Monday Morning Memo: Uncluttered and Focused

Memorial Day.  This is the day when we remember the people who died while serving in our country's armed forces.  I so admire those who have been willing to serve our country so sacrificially.  They not only chose to start a life journey where they would have to leave friends and family, often placed in situations that were far from being comfortable, but then gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life so that you and I can have freedom.  We are free because of those who have been brave.

What deeply saddens me is that so many have given their lives for our freedom…but we are now losing many of our freedoms, not because of those outside our country, but because of those inside our country.  Bit by bit…day by day…decisions and mandates are being forced on us that are jeopardizing our freedom to follow the Biblical truths that we hold so dear.  Our country, which was started on Christian principles, is now so far from where it began, that it is almost unrecognizable.  The mantra that is now being shoved down our throats is that “everything goes”…as long as Christianity is not included.

The day is here my friends where it isn’t only the soldiers that serve our country who need to be brave, but we also, as Christians, need to be brave.  Our religious freedoms are being taken away, and we need to be willing to stand up for what we know to be the truths given to us by our Lord and Savior.  It will not be easy and it won’t be the popular thing to do, but it is what we have been called to do. 

I was reading this past week in I Chronicles 29 in the version The Message.  I came across these words of David:

“O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you. And give my son Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so that he can obey what you command, live by your directions and counsel, and carry through with building The Temple for which I have provided.”

David asked that God would give Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so he would have the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God would call him to do.  David recognized that it wouldn’t be an easy road, but knew that as long as Solomon kept his eyes on His God and his heart pure, God would be with him every step of the way.

We serve the same God that Abraham, Isaac, Israel, David and Solomon served and what He did for them…He can and will do for us.  Our job is to make sure that our hearts are where they should be and that our eyes are focused on Him.  He will then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God is now calling us to do. 

Today I want to remember those who were brave and gave their all for me.  I do not want their ultimate sacrifice to be wasted by not giving my all to make sure our nation returns to its Godly heritage.  Let’s make sure that those who are coming behind us will have their Christian freedoms…because we were brave.

Monday Morning Memo: The Small "Talk Box"

I was thinking recently about the olden days….when we didn’t have cell phones.  We would set the answering machine when we left home (that is, if we remembered to) and would check it when we returned.  In the meantime, no one could get ahold of us unless they somehow tracked us down.  People just understood that they would have to wait for us to call them back once we listened to their message.

I remember when my husband first said that he thought we should have a cell phone.  Since we owned a mobile catering service, he felt it would be a huge asset to have a phone in case he or one of our employees needed help while they were on the road.  I was dead set against it.  While I agreed with his logic, all I could envision was being interrupted when we weren’t at home.  Our home phone rang often since our business line also rang in our house and the last thing I wanted was to have to listen to more ringing when we were gone. 

I eventually gave in and we purchased our first cell phone.  It was huge and the reception wasn’t the best, but we had finally entered the mobile world.  I soon realized what an asset it was to those in our business and it wasn’t long before we had quite a few cell phones on our plan.  And yes, the day finally arrived when I had my very own mobile device.

Fast forward now quite a few years later…and I feel lost if I don’t have my cell phone with me.  I’m so used to carrying it that when I do forget it at home, I’m always wondering if someone is trying to call or text me and waiting for my answer.  If I’m honest, I know I am way too dependent on that mobile device and I need to work hard on loosening my grip on it.

I came across this graphic the other day and at first it made me chuckle…and then it made me think.  I started asking myself if I am as diligent on making sure my prayer life is always connected, as I am making sure my cell phone is charged and ready for use.  I check my phone often to make sure the battery life will get me through the day…but it is easy to forget that my true Power Source, God, never needs charged and can never be misplaced or left behind.  He is always available…never “out of area”…and never even needs upgraded to the latest model!  I can always be plugged in to His power seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  Every day…every hour…He is willing to communicate with me.  I never get a busy signal or have to leave a message.  It always blows my mind to think that the Creator of the universe wants to be in continual conversation with me!

I wonder what would happen this week if every time I reached for my phone, I would stop and breathe a prayer of thankfulness to God for His power that is available to me.  I wonder if it would help me keep my focus on Him when life seems to be swirling around me.  If nothing else, maybe it would help remind me that He is always the constant in my life…the One who never changes and is always available to recharge me…instead of me needing to recharge Him.  And maybe, just maybe, it would help me be much more intent on keeping the lines of communication open with Him, instead of relying so heavily on the small “talk box” in my pocket.

Monday Morning Memo: Spring Cleaning - Part 2

Well, it’s still spring-cleaning time around here…but it feels like winter!  It’s been a very cold, windy and damp last few days in Indiana and so it sure doesn’t feel anything like Spring.  Nevertheless, I did manage to get some extra cleaning done last week, but it helped to have the motivation of having family coming for a few days to visit and hosting a baby shower for our daughter-in-law.

