Alexa Play Music

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” James 1:19-21

I've been living out these verses since I saw you last...mainly because I’ve been struggling with sore throat, cough, fever & fatigue. As I look back I think it was building and then just was hit with it last week. Last week I served at our Kids Camp holding babies for four hours every morning followed by LIFT meetings every night. Within that week I was exposed to a lot of germs... pink eye, a tummy bug, strep and covid are just the ones I know of. So, the combination of working long hours + germs in the world... added up to us having cancel on our weekend trip we were SO looking forward to. Blah! I tested negative for covid just in case you’re wondering. But, I did develop a sinus/upper respiratory infection. I’ve found myself in a place where I actually have to be quick to listen and slow to speak and don’t really have the energy to get angry. And I don't like it. 

 

I asked Alexa to play me some music. She keeps trying to get me to listen to the “Casting Crowns” channel on iHeart radio. I don’t love CC. Why is she consistently pushing them on me? So, I was more specific and asked for “praise & worship” or even just “worship”. And this song came on today and it lit my heart on fire. I asked her to repeat the song and she did! Alexa can be so helpful! I’ve heard it on the car radio before, but never the whole way through. So, I started thinking about the lyrics. And thinking about the fact that God is the God of the mountains and the valleys. And how very much we need Him – on our good days and our bad days. He is faithful. Raise your hand if you need God today. 

 

“I'm calling on the God of Jacob. Whose love endures through generations.
I know that You will keep Your covenant.
I'm calling on the God of Moses. The One who opened up the ocean.
I need You now to do the same thing for me. For me, for me.
O God, my God, I need You. O God, my God, I need You now. How I need You now.
O Rock, O Rock of Ages, I'm standing on Your faithfulness. On Your faithfulness.
I'm calling on the God of Mary. Whose favor rests upon the lowly.
I know with You all things are possible.
I'm calling on the God of David. Who made a shepherd boy courageous.
I may not face Goliath but I've got my own giants!” ~Elevation Worship’s song “Same God” 

*Taken from LIFT weekly email.

Trusting in My Own Mind

 “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 28: 25-26

Y’all have been on this journey with me this year of getting back to the basics and trying to figure out the different aspects of me trusting the Lord. Thank you for being so patient with me as I went back to The Jesus Storybook Bible and searched Psalms & Proverbs daily and monthly. Proverbs 28 has a lot packed in it – consider checking it out! 

 

I was deeply challenged by the verses above considering: 

1. How a greedy man is compared with one who trusts in the Lord. When I don’t trust the Lord – I am being greedy. I am desiring to be in control of things. Obviously this gets me nowhere and you’d think I’d learn my lesson by now, I am a grandma and all. Well, actually it gets me somewhere – exactly what the verse described – stirring up strife! Lord, help me be enriched as I trust in You and remind me to let go and watch You work! Your work is lasting.

 

2. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool. Sadly, I rely on my mind too much. I like love logic. I really love logic and operate out of it. I constantly work out problems in my head. I work through different scenarios and come up with solutions. This can be a really great thing, but I can find myself stuck in a loop. Lord, help me rely on Your wisdom, Your Word. Help me walk in it. Deliver me from my defaults. Remind me that You are Who I should trust – not my mind or my actions!

*Taken from LIFT weekly email.

Be Ware!

 Just a few days ago three of our grands were over for the evening. The oldest grandboy had tired of playing a Star Wars video game and ventured into the other room. The youngest grandboy picked up the remote to try his

hand at it barely able to contain it’s many buttons with his tiny fingers. The little one wants nothing more in life than to be just like his big brother. He’s his shadow, his admirer, his echo, his cheerleader, his literal ambition in life! He’s three. His mission in the game, as Boba Fett, was to protect the ship, collect tokens and defeat the enemies. But, he had no idea who his enemies were. And neither did I! He kept wandering off course and shooting occasionally. As I watched him struggle to find his way through this level trying to decide who was on his team and who was not – I realized sometimes I get stuck, too, wandering aimlessly. It slapped some sense back into me. Are you steady and on course? Who are you following? Where are you going? Who is pointing you closer to Christ? What is your mission? You are on the winning team. Do you know it? Every choice is an act of war. Every choice. Choose wisely. 

I took this picture randomly as we went for a walk this evening. Didn’t look at it until we got back to the house and realized that as Zion looked back over his shoulder, Canaan was doing the very same thing! Yes, his boots are pink and that’s okay. 

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:5b-11

*Taken from LIFT weekly email.