Monday Morning Memo: 'Tis NOW

There is an old hymn that has been stuck in my head this past weekend.  The words are:

 

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

 

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

 

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,

If ever I love Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

 

If I am really paying attention to these words…it is hard not to be overcome with emotion.  Jesus has done so much for me and for you…and these lyrics remind us of all the pain and suffering He endured on the cross so that we could be forgiven.   With Good Friday coming up this week…I can’t think of a better song to have on our mind. 

As I’ve mulled over these words, they’ve made me wonder if we often make discipleship training too difficult and, as a result, we have many Christians going through life not having a clue as to what a truly devoted follower of Christ should look like. To me this is tragic and very disturbing. We have Christians who look no different than those who do not profess to have a relationship with Him. They are attending the same movies, watching the same television shows, telling the same jokes, cheating on their spouse and backstabbing at work to move up the ladder. With their mouth they acknowledge their Savior, but their actions don’t back up their words. 

What we need to emphasize to followers of Christ is that their responsibility is to concentrate on their relationship with Him. If the relationship with their Jesus is not where it should be, then fruit will not be seen in their life. Now at this point you may be thinking, “Well duh LuAnn, everybody knows that!” Do they? Do you? Do I?

Let me explain. If we really believe the words to the song I included, then our walk should prove it. If we truly love our Jesus and desire to turn all of our sin over to Him, then that should be our guide as to how we live. When we get up in the morning, if we truly love our Jesus, then there should be no place for mistreating our spouse or our children. If we truly love our Jesus, then we should never desire to step on other people in our workplace just to obtain a higher status. If we truly love our Jesus, then we should never desire to attend a function where we know Jesus would not approve. If we truly love our Jesus, then the thought of cheating on our spouse should never enter our mind. If we truly love our Jesus, our priorities and our schedule should be an outgrowth of our love for Him. 

What we fail to realize is that the choices we make each day, make it obvious to others what condition our relationship with Him is in. No one has to be a rocket scientist to see whether we truly love our Jesus or not, just by listening to our words and watching our actions. Not only does it show others whether or not we love Him, it also refutes all the excuses that we can muster. No longer can we blame our parents, our children, our church or our friends for our behavior, because they are not responsible for our relationship with our Jesus; only we are. 

How much do we love Jesus today? Maybe a better question would be, “Do others know how much we love our Jesus?” If they don’t, then maybe we need to re-think our priorities and make some changes in our schedule this week. When the right choices are made, we can then sing without reservation, “If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis NOW.” 

 

Don’t forget, if you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, you can find my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.  I posted another teaching video this morning, “Faith and/or Works…Do I Need Both?”  Check it out!

 

If you would like encouraging thoughts to help you in your daily walk with Jesus, check out and “Like” my new Facebook page, “Image Seeker”…you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Image-Seeker-109914611136211/news_feed.  

 

And, if you aren’t on Facebook but would still like to see encouraging posts and notices of new videos…”Follow” me on Instagram.  Just search for “theimageseeker”

Monday Morning Memo: Be Still

I am a “fixer”. If I see a problem, my first thought is OK, what do I need to do to get this taken care of so we can get on with life. Well, maybe that is describing me nicer than it should. To be honest, I am a control freak. I like to be in control of my circumstances and if I’m not, I’m not what you might call a “happy camper”. 

I think there are times when being a control freak can be good; such as times when things are in disarray and someone needs to take charge and get things organized. I do not like it when things are done half-way and are unorganized. My grandmother had a saying about this that I believe should have been in the Bible. She would often say, "Once a task has begun, never leave it till it's done. Whether it be great or small, do it well or not at all." Because these words sum up what I believe, some have called me a perfectionist...I prefer to call myself “detail- orientated”! 

While there are positives to being a control freak, there are also many negatives. The biggest one I have found is that it is often hard for me to allow the Lord to have complete control of my life. It is easy for me to fall into the trap of believing that my way is best and that I can do things on my own, without the Lord’s direction and guidance. Of course, this path usually lands me in the middle of a battle that I can’t win on my own and I have to go running back to the One that truly is in charge. 