If you remember, last week I shared with you the quote, “You worship what you ultimately prioritize.”  I suggested that, as we went throughout the week, to make a point of evaluating those things of which we spent our time and money.  We were to ask ourselves if what we had planned was really what God wants us to do or if our focus had turned inward.  Hopefully as we did this, we found that God was in favor of our itinerary and our purchases.

I think once we get our priorities in order, we can then contemplate the second quote that I came across a couple of weeks ago.  It is a quote of Bill Hybels in which he said:

“Every significant vision that God births in you

will put your courage to the test.”

Yep, I knew there was a catch to making sure our priorities were in order!  Once our focus is where it should be, God can then lead and direct us to exactly where He wants us to be.  Unfortunately though, that often means that He has to push us way out of our comfort zone to get that accomplished.  UGH.  That can sometimes be painful and can take courage that we have no clue we even possess.

I think that many of us have had visions or ideas that we have given up on due to timing, finances, family obligations or possibly most often…our fear of failure.  The thought of all that it will take to see our God given vision come to fruition, seems overwhelming, and surely does put our courage to the test.  It often seems easier to just give up and shove the vision to the back of our mind as we settle for the humdrum daily life in which we find ourselves.

We read these interesting words in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. For I am with you and will never forsake you.”  Do you know what this verse is telling us?  These powerful words are telling us that we don’t have to know how we are going to accomplish the visions and ideas that God has “birthed” in us!  We don’t have to know how we are going to find the time, money or courage to carry out the goals that He has set before us, because He is right by our side, knows every detail and will never let us down!

In church yesterday morning, we sang the song “No Longer Slaves”.  The words to this song are such a wonderful reminder that we dare not become a slave to our fears.  The words to one of the verses really spoke to me.  They were:

You split the sea so I could walk right through it

My fears are drowned in perfect love

You rescued me and I will stand and sing

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

 I’m no longer a slave to fear

I am a child of God

What a wonderful reminder that there is nothing that is too big for our God.  If He can split the sea…He surely can handle whatever He has placed in our path.  If we are His child, He will provide what we need to see that His will is accomplished.

Maybe while we are spring cleaning, it would be a good time to “dust-off” some of those ideas that we have shoved to the back of our minds.  Is there a vision that God placed before us in the past that we have given up on?  Or is there an idea or dream that He is currently impressing on us that has us feeling scared to death?  We need to be strong!  We need to be courageous!  We need not be afraid!  Why?  Because HE is with us and has promised to never abandon us and we no longer have to be a slave to our fear.

If you make the decision this week to pursue the vision that God has birthed in you, I would love for you to let me know.  It would be my privilege to pray for you as you seek Him and begin to put one foot in front of another towards His plan for you, knowing that He will give you whatever you need to see it accomplished. 

Monday Morning Memo: Spring Cleaning

It’s that time of year again.  I love Spring because I know it leads to Summer which is my favorite time of year.  But the negative to this time of year are the dreaded words, “spring cleaning”.  I know it needs to be done but I have a hard time getting motivated to start. 

My mother-in-law was an amazing spring cleaner when they lived in their own home.  Every inch of each wall and baseboard were washed…every shelf dusted…and every cabinet was not only cleaned out and reorganized but the outside shone when she was done.  I get tired just thinking about how hard she worked.  

So last week when I went to get something out of a drawer and realized it possessed way more items in it than was necessary, I decided to straighten it so that I could at least say I had started cleaning.   But something occurred that often happens when I start a project such as this…I got distracted.  I came across a piece of paper that had two quotes written on it and that of course got my wheels turning which in turn helped diminish my desire to spring clean (yes I know, it doesn’t take much J). 

The first one I heard in a sermon years ago and I have written about it before.  It was:

“You worship what you ultimately prioritize.”

I haven’t been able to get these words out of my mind since I came across them again.  My thoughts went to the fact that many people, if asked what their idols are in their life, would say that they don’t have any.  They immediately think of the graven images that we read about so often in the Bible and are quick to say that this doesn’t pertain to them. 

But yet, if we were honest, there may be other things in our life that take priority in our schedule.  These things may not be made of gold and sitting on our mantle, but the choices and decisions we make shows what is of greatest importance to us.  Oftentimes, a perusal of our checkbook or of our credit card statement, paints a picture of what we are worshipping.

The irony is that those things that may be taking time out of our schedule…or sucking money from our bank account…may be good things.  They may not be sinful things at all, but it is important that we ask ourselves whether what we are spending the majority of our time seeking, is what God desires for us.  If it isn’t, then it doesn’t matter how wonderful are actions are or what marvelous things we may accomplish with our finances, they are our idols and are what we are worshipping in place of God.  Our greatest pleasure needs to come from Him.

