Monday Morning Memo: Today, Tomorrow & Beyond

Once again…I’ve been thinking about how often we use the word “but” in our day.  I know it’s time to get up…but I’m just too tired.  I love my job…but my boss is just too hard on me.  I’m so thankful for my kids…but they sure drive me crazy sometimes.  I know the person who works next to me needs the Lord…but I’m sure I’m not the one to tell him.  We say one thing…but  we often feel the need to clarify what we said.

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “but”, because I’ve caught myself saying it quite often lately.  Oh, I don’t admit it out loud so others can hear…but it sure has been a word on repeat in my mind.  Why?  Because this week I am having another surgery which we hope will be the beginning of a turn-around for my health. The problem is that the scenario that keeps running through my mind is:  Hopefully this surgery will begin a healing journey for me…but…what if it doesn’t?  I know I just need to trust…but…and then I’ve given an excuse as to why it’s too hard.  I know I need to trust God with my health…but…I’ve been through so much and what if this surgery doesn’t help?    I know I need to trust God for whatever happens today, tomorrow and beyond…but…I’m so scared of what might occur that will be out of my control.

 

Bingo.  Once again it comes back to wanting to be in control.  To completely trust Him, means that I take my hands off this situation I am facing, and allow Him to be the One with the steering wheel.  It means that I don’t just say that I trust Him, and then keep taking the reins back over, trying to manipulate Him to do what I think is best.  It means that I trust Him to work out every detail…in His timing…and for His honor and glory.

 

When I look at this logically, I must ask myself, Why?

 

1.      Why wouldn’t I trust Him with my health, since He is the One who “made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  (Psalm 139:13)  

 

2.    Why wouldn’t I trust Him with my today, tomorrow and beyond, since His Word tells me to, “Trust in the Lord with all my heart; do not depend on my own understanding.  Seek his will in all I do, and he will show me which path to take.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

So today, I know I need to trust God.  Period.  No ands, ifs or buts.  No excuses, no rationalizations, no manipulation.  He alone is worthy of my complete trust, and honestly, He really doesn’t need any help from me 

 

What about you?  Do you find yourself saying that you trust God…but…your actions show something entirely different?  Why not leave the driving to Him today.  Your path may not take you where you think you should go…but…I’m confident your destination will put you exactly where He wants you to be. 

Monday Morning Memo: Privileges and Consequences

Several weeks ago, I stood in a hallway of an area high school, waiting for my grandson’s basketball game to begin.  Across from me was a woman with her son, who appeared to be around 12.  He had a basketball in his hands and was bouncing it against the wall.  This wouldn’t have been so bad, but there were framed pictures hanging right below where the ball was hitting on the wall. 

The mother finally noticed what he was doing and told her son to stop.  He continued, without skipping a beat.  She again told him to stop, and he paused for a second, looked at her, and then returned to what he was doing.  After a while, the mother (very exasperated at this point) told him once again to stop and this time he walked behind her and went back to throwing the ball against the wall.  Finally, the mother just gave up and let him do what he wanted to do.  Let’s just say, it was all I could do to not go over and grab him by the scruff of his neck and let him know who was the adult.

Now it’s been a while since I had to parent children, but I still have memories of when our three children were at home and I had to be the adult.    Unfortunately, children tend to have selective hearing skills and often only hear what they want to hear.  There is one way though to see if your child has chosen to have selective hearing skills and that is to say to them, “Hey, who wants ice cream?”  If they immediately say, “I DO!” you can be pretty sure they are probably making the choice not to hear you when you tell them to do something.  Very few children have to be asked over and over again if they want something that is a delectable delight or is a fun adventure.

 

We came to the realization with our children that they usually did hear us the first time and so we decided that there would be a consequence if they didn’t obey the first time.  We had to figure out what the one thing was that each child really didn’t want to lose and then if they chose not to obey, that one privilege was taken away.  For example, if one of our children loved electronics and made the decision not to obey us, those electronics were taken away from them for an undisclosed length of time.

 

The reason we didn’t tell them how long they would be without their “privilege” was because we realized that if we told them a week, that child would behave beautifully for a week until they got their privilege returned to them and then their bad habit would return.  So, we told them that when we saw a consistent change in their behavior, they would regain their privilege.  I can remember being asked, “How much longer?” several times because it really was hard on them to not know when their privilege would be returned.