In some ways, I think the pandemic made it harder on control-freak people like me.  Suddenly, all of us were thrown into circumstances where everywhere we turned…we were being told what we could and couldn’t do.  We couldn’t go where we wanted to go…see people we wanted to see…or even buy what we needed to buy because of hoarding and shortages.  Life as we knew it instantly changed and so many things we thought we had control of…wasn’t in our grasp anymore.

The positive to this past year has been that it has been hard on control-freak people like me.  Yes, you may need to re-read that sentence again.  The same circumstances that were very difficult for someone like me…were also good for me.  Each event has been a reminder that as much as I think I’m in control…I’m not…and thankfully…this world is not my home.  If my focus and my trust is in this world…it will inevitably let me down, but my Jesus never will!  

There is a verse in Exodus 14:14 that many are familiar with which says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” What a wonderful promise. I have the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings ready and willing to take charge and direct my every step; even during a pandemic.  I just have to hand over the reins to Him. I have to be willing to stop being a control freak and just be a Jesus freak instead! 

What about you? Has this past year stretched you in ways that you really didn’t want to be stretched?  Maybe, like me, it has shown you areas of your life where you need to realize that you aren’t supposed to be the one in control anyway…only Jesus should have that responsibility and fortunately…nothing from this past year caught Him by surprise.

Let’s spend some time this week in once again “being still” and focusing on the One who is in charge. Maybe then, we will start to loosen our grip and allow Him to take over the reins of our life…whether there is a pandemic or not. 

 

Don’t forget, if you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, you can find my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.  I posted another teaching video this morning, “Are you a SNOB?”  Check it out!

 

If you would like encouraging thoughts to help you in your daily walk with Jesus, check out and “Like” my new Facebook page, “Image Seeker”…you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Image-Seeker-109914611136211/news_feed.  

 

And, if you aren’t on Facebook but would still like to see encouraging posts and notices of new videos…”Follow” me on Instagram.  Just search for “theimageseeker”

 

Monday Morning Memo: His Grip

This picture I am sharing today was taken on a Sunday last July through our Ring camera.  We were getting ready to leave the town of Bluffton, Indiana, which is 20 miles east of our home.  This is where we attend church and as we were leaving to head home…it became very dark.  Storm clouds were looming over us and before we got to the edge of town…raindrops began falling.  Wondering what it was doing at home, I pulled up our Ring app on my phone and took this picture.  I was so struck at how calm it appeared to be at home…but how perilous it looked to the east…where we were currently.

Every time I look at this picture, I think about how much it is like our life.  When we were in the storm…it was hard to see that there was light anywhere around us…but I realized from the picture that everything was fine just 20 miles away.  But once we were back home and could look at the storm from the other direction…I could either enjoy the calmness around me…or I could sit and worry that the storm I knew was in the distance…might come my way.  

Fear.  It can paralyze us when we are in the midst of a life-storm…and it can also consume us if we are always concerned about what “might” happen.  I think this past year has brought fear to the surface in many lives.  Fear when we were all suddenly thrown into a new “normal” that didn’t seem normal at all.  Fear when loved ones became ill…fear of lost jobs…fear of not being able to see family and friends.

I think there comes a time though, when we need to stop allowing those fears to control our every move.   Isaiah 41:10 in the version The Message says, “Don’t panic. I’m with you.  There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.  I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”  What reassuring words from our Heavenly Father.  With Him…even if there is a storm brewing all around us…there is no need for fear because He has a firm grip on us.  With Him…during those times when everything is calm…there is no need to fear what “might” happen tomorrow…because again, He has a firm grip on us.

Yesterday in church, we sang the song, No Longer a Slave.  I’ve heard this song many times…but it sure hit home when I sang the words, “I’m no longer a slave to fear.  I am a child of God.”  If we really believe those words, then fear should no longer control us since we are a member of God’s family.   Having Him as our Father, should be all we need to face whatever life brings our way.

Does fear have you in its grip today?  If so…why not reach out to your Heavenly Father.  He will give you strength. He will hold you steady.  And remember…His grip is one which stems from love and care…not from fear of our today or tomorrow.

 

Don’t forget, if you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, you can find my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.  I posted the third teaching video this morning…so check it out and learn how we should be doers…not just a hearers!

