Thankful
The sights and sounds of Saturday morning.
The sun illuminating the leaves outside my window.
Our son’s dog, Dallas, curled up in his favorite spot.
The rhythmic swish of the clothes in the dryer.
The sound of my first cup of coffee brewing.
It’s easy to rush past each one of these simple joys.
These gifts that I have been given.
Weekends can often feel like an extension of a busy week, filled with to do lists and catching up.
But friends, our Heavenly Father wants us to step back from our busyness and experience His peace.
To pause and take in the simple joys.
And give thanks.
Whether it’s the view outside your window or the sounds coming from inside your home, what are you thankful for today?
“Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 TPT
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All Around Us
Earlier this week, I wrote about our desire to want answers and the work of trusting God.
Sometimes we just want to hear His voice.
To feel His presence.
All that He asks of us is to trust that He is good, even when circumstances are not.
Nothing surprises our Heavenly Father .
Because He sees all and knows all.
He created everything under the sun.
And even when we cannot hear His voice, He sends reminders of His promises.
That even if He feels distant, He is never far.
That even if we cannot comprehend where we fit in this big world, He has a plan and a purpose for us in it.
That there is nowhere we can go that His love cannot reach us.
Friends, on this chilly Fall morning, pause and take in His creation.
His presence is all around.
Where do you see reminders of His love today?
“I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!”
Psalms 139:7 NLTBlessings to your weekend!
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The Explanation
Yesterday was a professional development day at work.
One of the presenters gave us an exercise to do using AI.
Staff was asked to use ChatGTP, Gemini or any other AI platform to find the explanation of why the earth has seasons.
Depending on the grade level and the platform you chose, answers varied.
But answers were immediate.
AI eliminated much of the work for us.
We all got an explanation.
Whether you are a fan of AI or not, it is easy to see how you can be attracted to what it brings.
Because many times that is what we are searching for: an explanation.
Why did this happen?
How could this have happened?
I need to understand.
I am often guilty of this.
Wanting an explanation right away to the things that are happening around me or to the people I love.
Scripture tells us there are things on earth that we will never understand.
Answers we will never get, no matter how many times we consult with technology or other people.
Surely in a world that is filled with so much information, we should be able to have things make sense.
But this is where the work comes in.
Our work is to trust God and His promises.
To trust that He has a plan, even when we can’t see it.
To trust that He has a reason, even if we don’t hear His explanation.
To trust that He never leaves us, even in hard and challenging circumstances.
To trust that He is steady and unchanging, even when everything around us feels shaky and uncertain.
Trust means being ok with not having all the answers, because I know the One who does.
Maybe AI can explain why the earth has seasons, but it will
never help others see God’s love.
That is the work of His children.
Christ’s death on the cross is the only answer we will ever need to explain the depths of our Heavenly Father’s love.
Go and share His love today.
“When I determined to load up on wisdom and examine everything taking place on earth, I realized that if you keep your eyes open day and night without even blinking, you’ll still never figure out the meaning of what God is doing on this earth. Search as hard as you like, you’re not going to make sense of it. No matter how smart you are, you won’t get to the bottom of it.”
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 MSG
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Even When Nothing is Wrong
Looking down at my phone, I noticed a message from my son.
At work, I quickly texted him back and asked two things.
“Can I call you back?”
“Is everything ok?”
His response was sweet, but made me reflect on something beyond a mother / son conversation.
“Yea, can a boy not call his mama without something being wrong ?”
First, if you are the parent of an adult child, you know any communication is welcome.
It could be asking to watch the dog or asking how to make an appointment.
We want to be included in as much of our children’s lives as they will allow.
And that is the way it is with our God.
We don’t have to just call out to Him when something is wrong.
He wants to be a part of our everyday lives.
As much as we will allow.
The joy and pain.
The extraordinary and the mundane.
Our smallest worries to our biggest celebrations.
Every. Single. Thing.
My momma heart is always full any time my children call.
And I am always ready to listen.
Friends, you have a Father who is always willing to listen to you when you call.
Even when nothing is wrong.
“When you call on me and come to me in prayer, I will listen to your every word. If you reach out to me, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 TPT
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Unchanging
The drive was breathtaking.
Shades of orange, red and gold burst forth from the line of trees.
Fall is my favorite time of year.
My husband and I will be married 28 years this month.
But October is also when we lost both of our fathers.
A time of year that has held some of the most wonderful and the most difficult moments in my life.