 

Do you know what?  All three of our children survived and soon learned to listen the first time they were told to do something.  We didn’t even have to count…which is a huge pet peeve of mine.  I will probably get flack for this, but it really bothers me when I hear a parent tell their child to do something and when they choose not to listen, the adult starts counting.  “One…two…three…four…five…and I’ve heard some go up as far as ten and many times nothing happens at that point.  The adult stops counting and the child still chooses not to listen.  Why?  Because that little darling is smarter than you think and they know that you will tire of counting!  

 

Parenting is hard…really hard…and you will face many challenges along the way.  I know that it isn’t always easy being the “bad guy” to your children because we all want our children to think we are the greatest and we want to be their friend.  But we need to remember that children are actually happier when they have boundaries and limits and that one of our jobs as a parent is to make sure they learn to respect and honor those who have authority over them. 

 

Ephesians 6:2-3 tells us, “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  Most children are not going to automatically learn to honor their parents and those in authority without our guidance.  We must be consistent and loving in our discipline because we know that this is what God wants for them.  Learning this will become a life skill that will go with them the rest of their lives.  If we can keep that in mind now when they are young, there is a higher probability that as adults they will have a positive influence on our world in the years to come.  And that will make these trying days oh so worth it!

Monday Morning Memo: Because YOU are YOU

I have a confession to make that just might shock you.  I am not perfect.  I know…it’s probably hard to believe…but the person writing this has lots of faults and failures.

OK…maybe this bit of news isn’t a surprise to you, especially if you know me. I have accepted the fact that there isn’t anyone on this earth who thinks I’m flawless, because they know I am human and there just isn’t any way I could ever achieve perfection.  And I hate to be the one to break the news to you…but you aren’t perfect either.  You may not have as many faults as I have…but just like it is for me…perfection is unattainable.

 

Now that we have cleared the air and admitted our downfalls, I have two questions for us to ponder.  Why do so many adults think they have to be perfect…having all their ducks in a row…for God to care about them?  Why do many believe they have to get their life in order before He will shower them with His love?  They couldn’t be more wrong.

 

Do you know that God loves you because you are you?  Re-read that sentence if you need to.  There is nothing you can do to earn His love.  There is nothing in your life that you must clean up before He will care about you.  He created you and loves you more than you can imagine and there is nothing in your past or your present or even your future that will stop Him from loving you.  He loves you because you are you.

 

We see His love for a couple of “screw-ups” at the beginning of the Bible.  Have you ever heard of Adam and Eve?   I’m sure you know that in Genesis 3, we read that Adam and Eve messed up BIG time.  They had it all…everything anyone would ever want.  Life was perfect in the Garden of Eden and beyond anything we can imagine.  But because they were human…they wanted more and so when the snake (Satan) tempted them to sin…it didn’t take them long to go against what they had been told.  Immediately they knew they had done wrong.  Instantaneously, they felt shame and hid when God came because they were naked.

 

Was God happy?  Absolutely not.  He immediately told them what the consequences would be because of their sinful actions.  They, and everyone who entered the world after them, would pay a price for their choices.  

 

Now if I had been God, I probably would have left them stew in their mess for quite a while.  They had been given paradise…but they chose their own selfish desires instead.  More than likely, I would have let them feel shame for a long time for their sin and for their nakedness. I would have probably walked out of the garden, slamming the gate behind me, so they would know just how ticked off I was (see, I told you I’m not perfect!).  

 

But do you know what God did instead?  Get ready for this…verse 21 in Chapter 3 tells us, “And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.”

 

Are you serious?  Remember, they messed up BIG time and changed the course of history.  But God still loved them so much He made them clothes so they would not feel shame in their nakedness.  Just blows my mind.

 

If God still loved Adam and Eve after what they had done, don’t you think He can still love you and me, regardless of what we’ve done?  If we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we are His children and He can hardly wait to spend eternity with us.  

 

If you haven’t accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you need to know that He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die just for you.  I can’t imagine that kind of love.  He did it so you can be cleansed from your sins and spend eternity in His presence.

 

Did you know that you were created in His image?  You were created to look like Him…the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He wants nothing more than for you to come to Him, just the way you are, and allow Him to mold you and shape you to reflect Him. 

 

This is a new year and a great time for a new beginning.  What better way to begin 2026 than to remember that the Almighty God, the creator of the universe, loves YOU because YOU are YOU.  You don’t have to be perfect or have everything in your life cleaned up.  He loves you right where you are…but has such high hopes for the days ahead.

 

By the way, if you haven’t accepted Christ into your heart, why not start this new year by doing just that.  Remember, you can’t earn your way to heaven…or just be a good enough person…you need to come to Him and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you from your sins.  I recently read the following prayer of salvation in “Living Beyond the Limits” and it would be a great one for you to repeat:

 

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner.  I am sorry for my sin.  Forgive me.  I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, died on Calvary’s cross for my sins and that You raised Him from the grave.  I want to invite Christ into my heart and live for Him as my Lord and Savior from this day forward, in Jesus name. Amen.”

