations that we forget the importance of silence.  Help us to take time in the days ahead to relish the moment of silence, and remember that Silent Night, that Holy Night, where you sent your son to us.  In your loving name we pray, Amen~

Sounds of Christmas - Animals Speaking

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you."

Job 12:7

When I started this series for Advent, I thought it would be easy - there are so many sounds of Christmas.  I came to realize that the sounds of Christmas were more OUR sounds of today versus the sounds at Jesus' birth.  When I was discussing this with my daughter, she shared, "What about the animals, Mom?"  It made me think of the role of the animals at Jesus' birth.

It's hard to tell the Christmas story without the presence of sheep, ox, and lest we forget, the donkey.  Almost every nativity scene I have observed has had an animal presence.  I'm sure they weren't actually "speaking", but I am also pretty positive that there were times when the braying of a donkey was heard or the bleating of sheep.  I'm also fairly certain that they provided a sense of comfort versus annoyance (like when my dog is barking incessantly).  Remember the presence of God was there too~~

There is much to learn from animals, as our verse from today shares.  God put animals on the earth for many reasons.  Yet, when you think about some of the larger events in Bible history, they were there.  Certainly at creation, the great flood, Jesus' birth and bringing him to his death.  Animals played a profound role, helping us always to understand that every living creature is important.

Looking at this verse, our animals do teach us much.  In the wild, they have everything they need to sustain - teaching us the value of sustainability.  Domestically, I have yet to find a pet owner who doesn't believe that they provide unconditional love - and I do agree!  Yet, the sounds that they make also tell us what they need.  Many times, the barks or cries of our animals share what they need - they teach us to respond to them.  

Taking a note from the animals, as humans we should also share what we need.  How many times have we made "assumptions" that people should understand our need for love or attention?  Many times, if we don't speak up, people will not know.  Also, we need to learn to respond when people do speak up.  As busy people, we can overlook what others are sharing with us.  We need to stop what we are doing and listen - especially to our children.  

Animals have much to teach us - with the sounds that they make.  May we always be cognizant of that as we listen to others!  God put our animal friends on this earth for a reason - may we learn from them!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessing of animals on this earth.  They were always present at the important events in Jesus' life, providing a backdrop of not only service but learning for us.  May we take what we learn and bring it into our daily actions - remembering to listen to those around us, even our animals.  In you name we pray.  Amen!

Sounds of Christmas - Choirs Hallelujah

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom is favor rests."

Luke 2:13-14

I just love when the choir sings at church.  The voices all blend together, sounding as if there were angels worshiping with us.  Many times, I find myself closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, and knowing that Jesus is sitting right next to me.

Although listening to choirs is beautiful any time of year, something special happens at Christmas.  As the choir sings beautiful hymns or songs of the season, I become reflective and joyous.  Their words fill my heart and the notes echo in my mind.  Typically, as I leave the sanctuary and head home, I find myself humming the tunes (or better yet, actually singing out loud).

As choirs sing, I can't help but think of the shepherds on that first Christmas.  Oh,the hallelujahs that must have been sung by the heavenly host of angels.  I know how I feel with a choir singing - I can only imagine how they must have felt with the angels above them.  Although a bit afraid, I'm sure they were also overcome with joy.  

Our joy comes from so many places around Christmas.  The choirs of hallelujah can come from the beautiful professional choirs.  Better yet, I've always been fond of the children who sing together.  All choirs show the love for our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Jesus may not have arrived on a camel adorned with gold, but He was announced through the beautiful hallelujahs that can only come from heaven.

As we close our eyes and listen to different choirs this Christmas season, may you remember the shepherds who were graced by the heavenly hosts.  May the music bring as much joy to you as they brought to the shepherds long ago.  

Dearest God, we thank you for the heavenly hosts.  As they announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds in the fields, may we feel that Christmas love that only you can give us when we hear choirs sing hallelujah in our churches.  Bless this time of reflection and fill our hearts with love.  Amen!

Sounds of Christmas - Singing

"Sings to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts."  Psalm 105:2

It's hard to believe that it's the first Sunday in Advent already.  When Thanksgiving comes this late in November, it seems like the Christmas season gets a quick start.  Not that I'm complaining.  As many of you know, I've been decorating for weeks.  I'm happy to say that this past Friday, the last tree went up in the house - it is now complete and ready to enjoy.

As I was contemplating what to write about this Advent season, it came to me that there are many wonderful sounds that we experience.  Each Sunday in December, I'll be exploring one that I pray will resonate with you and that we can celebrate together.  The first one - singing!  My children will tell you that although I may not have the voice of Celine Dion, I certainly enjoy singing - especially Christmas carols.  I start on November 1st and enjoy singing them whenever I can.

Christmas carols have such a beauty to them.  Whether ones of old or newer carols, they all hold something dear - praise to the events surrounding the birth of our Savior.  As I sing these precious tunes, I can picture the scenario of long ago.  In "Little Town of Bethlehem", I can see the small town where Jesus came to lay his head.  "The First Noel" has me picturing the beautiful angels singing from beyond.  Pictures of people entering their churches are what I see when I sing, "O Come All Ye Faithful".   There is one my favorites, "Away in the Manger", where I can see the nativity scene so clearly.

As we sing those carols this year, I ask that you take a minute.  Sing those words of praise and joy to our Lord.  Picture the scenes in your mind.  Bring the season into your heart.  As you sing the words, remember who you are singing to - "praise him, tell of his wonderful acts."  It all starts now.  Advent, preparation for Jesus' arrival, is our chance to refocus our hearts from the busyness of the holiday season and bring it closer to the true meaning, the birth of our Savior.  