How ironic it is to witness such beauty while remembering such pain.
A reminder that we will all experience good times and bad.
Love and loss.
Joy and sorrow.
But as the leaves change colors, I am also reminded of the promise that there is One who never changes.
The One who has been by my side in every season.
The One who is with you in every season, too.
Friends, His love for us never changes.
My prayer is that as you start this week, you hold onto that promise.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
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Focus
Sometimes it’s hard to turn off the thoughts in our minds that steam roll ahead at full speed before they completely derail our whole day.
And even with my praise music on and the beautiful beach scene in front of me on the treadmill, my thoughts were already on a collision course this morning.
Not the way I intended to start my day.
But I could not shift my focus, even after a mile and a half.
So I told my husband I would meet him in the car and went to open my Bible app.
Meditating on His Word is far better than stewing in our own.
Thinking about the best, not the worst.
Taking in the beauty around me.
Listing things to be thankful for.
My day had started spending time with my husband.
Him stopping to get me coffee and check my tire pressure before leaving on a trip this afternoon.
It’s easy to lose sight about what’s in front of us when we’re caught up in our own thoughts.
Friends, I don’t know how your day began.
But if you are starting your day off on shaky ground like me, pause and meditate on this verse.
Focus on the good in front of you.
Even if it’s a hot cup of coffee.
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.”
Philippians 4:8-9 MSG
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A Single Path
As I came around the corner, I could see there was only a single lane open ahead.
Cars needed to wait to proceed until they saw the flaggers switch their sign from “Stop” to “Slow.”
What struck me about this was not the wait, but the communication it took between the two flaggers to ensure the safety of drivers coming from both directions.
And their own safety .
The plan called for constant communication.
Without it, disaster was likely.
Our God has a beautiful future planned for us.
There is a single path that leads us home: Jesus.
But that road is never a straight line.
It is filled with times that could cause us to crash.
Staying in constant communication with our Heavenly Father gives us direction for the ups and downs that make up our journey.
He gives us signs to stop and wait or to slow down.
God’s timing is perfect.
His plan is for His children to arrive safely home.
Wherever you are on your journey, my prayer is that you seek Him for direction today.
Until we all arrive safely home.
“Here’s what YAHWEH says to you: “I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail. My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope. When you call on me and come to me in prayer, I will listen to your every word. If you reach out to me, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 TPT
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Reading His Word
One of my favorite things to do when I’m reading His Word is to look at different translations of a verse.
Did you know that you can do this in the Bible app?
Just highlight a verse and click Compare.
Today I choose Nahum 1:7.
I love The Passion Translation (TPT) shown here.
Which translation speaks to you?
“GOD is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble.”
Nahum 1:7 The Message (MSG)“The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.”
Nahum 1:7 New Living Translation (NLT)“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
Nahum 1:7 English Standard Version (ESV)“The LORD is good; He protects His people in times of trouble; He takes care of those who turn to Him.”
Nahum 1:7 Good News Translation (GNTD)
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Only Jesus
One of my friends bought this shirt for me a few years ago.
Humor and truth.
Because there are definitely days where Jesus is the only one I want to talk to.
Maybe you have days like that as well.
But ironically so did Jesus.
This verse reminded me of that this morning.
As word spread about Jesus, people were constantly seeking Him out.
But He would withdraw Himself so He could be alone with the Father.
Whether we are doing good works or are just overstimulated from everything the week has thrown our way, we all need quiet time with Him.
It is easy to feel guilty removing ourselves.
But Jesus shows us that it’s ok to withdraw to spend quiet time with Him.
In fact, it’s necessary.
Where can you go to spend time with Him today?
“But now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities. But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
Luke 5:15-16 ESV
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In the Morning
Somedays we wake up excited about what the new day will bring our way.
Others, we wake up exhausted before we even get out of bed.
But His love for us is never exhausted.
Each morning greets us with His new mercies.
Before you get out of bed and have your coffee or tea, may He fill your cup with His hope and love.
Friends, whatever kind of morning you are having, His portion is enough to carry you through today.
Blessings in heaps!
“YAHWEH’s tender mercies have no end, and the kindness of his endless love is never exhausted. New, fresh mercies greet me with every sunrise. So wonderfully great is Your faithfulness! I tell my soul, “YAHWEH is my abundant portion. I need nothing more. So, I will put all my hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24 TPT
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