 

If you just prayed this prayer, I would love for you to let me know.  Feel free to e-mail me at luannfulton@gmail.com any time.  I want to be praying for you as you begin your new journey with your Savior!  

 

“No, in all these things we are more than 

conquerors through him 

who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, 

nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, 

nor powers, nor height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God 

in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39

Monday Morning Memo: Found in Him

It’s hard to believe that we are now in 2026.  It is during these beginning days of January when many will vow to turn over a new leaf; to begin doing something different than they did in 2025.  Whether it is a resolution to eat healthier, exercise more, spend more intentional family time, make it a priority to read their Bible every day etc., many will begin this year ready to do whatever it takes to see their plan accomplished.

 

I hate to be a “downer” on this fifth day of January, but we all know that by February, many will have given up on their resolution.  Many will decide that eating healthier food is just too expensive or takes too much time to prepare.  Quite a few will come to the realization that exercising on a regular basis doesn’t seem nearly as much fun as it did today.  Some will discover that spending more time with their family causes more stress than they thought it would and that going out with their friends is much more relaxing.  And unfortunately, there will be those who decide that hitting the snooze button two more times sounds much more enjoyable than beginning their day with their Savior.

 

I was thinking about this the other day and I’ll be honest, I felt myself getting depressed.  The reason was that I was thinking about some of the things that I need to change in 2026, but if I’m honest, I know I can easily be just like all the others who will give up within a few weeks.  Oh, my intentions are good, but my self-discipline is lacking and when the going gets tough…it’s easy for me to just quit going.  So, if I know that I will likely give up on my resolution(s), maybe I just shouldn’t make any at all.

Then I came across the words found in Philippians 4:9. The apostle Paul wrote these words in his letter to the leaders of the church in Philippi: “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing.  Then the God of peace will be with you.”  WOW.  I had to ask myself if I could write those same words in a letter to those I wanted to encourage and help in their walk with Christ.  Would I be confident enough in my behavior…in my walk with Christ…to ask others to emulate me?  I’m afraid my answer would have to be NO.  

 

Paul not only told them to put into practice what they heard him say…but also what they saw him doing.  How often do I say what I know God wants me to say…but then not walk the talk?  It’s one thing to speak words, but living out those words is often so much more difficult.  

 

Notice then what he ends with, “Then the God of peace will be with you.”   Again, WOW.  If those who are reading this letter follow the instructions Paul has given them, along with watching how he has lived his life…they will then have peace.  Because Paul lived the life of a fully, devoted follower of Christ…others were able to learn from him and as a result, had peace in their lives.

 

This got me thinking.  Maybe God doesn’t want me to make a list of resolutions for 2026, maybe He just wants me to ask myself if I’m speaking and living in a way that encourages others to follow Him.  Maybe He wants me to be more intentional with the words I speak and the actions I display on a daily basis.  Maybe He wants me to ask myself before I speak or act, if what I’m about to say or do will draw others closer to Him or drive them farther away. 

 

We are living in a world where many people do not have peace.  They live every day with their stomach in knots…their mind racing…with an overall feeling of despair.  How amazing it would be if in 2026, they could find the God of peace by listening to what I say and watching how I live my life.  I know that will only happen if I am intentional on being a fully devoted follower of Christ.

 

Elisabeth Elliot said, “This year, let us ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a single hope to know Christ and be found in Him.  May this be a year to desire a radically transformed, deeper, truer, knowing of Christ as our all-sufficient One”.  I realize that if I really take this seriously…if I make this my focus in 2026…I believe that everything else will fall in place.   If my only hope for the coming months is to know my Jesus more so that my words and actions can be radically transformed to look more like Him, my year is bound to be more than I could ever imagine.

 

I really don’t want 2026 to be just another year.  I want it to be a year in which how I live has a positive impact on eternity.  But I know I will have to be intentional in making sure my hope is to know my Jesus and be found in Him.

 

How about you?  What is your Savior asking of you for this coming year?  If you aren’t sure, maybe you would like to join me and together we can ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a single hope.  A hope to know Him so deeply, that our speech and actions will influence others to find peace in Christ.  I’m guessing that if this is our prayer, we will discover that He is definitely our “all-sufficient One”. 

 

 “I pray that God, the source of hope, 

will fill you completely with joy and peace 

because you trust in him. 