I encourage all of us to listen for the Sounds of Christmas.  Singing praise and joy can happen when you need it the most.  Maybe you start singing in the middle of a busy store, at home while decorating, or in church with fellow parishioners.  Step aside.  Close your eyes for a moment.  Fill your heart with Jesus.  I guarantee you a smile will cross your face and He will hear your praise.  May the week ahead hold the sound of singing close to your heart as you prepare for His arrival.

Dearest Jesus - as we prepare for your arrival, may we hold the sounds of Christmas close to us, especially through Christmas carols.  May we sing with joy from our hearts as you fill our hearts with your love.  Help us to focus our thoughts and attention to you, Jesus.  In your holy name we pray.  Amen! 

Just Not Right

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me.  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:11

The holidays are upon us.  For many of us, this is the beginning of "crazy town".  Between the elevated events that we need to attend (or host), the gift shopping, the grocery store, the cooking, the cleaning, the . . .   do I need to go on?  I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired just thinking about it.  I absolutely love the holidays.  The preparation, the craziness of it all, yep - all of it.  Yet . . .

There are times throughout the holidays where something inside me is Just Not Right.  My heart is aching, my stomach is turning, there are sleepless nights.  I question that feeling when it happens.  I think, "This can't be me - not 'holiday happiness' me".  Have you ever felt like that?  When all should be sunshine, you feel like the clouds?

When I sit down and reflect, I realize it is a host of reasons that my soul can be downcast:

• Memories flood back of a different time when things were a bit easier
• I miss family members who are no longer with us or who won't be able to spend the holidays with us
• My "ideal" holiday doesn't seem to look like those Hallmark movies I love to watch
• I feel lost, as if I'm not sure where to go or what to do next

You?  Have you had moments like this during the holidays?  There are so many ways for us to try and soothe our souls.  We can eat too much, drink too much, spend too much, or if you are like me, start controlling things too much.  When "I" don't feel right, I start telling others how they should feel or what they should do.  Listen up!!  All of that is not worth our time - there is a way for us to move forward through the holidays with our souls lifted high!!

The Psalm says it all - put our hope and trust in God.  When I take things into my own hands, oh how wrong it goes!  The words coming out of my mouth aren't right.  My actions are not right.  MY downcast soul turns into others sad times.  All is Just Not Right!  

So I'm working on a few things - and I ask that you join me.  When I give it to God and stop wrestling with how I feel, the peace that only God can give us comes to light.  No, it may not be the Hallmark Christmas - but it's my Christmas with the people I love.  I may not have the perfect gift or the perfect outfit, but I have a perfect God who loves me and will guide me - as long as I let him lead the way.  I may feel lost and don't know what to do, but Jesus is walking each step with me.  I just need to let him hold my hand.  The holidays are upon us.  When it is "just not right", give it all to God and enjoy the peace that only He can give you.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Dearest Lord, thank you for being with me when things are just not right.  Let me be reminded that with your guidance and love, my soul can be filled with your peace.  Please bring that joy to my life during this holiday season.  May I start my day in your word so I am focused on all that is good and right in the weeks ahead.  Thank you for all my blessings - most of all - your son Jesus.  AMEN!

Taking for Granted

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Colossians 3:17

It is November, and certainly a time for all of us to spend time reflecting on the many things that we are thankful for.  I remember, when the children were all home, we would make a paper chain of thanks.  Each night in November, each member of the family would write on a slip of paper what they were thankful for and we would make a chain that would run through the kitchen and into our eating area.  It was such a great way to see the many blessings we had.

Yet, the other day, another question was shared with me that really had me pondering.  A fellow colleague asked a group of people not what they were thankful for, but to name two things that they take for granted.  She shared that the answers were far reaching and really helped the team to see that there is so very much we take for granted.

The more I thought about this, the more I realized that my own thoughts of what I take for granted became a large list - a list of things that I don't typically give thanks for.  How about you?  Ponder on this question for a few minutes and think of all the things we truly do take for granted on a regular basis.  Yes, we may appreciate it more when we don't have it for a short period of time, but on a regular basis?  A few that came to my mind . . .

• Running water
• Electricity
• Farmers who provide us nutritious food
• Eyes to see with, ears to hear with, hands to create with, etc.
• Car that works

Although above are only a few things, when you really start to focus on what we take for granted, the list can be long.  Maybe there are even people in your life who you take for granted.  

• A neighbor who always helps you around the house
• The clerk that smiles each time you check out
• The crossing guard ensuring our children pass to school safely
• The nurse that gives an encouraging word
• A pastor who holds your hand during difficult times
• Could it even be your parent, your spouse or your child?

Taking for granted the things and people in our lives is an area where we all can be better.  I know there are many things and people that I may take for granted, and that this question will be at the forefront of my mind more often.  Unfortunately, the one that I take for granted often is our Dear Jesus.  My salvation depended upon him giving up his life for me and for my sins.  He thought about me and loved me so much that he gave up everything for me.  

There are days, when life gets busy, that I don't give him the attention he greatly deserves.  I have things on my mind so I don't do my devotion in the morning.  The day is busy and I don't chat with him about meetings and decisions I have.  I rush through grace at dinner because I'm tired.  Bedtime prayers?  Too exhausted . . .  All of these are excuses.  They also don't paint a great picture of gratitude and thanksgiving that my Heavenly Father deserves.  May I spend more time with my Jesus and may I NEVER take for granted all that he did for me and gave to me!!

Dearest Jesus, during this month where we focus on Thanksgiving, may I spend time reflecting on what I take for granted.  Help me to spend time giving thanks for those things that I have become complacent with.  May I always reach out to you with praise and thanksgiving - putting you first in all that I do.  Help me, Jesus, to show you the love that you so graciously showed me.  In your name I pray.  Amen!