As we go throughout this next week, let’s make a point of evaluating those things of which we are spending our time and money.  Let’s ask ourselves if what we have planned is really what God wants us to do or if our focus has turned inward.  As we fill our schedule or spend our money, let’s take a moment to consider if God would be in favor of our itinerary or our purchases.  He may tell us we are right on track…or that we need to realign our priorities.

Once we make sure our priorities are where they should be, we will be able to consider the second quote I came across last week.  But you will have to stay tuned for that one because the first quote already took too much of my spring cleaning time!  Hopefully I will be able to stay a little more focused this week as I make worshipping and following Him my priority!

 “But seek first the kingdom of God

and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

Exodus 20:3

Monday Morning Memo: Take It To The Bank

If you have read my book, you know that in one of the chapters I share the story of a tragic event in my life.  Here is an excerpt:

“On a recent evening, I decided it was time to cover up the ever multiplying “silver” follicles (silver sounds so much more attractive than gray)!  I went through my normal routine, making sure every hair was covered.  I waited the allotted time and then rinsed it out.  I wrapped a towel around my head and proceeded to the mirror to comb out my hair.  Life was good until I took the towel off. 

To say my reflection in the mirror was shocking is an understatement.  I have been a blonde since I was born and I had no intention of changing that fact.  But what I saw was not blonde hair; it was dark brown.  My mouth dropped open, my eyes grew wide and I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.  My first thought was that maybe it would look lighter when it was dry, so I quickly grabbed my hairdryer and frantically dried my hair.  Unfortunately, I was still a brunette.

Panic set in at that point and I grabbed the box of hair color, which verified what I figured; I had incorrectly purchased medium brown instead of medium blonde.”

OK…so maybe it wasn’t a true tragic event…but it sure had my heart pumping for a while.  I basically fell apart that night and thought my life was over; all because of the color of my hair.

As the result of that evening, I now go to a salon to have my hair colored and this past week I did just that.  Now I am a very fortunate woman because I have two sister-in-laws that are beauticians and both of them are awesome at their profession.  Since one of them, Beth, lives in the same town that I do, I frequent her shop and so I set an appointment for 10:00 am last Thursday.

The night before, Beth texted to say that she needed to move my appointment to noon because they had received word that the water would be turned off in the morning.  Since water is crucial for hair coloring, she thought it best to wait until the pipes were flowing with H2O.

I arrived at noon, the water was back on and Beth proceeded to cover my strands with the correct color.  When she was done I moved to another chair so she could cut my friend’s hair while I processed.  When she went to wash Janet’s hair and pulled on the knob…you guessed it…no water came out.  For a few seconds, shear terror filled Beth’s face.  She immediately ran outside to ask the men who were working what was going on and their answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear.  They had hit a main pipe and had no idea when they would get the water back on.

That, my friend, isn’t what you want to hear when you have color processing on your hair.  Yes, I wanted my roots to look better, but I also wanted hair left on my head!  But I can honestly say, it didn’t ruffle me in the least.

Why?  Because I know Beth.  Beth is the type of person you want in your corner when things need to get done.  She immediately flew into action and went to work finding containers she could fill using the water from their water cooler.  Knowing that water would be rather cold…she went over to the Keurig and started heating water that could be added to make it much more comfortable for me.  When the timer went off, telling us that my hair was processed, she was ready and able to rinse the color out and everything was A-OK.

I didn’t fall apart in this situation like I did when I made the error at home, because I knew that I had someone there that was very capable of handling the circumstances we were in.  I knew that I could “take it to the bank” that Beth wouldn’t let my hair fry and that she would solve our dilemma.

After this happened, I got to thinking about how wonderful it is that as Christians, we have Someone who can handle EVERY situation that we find ourselves in.  No matter what happens…no matter what detour we face…Jesus is there to take care of us.  We have no reason to fret and stew and worry because nothing is a surprise to Him.

I don’t know what you are facing today.  You may have a mountain ahead of you that seems un-climbable.   You may have been given a diagnosis that has shaken you to the core.  Your spouse may have just told you they want out of your marriage or your child may be choosing a path that is making your heart heavy.  You may be fighting depression and the dark clouds are encompassing you.   Whatever situation you find yourself in…Jesus was already there before you arrived.  Nothing you are facing has Him nervous…nothing has Him shaken…nothing has Him shocked.  He knew every detail before you did and He is capable of handling your circumstances and seeing you through the darkest valley.  He’s got this covered and that my friend, you can “take to the bank”! 

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:28-29

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11