Then you will overflow with confident hope 

through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Monday Morning Memo: I. Just. Can't

Well, we have survived another Christmas.  The bottom of the tree might now look bare…or your tree may already be put away for another year.  You may still have remnants of ripped off wrapping paper on your carpet and your belt might need to be loosened from all your overeating.

 

With Christmas now over, our thoughts turn to welcoming in a new year.  What will it bring?  Some are excited about tackling new opportunities and/or adventures in 2026, but for some, looking ahead brings great tension, stress and fear.    I think sometimes, the way we look at the new year, is dependent on what we faced in this past year.

 

I know in my life, the word “can’t” easily became a word which infiltrated my vocabulary in 2025.  Do to my health situation, I could be heard saying,   I can’t face the unknown…I can’t understand why God isn’t giving us the answers we need…I can’t do everything I want to do because I’m just not strong enough…I can’t stand the thought of seeing yet another new doctor, only to be told he doesn’t have answers…and some days all I could say was, I. just. can’t.

 

I’ve been thinking about this the past few days, and I think it is important for us to remember that whenever we think we can’t do something…we need to ask God if HE can.  You see, if it is something that He wants us to do…He CAN give us whatever it takes to get through.  I believe He wants us to stop dwelling on what we can’t do and start focusing on what He can do through us.  We need to allow Him to use the difficulties that we face for His glory and not use them as our excuse.  We must be willing to live “beyond the limits” of our comfort zone so that God can accomplish great things through us for His glory.  And yes, sometimes we need to be willing to just be still…trusting God to be with us during those times when we just can’t do what we want to do.

There is a huge problem though…Satan doesn’t like this at all.  He doesn’t want us to accomplish anything for God, especially if it draws others to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  He doesn’t want us to have peace…even in the valleys of life.  He wants us to remain stagnant…living inside our protective bubble…settling for the status quo with a stomach full of knots.  Unfortunately, it’s really easy for us to want to remain there too.

I have written before that I have a lot of respect for Corrie Ten Boom and the amazing testimony she had throughout her life…even when she was in the worst of circumstances.  When she spoke, her words were so powerful and they are still having a huge impact long after she received her eternal reward.  Corrie was a child of God who wasn’t afraid of pushing herself way beyond her human capabilities, knowing that wherever God led her, He would give her exactly what she needed every step of the way.

I read a quote of hers that was exactly what I needed.  Her timely words were, “When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus.”  In other words, when Satan is whispering over and over in my ear that I can’t do something, that I am too weak to accomplish a task, I can smile right back at him and yell, “You are right Satan…I can’t…but HE CAN!”

What a difference it makes when we realize Whose abilities and power we can tap into!  There isn’t anything we will face that is beyond God’s capabilities.  There isn’t any detour on our journey in which He doesn’t know where we will end up.  Nothing surprises Him…nothing makes Him fret…nothing overwhelms Him.  We can be assured that no matter what, His answer to us is, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this!”

Are you living in fear of what you might face tomorrow?  Are you afraid that if you commit to living completely sold out to God in 2026, He will ask you to do things which are way beyond your strength and abilities?  You are right…He probably will…but He already knows when He asks that you can’t do it by yourself, but He knows that He can!  All He needs is your willingness to let Him lead and He will take care of the rest.

Here we go… into another year and I’m guessing there will be times when you and I feel powerless.  Let’s not forget that we have the privilege of “stepping inside the ability of Jesus”.  Just the thought of that gives me chills.  Let’s do this!

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message

Monday Morning Memo: Need Rest?

Well, ready or not…Christmas is almost here.  I’m sure some of you are ready for the big day and some of you need to accomplish 3 weeks of work…in the next 3 days.  That’s just how life is, isn’t it?  Regardless of whether or not we have our “ducks in a row”…Christmas is on the horizon.

If I had to make a guess, I’m thinking many of you are just plain tired.  Life often gets so crazy this time of year and by this point, many are physically exhausted.  Your to-do list might be overwhelming you because you seem to add more things that need to be done…than crossing off the things you have accomplished.

And let’s just say it like it is…some aren’t worn out physically…but mentally because they are already looking ahead to that Christmas family gathering which they dread every year.  You know what I’m talking about…the one where that certain relative corners you to talk about every ache and pain they’ve had for the last year…oh it’s a fun time 

Then, there is spiritual fatigue.  Maybe it has been an extremely difficult 2025 and you are questioning where God has been in all of it.  Maybe you feel you have tried to follow His plan for you…but you’ve hit a detour at every turn and it has given you more questions than answers…and that my friend, is tiring.