Recognized Service

"No one service as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer."  2 Timothy 2:4

Veteran's Day - truly such a special day to remember and give thanks.  It is a time to honor those who gave service to our country and all that they sacrificed in order for us to have the many freedoms we have today.  There are so many reasons to honor these wonderful folks, but as our verse above shares, they all have left their families in order to serve their commanding officer and our country.  They gave up their comforts, their own freedoms, and their families so that we can have all of that and more.

Famous soldiers of the Bible.  I Googled that phrase as I thought about this week's post.  There were many names that I came across that were familiar names - David, Joshua, Gideon.  Yes, they were definitely great warriors - warriors for our Lord.  As I delved into each one, the familiar stories started to return, but there was certainly a larger picture.

David, yes the one that fought Goliath.  We see, from the early age that David took on this giant, that he was going to be a great warrior.  Time and time again, David led his men into battle.  He was certainly well respected as a military leader.  David, though, was defined as a military leader with compassion.  He looked upon his enemies with generosity and forgiveness.

Joshua had big shoes to fill.  He replaced Moses upon his passing to lead the Israelites, definitely not an easy task.  With all that they had gone through, to lose their beloved leader was certainly an impact.  Yet, in walks Joshua.  I'm sure you remember the story of the army walking around the walls of Jericho and the "walls came tumbling down".  In this battle, and many others, he was known to have a strong obedience to God.

Gideon's greatest battle showed us that "more is less".  With an army of 32,000 soldiers, he was still outnumbered by his opponent.  As God helped him to see the hearts of his soldiers, his army (that was already lacking in numbers), was whittled down to a mere 300!  Yet, with the power of our Lord, he defeated his enemy, showing us that big things can be done with small numbers.  As in our verse for today, they all served a higher commanding officer - God!

Each of these men gave us a picture of Jesus, the one who fought the greatest battle.  Jesus knew who his enemies were and always approached them with a sense of forgiveness.   He forgave them until the very end, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."  Jesus obeyed God in his walk on Earth, until the very end, "If this cup cannot pass by but I must drink it, Your will be done."  The ultimate picture that represents Gideon's battle is that Jesus, the sole man of God on Earth, took on all our sins (way too numerous to count) and the devil to die on the cross for our sins until the very end, "It is finished".   

On this Veteran's Day, I ask that you please pray for all of our veterans and the sacrifices that they have made.  Pray for the members of our military service, giving them strength, courage, safety, faith in God, and peace.  Just like the great warriors of the Bible, each one of these men and women have given of themselves to protect us.  May we always remember them in and show them our thanks.  Finally, may we also always give thanks to our great soldier, Jesus, who gave all for us.

Dearest Jesus, please help us to pray every day, for the members of our military.  Help us to recognize those who have given service to our country so that we may live with the freedoms we enjoy each day.  Our veterans dropped their civilian life to follow a commanding officer that helps to keep our country free.  Let us pray for peace and rest for these great people.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Falling Leaves

"Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Psalm 62:8

I love the season of Autumn for many reasons:

• The cooler weather
• The comfy clothes
• The colors of the leaves
• The anticipation of the holidays

Yet, probably most of all, I love to watch the leaves blow in the wind.  As I write this post, I'm sitting on the deck (and it is a bit chilly out), watching the leaves dance through the sky and rest gently to the ground.  Yesterday, the ground was a blanket of green grass.  My husband worked diligently to pick up all the leaves that had covered the ground and it was so nice and neat.  Today, that green grass is beginning to get a covering of leaves again.  All that hard work to "clean up" and just like that, the leaves are winning the race.

As I watch the leaves come down, the Lord nudged me to talk about how leaves can seem like our troubles.  During a certain season of life, our troubles and tribulations seem to fall down around our "green grass", creating a blanket of difficult situations.  As hard as WE work to pick up and fix all our trials, and believe we have a "clean slate" of green grass, the leaves of trouble pick up a wind and find them on our clean slate - again.  I don't know about you, but having a clean slate of difficulties seems like an endless battle (much like picking up those leaves).

Yet, we need to remember that we need to trust in someone who can understand our trials and provide us peace.  Our Lord and Savior is there for us - our refuge.  Our trust needs to be in Him during our season of trouble.  It's not that, with a snap of a finger, it will all go away.  He specifically tells us that just because we are Christians doesn't mean we won't have troubles here on Earth. 

So why go to God?  Why pour our hearts out to Him?  He will bring us guidance and peace, 

"...a refuge for for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."  God will be walking with us as we try to, once again, clean all the "leaves" and have a blanket of "green grass" underneath us.  By going to God, during the turbulent times of our lives, we know that He will be with us for us to lean on and gain strength.  As those leaves fall this autumn, say a small prayer to our Lord, thanking Him for always being with us as He showers us with peace.  Enjoy the rest of autumn~~

Heavenly Father, we thank you for being with us during our season of autumn as the leaves of trials and tribulations fall around us.  Please provide us peace and guidance as we navigate the wind and rest in your hands.  Amen~~

No Disguises

"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar."

Psalm 139:2

Last night was trick or treating in our neighborhood.  I put the candy in the bowl and sat outside, waiting to see all of the costumes.  They didn't disappoint!  Little ones came up for their candy, dressed in some really neat costumes.  It reminded me of the days when I would dress up my little ones and take them around the neighborhood.  Most of those costumes were homemade (and I've probably scarred my kids for life!).  Yet, nothing was better than when they came home and sprawled their candy on the floor.

After the children left, I thought about the evening.  Yes, it brought back some great memories, but it also brought some thoughts for today.  As adults, do we put on our "costumes" as we move through each day?  Do we put on a facade that may not be the "true" us?  I'm sure many of you may say a stern, "Absolutely Not!".  I encourage you to do a bit more digging on those thoughts.