 

If you would like encouraging thoughts to help you in your daily walk with Jesus, check out and “Like” my new Facebook page, “Image Seeker”…you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Image-Seeker-109914611136211/news_feed.  

 

And, if you aren’t on Facebook but would still like to see encouraging posts and notices of new videos…”Follow” me on Instagram.  Just search for “theimageseeker”

 

Monday Morning Memo: Good News!

If you know me well, or even if you only slightly know me, you recognize the fact that I’m rarely at a loss for words.  I can usually find something to talk about with anyone I come in contact.  In fact, I’m confident that there are times when I need to remember the words, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

 

There are just certain topics of which I have trouble staying silent.  Ask me about my husband and children…and you will hear an earful.  Ask me about my friends…and you will probably learn way more than you wanted.  Ask me about my church…and I’m pretty sure my face will light up and you will hear how much I love my church family.  And beware…ask me about my grandchildren…and you better hope a chair is nearby because you are in for a long description of each precious blessing and more than likely…pictures will be included.

 

I am passionate about each of these subjects.  I love my family, friends, church and grandkids more than I can even put into words (even though I will try!).  They all mean the world to me and I am never bashful or embarrassed to talk about them.  But do you know what?  None of them are perfect…(gasp)!  They are all human and probably, at one time or another, they have let me down.  Maybe they did or said something that hurt me…or maybe they didn’t live up to my expectations.  But regardless…it hasn’t stopped me from bragging about all of them…especially since I know I have also let them down at times too.

 

So, how come I can ramble on and on and on about all of these people…but shy away about telling everyone I meet about my Jesus…who IS perfect and has never let me down?  Why are there times I don’t speak up about everything He’s done for me because I’m afraid I might say the wrong thing?   Why are there times I keep my mouth shut…when I should open it…to stand up for issues that go against Biblical values…because I’m afraid I’ll step on someone’s toes or make them feel uncomfortable?  

 

This was rattling around in my brain last Friday night and then Saturday morning I turned on the radio and the very first song that played was by the Gaither’s called “Good, Good News”.  I had heard this song many times before, but the words just stopped me in my tracks.  The first verse and chorus are:

 

I woke up Monday morning and I walked out on the lawn
My eyes were barely open and my mouth began to yawn
Picked up the daily paper, every single headline said
That this whole world is full of trouble and I wished I’d stayed in bed
Sometimes the bad that's goin' on's enough to bring you down

Turned on my television and began to flip on through
All one hundred channels, HBO and pay-per-view
Not one message had a meaning that was good in any way
Just before I wrote the whole world off, I heard the Father say
"Don't forget what I have promised, you can overcome it all"

I'll spread this talk all over town 'bout the peace and joy I found in you
(good news, good, good news)
This story is about to break and blessed are the feet that take the truth
(good news, good, good news)
I'm slippin' on my dancin' shoes 'cause I’ve got good, good news

 

All I could think of as I heard these words was, I’ve got Good News to tell!  Not just Good News…I have Great News and I need to make sure I’m spreading what I know all over town!  Christ has given me peace and joy and I need to tell everyone I meet.

 

Just like this song says…there sure isn’t much good news in our world today and people are starving to hear about the hope, joy and peace we have in our Jesus.  So, as we go throughout our week…let’s be intentional on telling those who Christ puts in our path about our Good News.  If we don’t tell them…who will? 

 

If you still aren’t convinced that you should speak up…click on the following link and listen to this song.  Then slip your dancin’ shoes on because you have good, good news to tell!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehxHP7AO-Vc

 

Don’t forget, if you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, you can find my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.  I posted the second teaching video this morning…so check it out and learn how you can get wisdom from your Heavenly Father!

 

Also, if you would like encouraging thoughts to help you in your daily walk with Jesus, check out and “Like” my new Facebook page, “Image Seeker”…you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Image-Seeker-109914611136211/news_feed.  

Monday Morning Memo: Image Seeker Revived!

 As you know, I tend to write about the areas of my life that need chiseled…that need worked on…that need to have some “renovations” crafted by my Jesus.  So, as I’m sure you may have figured out…that’s why the last few weeks I have been sharing about how important it is to be completely surrendered to Christ, not dwelling on the “what-if’s” and not allowing ourselves to become too “comfortable”   Oh, I’m such a work in progress!