In Exodus 33:13-14, we read this conversation between Moses and the Lord: “If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” 

Moses wanted to understand the Lord and His ways more fully and the Lord promised him that He would be with him every step of the way and everything would be fine. He also told Moses He would give him rest.  I don’t think the Lord was just talking about the fact that Moses and his people could rest once they reached the Promised Land.  I think He was telling him that HIS presence would give him rest – physically, mentally and spiritually - no matter what life would throw at him…even when the events weren’t on his to-do list.

And the same is true for us.  The Lord’s presence within us can give us Rest…when an unexpected detour comes our way.  Rest…when our spirit feels unsettled and unsatisfied.  Rest…when the world around us is in disarray.  Rest…when we are apprehensive regarding our future.  Rest…when our mind wants to dwell on our past.  Rest…when His plans don’t concur with our plans.  Rest…even when those “critical” things on our to-do list have to be left unmarked because we are just too tired.  And yes…Rest even during the days leading up to Christmas.

Are you in need of rest today…physically, mentally or spiritually?  The Lord promises that His presence can give you the kind of rest you need for today, tomorrow and the weeks and months to come.  He knows absolutely everything about you and nothing you are going through is a surprise to Him.  Today may not be the day you had planned on your calendar…but if you seek Him…He promises to walk with you every step of the way and give you rest.  I can’t think of anyone better to have as your walking partner than Him.

My prayer for you this Christmas season is that you will have time to sit at the manger…filled with wonder of the babe who came to this earth for you.  YOU were…and are…loved that much. Maybe, just maybe…if that is where your focus is…that dreaded family gathering won’t be near as bad as you’ve feared   

Merry Christmas!

Monday Morning Memo: Hearing Their Story

Christmas. This word conjures up many different emotions in those we meet. Some approach the day feeling almost giddy...anxious to see what wonderful treasures they will be given. Others enter this season feeling the same way, but their excitement is from what they will be giving...not what they will be receiving. Still others are so sick of seeing signs of Christmas in the stores and through the media since August, they just want Christmas to be over. 

Then there are those whose pain keeps them from barely noticing the lights, tinsel and presents. I’m afraid there are many who feel that way this year.  We live in a dark world where there is pain from physical illness…pain from losing loved ones…pain from lost jobs leading to financial insecurity…and pain from strained or fractured relationships with those whom we love.   

Unfortunately, those who are hurting this year may never be the same again. They may never embark on this time of year without remembering these difficult days they are walking through. I am confident that their joy will return because their focus will be on their Savior, but there will always be a part of them that will forever be changed. There is no way they can forget times such as this which have had such a dramatic impact on their life. 

At this point, you may be thinking that I am trying to squelch any Christmas enthusiasm you may have, but I can assure you that is not my intent. I just want you and me to remember that everyone we will meet between now and Christmas has a different “story”. Each person will be viewing this Christmas through their own personal lens and even though it may not be obvious what they are going through, they may be crying out for someone to care. They may need you and me to be understanding, patient and loving, not trying to make them see Christmas through our eyes but see this special day through God’s eyes. 

God didn’t send His Son to this earth as a baby just so we can have a perfect life. Believe it or not, He didn’t send Him so we can give and receive gifts. He sent His Son so we can have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. The familiar verse in John 3:16 tells us, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  If we truly believe this, it should totally change the way we approach Christmas. No longer will our focus be on giving or receiving, but on making sure that everyone, no matter what their “story” is, has the opportunity to believe in Him. Our responsibility is to share...but remember that we will never be heard if we don’t first care. 

It never ceases to amaze me that many, including me, know the reason for the season, but neglect to tell anyone else. We are so caught up in our own agenda that caring about another person’s “story” is just out of the question. Unfortunately, we leave that up to our Pastor because he gets paid to make sure others know the reason why the babe was born in the stable. 

If we knew the cure for cancer, would we tell others? If we knew that a tragedy was going to happen to someone we love, would we warn him or her? Of course we would. Why? Because we would want to make sure they were safe. We would want to make sure they knew of the impending events so they would be ready and could avoid pain and suffering. 

None of us know whom God will put in our path in the coming weeks; but we do know the reason for the season. Will you join me in making sure our lives impact those on our journey in a powerful, positive way? Let’s care about others enough to learn their story, walk alongside them, and share the reason with them. Our words and actions just may give them the hope they’ve been searching for and will make this Christmas one which will have an eternal impact on their life.  Trust me…it will give them a year they will never forget… not because of pain…but because of great joy in becoming a follower of Christ. Believe me, there is NO greater gift you can give than this!