As we enter our days, our roles and responsibilities meet us head on.  Whether it is our job, our role as spouse, as child, as parent, or even on social media, we can portray someone that may not be "who" we really are.  We may want to put on our "best face", when inside we are crying.  We may put on the disguise of a "happy smile" when all we want to do is spit words of anger.  Or on the contrary, we may share a stern voice when all we want to do is chuckle (yes, I've had to use this one when it came to disciplining the children).  

Sometimes, we need to put on a disguise for others, depending on the situation.  There is One who will always know the true us - who we can never put on a disguise for.  Yes, our Jesus knows us - inside and out!  There may be times when we may believe  we are putting on a disguise for God, that the hurt we are feeling he can't see!  We need to always remember that God knows us and knows EVERYTHING about us.  He knows what is in our heads, our hearts, and our souls.  

He knows that even though we smile on the outside, it can be a disguise for jealous rage on the inside.

He knows that although we portray having it all together, it can be a disguise for  worry and doubt.

He knows that our social media posts of "happiness" can be a disguise for broken relationships.

God knows!  Believe it or not, we should find comfort in that!  Although we may not be able to hide from God, He also can mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, calm our doubts, and bring us to his righteousness.  We can ALWAYS be ourselves with God.  He is there for us so we can let down our guard and share with Him all that is in our hearts.  No disguises for our Lord - He knows "when I sit and when I stand."  The next time you put that smile on when you just don't feel it, know that God can see your heart and He will be there to heal your pain.

Heavenly Father, please give us the simple faith to know that you are with us always.  Although we may put on disguises here on earth, you see the true us.  You know our sins and our pain.  Help us through it all, Jesus.  May we take off our disguises in front of you so that our relationship with you can grow.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

The Corn Maze

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home."  Luke 15:  4-5

Have you ever walked through a corn maze?  I have, a couple of times, and I always find the entire experience fun (and a little nerve racking).  I've done it once during daylight and once at night.  Each time, I've entered in with a sense of "This is no big deal - I've got this!" only to find out that my thoughts of success were short lived.  During the day, you are able to navigate the maze a bit easier, having the ability to observe markers along the way.  During the evening, when it's dark, it's a completely different experience.

As you walk through a corn maze, you have opportunities to go right or left, forwards or backwards, etc.  It is as the title says, a maze with many twists and turns.  I think it is always fun to see where your own intuition will take you.  Can you make it out on your own or are you going to have to "ask" for the nearest exit?  Will you rely on the insight of friends?  How lost will you get before asking for help?

When I passed a sign for a corn maze recently, I couldn't help but think of my experiences in them.  The anticipation of being successful was soon outweighed by me getting completely lost.  I realized the autumn corn maze can translate into scenes from my life.  How many times, when I decided I was going to pursue something on my own ,did I start with such anticipation of success.  Yet, soon afterwards, I found myself trying to navigate the twists and turns of the situation, without much success at all.  I may have started with a sense of "I've got this", yet it quickly turned to, "I'm lost"!

How long do I go before I turn for help?  Unfortunately, much longer than I should.  I will try to rely on my own intuition or even ask friends for help, but rarely do I immediately turn to the One who can find me and guide me.  Whenever I am lost, be it physically, spiritually or emotionally, I tend to try to find a way out of my messes on my own.  When I do that, I tend to get MORE lost, typically not finding the way towards success.

In walks my Savior!  When I'm lost, my God is always there to find me.  It is amazing when I cry out to Him, He will always guide me to the end - to success.  During the day, I may feel like I can navigate my way out of situations alone.  Yet, as the day gives way to evening, (or my clarity gives way to blurred vision), I realize the only one who can find me and save me is Jesus.  How grateful am I that He is always there - waiting to find me when I am lost!  

Our lives can often feel as if we are in a maze.  Obstacles or barriers face us when we least expect them.  The path can become rocky and our vision can become blurred.  Brothers and sisters, know that we are never lost.  Our Savior will always find us and bring us back home.  He is there waiting to rescue us and provide us the hope we need for success.  Shout out to him and He will bring you home!

Heavenly Father, I thank you that you will always find me when I am lost.  You will never leave me or forsake me.  When my path is rocky and I don't know which way to turn, please find me and guide me back home.  In your gracious name I pray.  Amen!

Power in Weakness

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthians 12:9

"What I do know, is that when I didn't have the strength or desire to pray for myself, there were others who were praying.  And that the Good Lord heard them all and made my journey with cancer one I could handle.  He heard all those other prayers and blessed me - each and every day.  I felt His love when I couldn't feel others.  And when I cried out to Him in pain, he was listening.  As I sit here, among all of  His wonder and beauty, I know He will continue to walk with me."

Twenty years ago my journey with cancer began.  Above is an excerpt from the journal I kept.  This was actually written at the end of all my treatments, as I sat on a beautiful rock amid the Jackson Falls (the picture above).  Twenty years seems like a long time, but I remember every single detail of the day I was diagnosed.  Every year, I make it a point to read through that journal and remember the journey.  Some days were good, many were not.  Throughout all of it, as I reflect, I got a better understanding of the person, the Christian, I wanted to be.

So often, we see power as being best served when we are independent, strong, and courageous.  That can be true.  Those traits can provide us power over our lives to make decisions that are based for goodness.  Yet, so many times, we don't see the incredible power in weakness.  For it is in the weakness of our state that God is the strongest.  That strength, which can come only from God, enriches our lives, whatever we may be going through at that time.  It is that power I know I relied on so heavily during my cancer journey - it is the same power I rely on today.