 

My spirit was unsettled again several months ago…feeling there was something new I was supposed to pursue in my ministry.  But as details started to become clear to me, I wasn’t sure I was ready to completely surrender…give up all my “what-if’s that immediately came to mind…and to be honest…I kind of enjoyed being comfortable!

 

But, I reminded myself that I began writing many years ago because simply...I care about you.  Plain and simple.  I believed then, and I still believe now, that Christ wants you and me to live a better life; a more fulfilled life - a life that looks more and more like His life and less and less like the world.  So, I guess Christ’s most recent nudging was just a natural progression because now I began feeling led to do what I could to have more of a “presence” on the Internet.  Not to promote me…but to hopefully help others see Jesus every day in a more personal way.     

 

In those days, many years ago, God impressed on me that I was to be an “Image Seeker”, taken from the verses in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 which say, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”  I believe everything that happens to me is an opportunity to become more like Him…depending on how I act and react.  It’s a daily choice that’s entirely up to me.  So now, I am returning to my “roots” of those initial days of my ministry and “Image Seeker” is being revived.  This time, it can be found as the name of a new Facebook page where I am now sharing encouraging posts to hopefully help others in their daily walk.  

 

I realize that not everyone is on Facebook, so I felt led to begin a YouTube Channel also entitled, Image Seeker.  On it, as of today, I am posting videos of my teaching.  To begin with, we will be studying the book of James together.  I chose this book because I believe it is so important for us, especially during the times we are living in, to do all we can do to strengthen our faith.  It’s going to be easy to become discouraged and lose our focus and as a result, I think it will be easy for us to be pulled down into the ways of the world.  So, as Christians, we need to do all we can to strengthen our faith so our eyes will be kept on our Jesus and others will see Him in us. 

 

May I ask a favor of you?  Will you please pray with me that God will use this ministry for His glory?  I really believe that time is of the essence, and there are so many who need to learn about our Jesus.  They need simple, straight-forward teaching that will help them realize how much they are loved and how each day they can look more and more like Him.  That is my prayer and my desire, and I would so appreciate you joining me in that prayer.

If you would like to follow me on my new Facebook page…you can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Image-Seeker-109914611136211/news_feed.  

If you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, you can find my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.

 

Let’s do our best this coming week to seek His image…so that every day…we will look more like Him!

Monday Morning Memo: Are You Comfortable?

I know I have shared with you, more than once, that my favorite season is summer.  I really enjoy the warm, sunny days when you don’t have to bundle up in 20 layers of clothes just to step outside.

 

But I have to admit there is one thing about the cooler (or right now…frigid) weather that I look forward to and that is Sunday afternoons.  The reason is because I love to come home from church and put on my sweatpants and sweatshirt and relax.  Now I can come home and relax on most Sunday afternoons regardless of what the weather is outside, but there is just something about being able to wear those clothes that make it even nicer.

 

Why do those clothes make my afternoon better?  Because they are so comfortable.  They are soft and baggy and don’t bind me anywhere.  They’re warm and cozy and I don’t have to worry that they will wrinkle if I kick back in my recliner and take a nap in them.  When I have them on, I don’t care if I make a fashion statement and honestly, I really don’t even care if they match!   To sum it up…they are easy.  I know when I am wearing them, I can just unwind and not expect too much from myself.

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every moment of every hour of every day were that way?  Complete relaxation.  Never have to push ourselves to do anything.  Never have to care if we accomplish anything or do anything to impact anyone else’s life.  Never have to worry that something or someone will come along to put a “wrinkle” in our day. 

This may sound wonderful…but if we were honest…a life like this would be rather shallow.  It would be a life centered on us and what makes us comfortable.  We would miss out on the blessings that are received when we stop dwelling on us and do something to make someone else’s life a little easier.  We would surely become stagnant in our walk with Christ because our focus would be inward instead of outward. 

 

I read something that made me start thinking about all of this.  The quote said: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”  What a convicting statement.  If we are always only willing to do what makes us comfortable, we will miss out on the life that Christ has planned for us.  He has more waiting for us than we can ever imagine and even though it may include some hills and valleys and detours that we don’t expect…it will be much more fulfilling than any afternoon in the recliner.