Cancer can be a "biggie" on a life journey.  There are many other areas of life where, in weakness, we can find the power of our Lord.  Marital issues, physical strife, spiritual doubts, addiction pain, . . . the list can go on and on.  In my younger years, when these moments of weakness would come upon me, my first reaction was always, "I need to be strong" and I would rely on my own strength for that.  What I have realized is that I don't have enough of that strength on my own.  I can't muster up on my own the strength and power I need sometimes.

That level of strength and power can only come from God.  As He sees me on these journeys, He quickly comes to my side to hold me up.  Through His power alone, I can be strong.  Through His power alone, I can survive.  Through His power alone, I have peace.  God's power in my weakness equals hope.  Hope that the future will hold all that I need on Earth - and in Heaven.  We all have our times of weakness.  During those times, go to our God - the only one whose power can bring you the strength that we need to move on!  It just means we need to have Simple Faith.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for being the power and strength amid my weakness.  Help me to always turn to you first, not last, when I need help to go on.  Give me the faith to know you will always provide.  In your healing name I pray, Amen!

Get to Good

I have a routine - I'm sure most of us do.  My Friday morning routine is to leave my home for work and ensure that I stop at Dunkin Donuts to pick up a coffee.  It is my "once a week" treat.  Fridays are my guilty pleasure day - especially in autumn when Pumpkin Spice coffee is on the menu.  Yes, I may have been running five minutes behind schedule, but that's okay - it's Friday!

That five minutes turned into seven by the time I got to Dunkin.  Those couple of school buses I wasn't counting on didn't help.  Frustration was mounting.   I pulled up and the car directly in front of me had three teenage girls in it.  And it took them FOREVER to place their order.  ALL I WANTED WAS A COFFEE!!   Yes, my mind went from a "Yea, it's Friday" mind to a "You've got to be kidding" mind.  The mind started racing with unpleasant thoughts and my impatience grew as every second passed.  Finally - they got ALL their stuff and moved on.  I pulled up and the cashier said, "Those girls just paid for your order."  WAIT - Really??  A bunch of high school girls who were holding up my day paid for my order?  As you would suspect, all that pent up frustration melted away.  I passed on the kindness to the car behind me and went on.  I have provided random kindness for many in the coffee line, but never was the recipient.  

As I drove away, there wasn't a smile on my face.  There was a plea to God.  "Please forgive me God, for my lack of patience and my big bag of frustration.  These girls had put together their money to show me some kindness.  May I learn patience from this."  The situation deeply impacted me that day, and has since then.  I reflect back and realize so greatly that God wanted me to stop this pettiness and move forward.  Does that happen to you?  That small moment of negativity/frustration/anger/inconvenience turns into a mountain of nastiness.  For what?  Chances are it won't impact you long term.  God doesn't want that for our lives.  God wants to be pulled into our journey on Earth - by us!  He wants us to go to him, talk to him with our frustrations, and then leave them on HIS shoulders.  God will handle the rest.  Many times, just the act of reaching out to God with our "nastiness" changes our perspective and gets us to a better place. 

The situation reminded me of something I read from Joyce Meyer's book, Living a Life you Love.  In it she shares the 5 Minute Rule - if this is something that isn't going to impact you in 5 minutes, 5 days or 5 weeks, why are we putting so much energy behind it?  I shared it with my husband and now the two of us remind each other when we start complaining about something - "Five Minute Rule"!  Little things in life are going to happen and annoyances may fill our days.  Don't let them grow into mountains of "nastiness".  Give it to God and Get to Good!  Have some simple faith that God has this - He is so much greater than we are!  May your days ahead bring you less frustration and more happiness!  The end will always be better!!

Dearest Jesus - help me to look at situations with less criticism and greater understanding.  May I come to you with my small annoyances and may you change my heart to greater happiness.   Don't let me get to the mountain of nastiness - let me run to you with frustration and please change my heart so I can share your love.  In your gracious name I pray.  Amen!

Growing Beauty

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever!  Amen."

It is starting - to me, the most beautiful time of year.  Yes, many love spring and summer, but I'm an autumn gal.  Everything about it makes my happy on the inside - the smells (apple pie baking and pumpkin candles burning; the feels (cooler breezes and comfy sweatshirts), and the tastes (apple crisp with a dollop of ice cream does it for me).  Yet, the driving force of my infatuation with autumn is the sights - the colors as they begin to take hold of leaves and become a canvas of beauty.

I saw this tree the other day and although the picture doesn't do it justice, it reminds me of the process of fall foliage.  Though it may seem to happen over night, it is truly a process - one where day by day, with all the right weather conditions, the leaves move from green to yellow to orange.  Step by step, the beauty starts to arrive.

It reminds me of our path with faith.  Although I have always been a lifelong Christian, it doesn't mean that I became a Christian and checked it off the list.  The journey of faith takes many turns.  I have had my fair share of poor decisions and difficult trials.  During those times, my faith may have been shaken.  I may have questioned God for what "He" did to me (we all know THAT wasn't the case).   I may have not have followed on the path He chose for me.

Yet, each wrong turn I may have taken, God was there waiting for me and guiding me back to the path He had paved for me.  With each turn, my faith grew.  I realized that the process of growing my faith didn't have to be complicated.  God just wanted me to have Simple Faith - and to watch it become something beautiful.  Much like the leaves that begin to change into something fantastic, so does our faith.  With each cool breeze, the beauty of faith grows.  Just like each autumn comes to bring us this beautiful canvas, so does each decision in our faith.  

It's not always easy to make the right choices.  The devil is waiting for us at each opportunity.  However, Simple Faith  is that God is waiting for us, He will turn our faith into something that is beautiful -  just like the autumn leaves.  Don't check your faith off the "to do" list - help it grow!  Open up that Bible to read a passage, pray to our Lord, worship together, and bring the beauty of faith to your life.  It's gradual, but the end result is everlasting!

Heavenly Father, help our faith grow in beauty and love.  May the choices we make, bring beauty to you and to others.  Let us realize that faith in you and love for others brings the growth we are searching for.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Attitude Adjustment

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds."

Ephesians 4:22-23

I could feel it coming, like a wave over me.  The attitude that wasn't going to be good for anyone, especially those around me.  Lots of thoughts were rushing into my mind, none of them were good.  I was sitting in a pool of self pity, and it wasn't becoming.  I woke up with it and as the minutes and hours progressed, I knew I needed to do something before the "nasty Susan" would come out.

These verses from Ephesians couldn't more clearly depict where I was yesterday.  Was there anything in particular that got me to this point?  Not really.  Yet, I knew that this was not the person I wanted to be, especially to my family.  I wanted to put off this "old self", which I knew was being corrupted by selfishness and nastiness.  It was time to make myself a new attitude - I needed an attitude adjustment.

I got in the car and drove - out to a cute little store that I knew would have wonderful fall items for me to peruse.  It wasn't the store that drove the adjustment, it was the drive itself.   I got in the car and immediately went to my Savior - asking Him to change my heart, my soul, and my mind.  I asked for His forgiveness and mercy.  Then I waited.  As He so richly promises us, it happened.  I drove along these beautiful side roads and noticed the beginnings of autumn leaves changing.

As leaves begin their transformation from green to incredible colors, a yellow hue happens.  Tints of yellow begin the process and as I drove down the road, I began to feel enveloped by yellow - the color of joy and happiness.  God, in a way that He knew would touch my very being, began my transformation.  He enveloped me in this yellow hue to bring my heart to a different place.

By the time I did a little shopping and was returning home, my heart had changed.  My mind had changed.  Most importantly, my soul had changed.  God's love was in each and every one of those leaves that morphed my attitude - bringing a much needed attitude adjustment.  

God has such a way of talking to us, of answering us, when we need Him the most.  Although we may not see Him, when we go to Him with contrite hearts, we know He is close.  I always believe He is sitting right next to me when I'm talking to Him, smiling and nodding, understanding where my heart is and where I want it to be.  He understands me.  He understands you too.  All we need to do is give ourselves to Him, share what we are and who we want to be.  He will always take care of the rest.

As the colors of fall begin to take shape, I ask you to spend some time with our Savior.  Let Him know what is heavy on your heart.  God will take care of the rest.  He will welcome you into the conversation and will know just what you need.  Whether it is a sign of great immense, or the colors of changing leaves.  May you feel His loving arms around you.

Gracious God, we thank you for always being there for us - especially when we need an attitude adjustment.  Bring us to you and wrap your arms around us.  Show us the way to a heart that loves as you love us.  May we always share that with others.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Forward Faith

"Have Faith!"  Pretty common statement to say to someone is fluctuating between faith and doubt.  Seems easy enough, doesn't it?  Just have faith!  I don't know about you, but sometimes having faith can be the most difficult thing to do.  When life gets difficult and it is hard to understand what the future may hold, it should be easy to put it in God's hands and have faith that He will work to our favor.

Yet, it can be easier said than done.  Why?  Why is it so hard to have faith that God has our best interest in mind?  For me, I think it is hard because I cannot always SEE the path that God has for me.  If I can't SEE it, it can be hard to BELIEVE it.  I have faith that our outdoor event won't get rained on - I can see that in the seven-day forecast.  I have faith that I will get to the party on time - I can see my GPS says I will get there before it starts.  

What happens when what we are hoping for cannot be confirmed by anything we can see?  You want to have faith that the test results will come back in your favor, but there is nothing to see to confirm that.  You want to have faith that a long-distance relationship will work, but not seeing the person every day can bring doubt.  It is so hard to have faith with the unseen, or unknown.  So how can we deepen our faith to the faith that is discussed in our verse for today?

We actually do have confirmation of our faith!  Take a look back as you take a look forward.  What???  As you look for the faith in what you hope for, look back on the goodness of God in what you hoped for in the past.  See all the wonderful blessings God has brought upon your life and how He had your best interest in prior situations.  No, maybe the test result didn't come back that it was negative, but how did your closeness to God grow during your health trials.  Maybe the relationship you really wanted to work out came to a close.  Yet, you wouldn't have met the new 'love of your life'!  

Having faith may not always be easy - especially as we walk through difficult times.  Take some time to look back so you can have faith moving forward.  God is there for you - He is ALWAYS there for you.  When the situation doesn't turn out as you had anticipated or hoped for, it doesn't mean that God isn't there for you.  Actually, it means that He is bringing your faith to a new level - a level that will bring you closer to Him!  

Many times I can make faith complicated - rolling the "what if" scenarios over in my head versus going to God in prayer with "simple faith".  Let's uncomplicate faith and look back to the goodness God shared in our lives so we can have the faith to move forward.  It's work.  It may not always come easy, building up our faith.  Yet, let's take the courageous step together!!  Here's to our forward faith!

Heavenly Father, walk with me as I move to have forward faith.  Help me to see the goodness of my past to know that my hope for the future lies in the faith I have in you.  Grant me serenity and peace as I walk this walk.  In you forever name I pray, Amen!

Greatest Protection

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you."