 

So, my question to you is, “How comfortable are you?”  If you are really comfortable day in and day out…you just might want to reevaluate your walk with Christ.  Are you listening to Him and following His directions for your journey?  Or are you content to just kick back and only do what is the easiest and makes you feel the best?

 

Life is so short and today is the day that we need to step out of our comfort zone and begin living for Him instead of us.  If we don’t, we just might fall asleep and miss out on the adventure He has planned to make us look more like Him!

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,

“If any of you wants to be my follower,

you must turn from your selfish ways,

take up your cross, and follow me.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for my sake

and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

Mark 8:34-35 (NLT)

Monday Morning Memo: Let's Get Fishing!

Do you ever cringe when your children give you advice?  I mean…aren’t we supposed to be the wise ones?  Aren’t we supposed to know it all?  What in the world can someone in their 30’s know…that I don’t already know?  Well, I’m finding out that in many situations…they know a lot more than I ever knew at their age…or know now!

 

This was proven to me this past week.  Several months ago, my son, Adam, graciously agreed to help me get a new ministry up and running.  I knew when God laid it on my heart, that it was going to take wisdom in the field of technology that I just don’t possess.  So, I approached Adam and explained to him what was rattling around in my brain, and much to my surprise, he didn’t laugh me out of the room.  Instead, he immediately began sharing his wisdom with me.

 

I’m not going to lie…these past months have included some struggles which have pushed me way out of my comfort zone.  I have had to learn new computer programs that have really stretched this old brain of mine.  But Adam has patiently answered all my questions and when he didn’t know the answers…he started researching until he found the resolutions for me.

 

So, by this past week, I thought I had learned all the new programs needed for this endeavor…until I asked Adam how to do something…and he broke the news to me that I would need to learn another one.  Adam could see that I was somewhat exasperated at this and that’s when he shared these words with me, “Mom, you need to realize that this is the hardest part.  Right now, you are in the most difficult stage of this whole process because you are in the learning stage.  Once you learn it all, it will become second nature to you…but for now…you have to either keep learning or quit.  Those are your only two options.”

 

His words have rung in my ears ever since, because they can be applied to so many areas of my life.  It’s easy for me sometimes to want to give up when the going gets tough.  I can easily start making excuses and that’s usually when all the “what-if’s” materialize.  What if I’m laughed at for what I’m doing?  What if I fall flat on my face?  What if I’m censored and all this work ends up being for nothing?  Oh, I could go on and on and when Adam shared his wisdom with me, I knew it was time to put a stake in the ground and resolve that I will keep learning and I won’t give up.

 

After mulling over Adam’s words for a couple of days, I was listening to music and the old song from the Gaither Vocal Band came on, “I Catch 'Em, God Cleans 'Em”.  I’ve always loved this song…probably because we owned a fish business for over 40 years!  But as I listened to the chorus once again…I knew that my Jesus was trying to send me some encouragement.  The words were:

 

“He said, "I catch 'em, God cleans 'em

I bait the hook with the love of the Kingdom

I've been called to be a fisher of men"

"I catch 'em, God cleans 'em

Heaven knows He saves every soul that believes Him

I reel 'em in and He washes away their sin"

 

There was my answer.  I’m not called to worry about any of the what-if’s.  It’s not my problem if any or all of the what-if’s come true and I’m not called to save someone from their sins.  My job is to do what Jesus has called me to do…which is to be a “fisher of men”…and He will take care of the rest.  I can’t tell you what a relief it was for me to realize, once again, that all I need to do is fish…and He will do all the cleaning!

 

I can’t help but wonder if there is someone reading this today who has been called by Jesus to do something new…and they are ready to throw in the towel because all the “what-if’s” are piling up.  If that is you, I want to urge you to keep going…keep learning…keep seeking wisdom from those who know more than you do.  Remember all you are called to do is fish…and He will do all the cleaning!  My friend…let’s get fishing!

 

If you would like to hear the entire song that I referenced, click on this link.  Warning though…it will be in your mind and on your heart the rest of the day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zXtnLD5glQ

 

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said,

 “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Matthew 4:19