Deuteronomy  31:6

"That was a close one"!  How many times we may say that phrase in our lives.  It could be in response to many little things:

• Catching something before it boils over on the stove
• Realizing you misspelled something on an email before you sent it
• The glass which was falling to the floor didn't break

The same response can be said for situations that are of greater importance, such as:

• An accident on the highway that was averted
• Health test results that came back clear
• Side stepped an argument with a spouse

I thought about that phrase the other day as I was about to fall and caught myself before falling to the ground.  It made me think of how many times I have said that phrase, in large and small situations.  We tend to move on from those events pretty quickly and go on with our daily lives.  This one made me think!  How often do we say that in our lives and WHY don't those situation end with a negative result?

God's Protection!  In every situation, large or small, we have a God that is with us every step of the way.  He is there to protect us and be with us to ensure safety, body and soul.  He ensures that each step we take in the morning continues to lead us to the path that he has set for us.  It tends to be OUR actions that pull us away from his protection.  When we walk boldly in His ways and in His love, the protection of our Lord envelopes us like a warm blanket on a cool day.  

The good news is that his protection is there for anyone who wants it!  When we fall back into his loving arms and into his word, his protection is there for us.  No, this doesn't mean that we will advert every difficult time in our lives, but we know we have a God who will continue to be with us, in good times and bad.  We have a God who will continue to love us and bring us peace during tough times.  We have a God who died for us so that we will one day be with him in paradise.  How do we know this?  Because he tells us so, in many verses like the one we have today.  

I encourage you that the next time the glass doesn't break or the accident was averted, why don't we follow up the words, "That was a close one," with the words, "Thank you God".  He is there for us in ALL situations to talk to!

"Dearest Father, we thank you for the greatest protection any of us can have, you!  By your watchful eye and constant love, may we always feel your arms around us, holding us, and helping us to move forward.  In your gracious name I pray.  Amen!"

Paving our Potholes

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

It's paving season in New England.  Due to the harsh and cold winters, paving can only be done in late spring until fall.  Typically, you will see much of the paving being done almost around the clock to get as much paving time as possible.  I have to share, there is something about driving on a nicely paved road which once used to be filled with broken parts and potholes.  Driving on a nice smooth road without having to worry about a flat tire from a pothole is a great thing!

This reminded me about our lives and how many times we can find ourselves in a season of "potholes".  Maybe as we go through our days we find a "hole of guilt", a "hole of wrong decisions",  a "hole of sinful shame", a "hole of regret", etc.  Many times, these potholes in our lives can bring about despair.  We find ourselves falling into these potholes and flattening our "tires" of hope, joy, and happiness.  These are difficult roads to navigate as we deal with our own brokenness.  

I have lived in times like this.  When we make decisions that bring upon us brokenness, it is hard to believe that anyone would want to be close to us.  The feeling of despair can be overwhelming.  Yet, we DO have hope.  We have a Father who paves over all of our iniquities.  He fills our brokenness with love and forgiveness.  He is always there for us to turn back to, with open arms, of healing and joy!

Have you ever had a time in your life when your own brokenness was too much to bear?  Did you find yourself waking every day with no joy or hope?  Maybe you are in a season of "potholes" now?  Know that you DO have hope.  Turn back to our Lord in prayer.  Let Him know you want to move away from your brokenness towards His healing. Let God have the opportunity to pave over all those potholes and provide a smooth road of love - beginning with loving yourself!  God is the way for healing and happiness.  

"Heavenly Father, help to pave over all of our sins.  Take our broken hearts and turn them into healing hearts.  May we move from despair to joy all at your hand.  In your gracious name we pray, Amen." 

Standing Firm

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  1 Corinthians 15:58

Sunflowers.  If there is one flower that I am in total awe of, it is the sunflower.  There are so many aspects of this flower that amaze me:

• The height - some sunflowers can get as high as 6-10 feet  
• The size - the sunflower itself can be huge
• The use - the flower can be used as sunflower seeds, oils, even to create paint

With everything so majestic about the sunflower, I believe what amazes me most is the stalk.  Although not nearly as "glamorous" as the sunflower itself, the stalk is amazing.  The stalk helps the flower to stand firm.  Very few sunflowers "droop" with their weight or even during difficult weather.  Typically, the flower stands tall with the help of the stalk.  

Looking at the sunflower, I am reminded of how we can stand firm, like the sunflower, in our daily lives.  With Jesus as our stalk, we are able to stand tall against the difficulties of this world.  Whether it is temptations, trials or tribulations, we are able to stand firm in the knowledge that Jesus is holding us up and not letting us droop.  He continues to give us nutrients and strength to be useful in His kingdom.  Whatever our labor, Jesus is there to support us so that we can do His will and walk in His ways.

The next time you see a sunflower, be reminded of how useful you can be to those around you - extend a helpful hand.  Stand tall against the evils that are around you and know that if you face tough times, the strength of Jesus will lift you up so your sun can shine for others.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for the sunflower.  May we learn from this majestic flower how we can stand tall in your love - holding us up so we can help others.  Bring strength to all of us!  In your name we pray.  Amen. 

God's Hands

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Family vacations - although the planning can be stressful, the delivery is typically very sweet.  Hence, it was this vacation.  Our family of 6 was joined by our children's friends for a total of ten.  Add to that my brother's family of three and my mom - the total was 14!  Throughout the planning stages, there was much tribulation (most of it in my worrisome head).  Yet, as the week played out, each day found us gathered together, laughing, smiling and enjoying each other's company.

It always amazes me that when something large is planned, no matter how each and every minute may be planned, it may not always turn out as I envisioned.  For many of you who know me, you know that vacations are usually methodically planned.  I held back this time and left it, truly, in God's hands.  I asked for His help to guide our time together to be filled with memories, and He didn't disappoint.  I believe one of my largest struggles is just that, taking it out of MY hands and placing it into God's LOVING hands.  

As our verse for today shares, our dear Lord knows all plans for me - and for my family.  I have total faith that His plans are not harmful plans.  It is my decision to move things into MY hands that I start to have problems.  Certainly, if He knows every hair on my head, He can certainly know what my life will entail.  Yet, when the family was gathered around the table, it wasn't my future that I was as concerned about.  It is the future of my children.  That is the future I have to give to God the most.

If it was up to me, I would orchestrate each of my child's lives.  Not that I need to have that much control, but because I don't want to see them hurt or let down or betrayed.  I have learned early, though, that those times of hurt or other disappointments are the stepping stones to build us up - many times building us closer to God.  Knowing that my children's lives are in God's hands does provide me comfort.  In their eyes I see the hope and future God has for them.  In their eyes I see grace and mercy.  In their eyes I see forgiveness, for others and themselves.  In their eyes I see God's love.  

God was most definitely on our family vacation with us.  When vacation ended, the children all left us and went back to their lives, just as we did.  I cried.  I remembered when they were little and the end of a family vacation didn't mean they all dispersed - we all went home to one house.  Not any more.  As adults, they all have their own lives.  Today, though, I live in the love God gives us, knowing that their hope and future lies in the best hands, God's hands.

Blessed Father, thank you for always being with my family.  Whether we are near each other or not, I know that we are in your hands God, where our future is strong and our hope is alive.  Please bless all of us, and our families.  May we find comfort knowing that in your hands our families' futures are filled with love.  In your name.  Amen.

Just Like Riding a Bike Again

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

2 Chronicles 15:7

Family vacation time!  All the planning of flights, renting a house, menu outlines, etc. came down to the final point - the renting of the bikes.  I took stock of all who wanted to rent and then the big decision came, do I rent a bike for myself.  Many of you may say, "Sure, why not?".  I'm not the most athletic person and I can only try to remember the last time I was on a bike.  Years would be an understatement.  I think we are talking decades!  Yet, I took the first step, the mental step, and said YES, I will rent a bike.

We drove up to the house and there they were - the bikes!  Let's get real - we aren't talking mountain bikes, just the easy beach bikes that one drives on bike paths.  So, this morning, the decision was made by Juan and me, let's go for a bike ride.  My dear husband knows just how daunting this was for me so he insured the bike seat was right and that I was pointed in the right direction (remember when you were a kid and you were being taught how to ride a bike?).  With the petals just at the right spots and open road ahead of me, I was off.   After stumbling a few times (and going off the road), I thought twice as to whether this was going to work.  Then it happened, I got the swing of things - I was riding a bike again.

As we rode along the trail, I felt like I had success - I was able to ride along and not hit another cyclist.  With that, we were able to ride to the beach and see the beautiful scenery.  It was incredible,  The wind was blowing through my hair and I felt great.  My first thought was, "it is just like riding a bike again."

I have to say, this verse came to mind as I was struggling along the side of the road - debating whether this was a good idea or not.  I kept working at it and didn't want to let the situation get the best of me.  I kept trying, and I was rewarded.  That is how our dear Lord is with us!  He understands how difficult situations can be for us.  Our goal is to keep trying and to work hard with the life God has blessed us with.  Not every moment is going to be smooth sailing.  Yet, if we are strong and do not give up, God will reward us.  And those are the sweetest moments - like being able to ride a bike again!!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for providing us the moments where we need to persevere and not give up.  We know that if we continue in the path you provide for us, there are sweet rewards - rewards personalized for each and everyone one of us.  Blessings are so much greater when we work hard at them.  Thank you Jesus!!

Birds of Different Feathers

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."  1 Peter 3:9

As I sat in the backyard with my cup of coffee this morning, I was looking at my bird feeder.  Between the birds at the feeder and those "waiting their turn", there were many different types of birds.  Yet, what I found most intriguing was the singing.  The cardinal chirped in small quick beats.  The mourning dove sang in a longer stride, with an up tone at the end.  As I listened more intently, I could hear numerous birds singing.  Each bird was singing in a very distinct way.  They looked different and they sang different.  Yet together, it was as if they were in harmony - and the beauty of one complimented the next.

I'm thinking if birds can do this, why can't humans?  Why can't all of us sing our own language and compliment the next?  Why can't we all look our own yet come together in harmony?  This past week, the insulting words and hateful comments seemed to be all around, especially on social media.  Every time I turned to my phone, I seemed to see hurtful comments being shared.  I started getting very angry about it.  Why are people so nasty?  There are difficult and horrible things going on in this world.  Yet, do we have to add to it?

The answer is NO!  We don't have to be a part of it.  We don't have to be a part of nasty things on Facebook. We don't have to be a part of the gossip.  We don't have to have the negative attitude.  We can do our part.  We can be the change.  I know what you might be thinking, "One person really can't make the difference in such a huge issue!"  Perhaps you are right, our own actions may not change the world.  Yet, they may change that ONE person you are speaking to.  Maybe others seeing your positive viewpoint will come along with you.  You never know if the situation that you're going to walk into is the one that needs a positive statement.  It's time to take the bold step away from the criticism and into the light.

We need to walk like Jesus did.  He brought harmony between different people.  He used words of love and truth and hope.  He accepted each person as they were, regardless of their different feathers.  When we all can gather together and walk in the steps of Jesus, we are creating the world as God intended - with joy and peace and love.  I don't know about you, but that is a world I would rather be a part of.  So let's not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  Let us be the blessing that people need!  Let us sing the songs of hope to all.  

Jesus, help fill my mouth with words that sing praises.  Help me to turn away from negativity and critique and focus on positive and hope.  May the words that fill my mouth be those that are not filled with evil, but with joy.  Let others see the love you so richly give to me.  In your name I pray.  Amen!