June 9, 2017 – Fail

I had an epic gardening fail. I planted sun flowers in the shade. I thought I was being brilliant. I speculated the orbit of the earth around the sun and just knew that, when the plants came up in the summer, the earth would be in the perfect place to have the sun shine right where I planted.  The fail: trees produce leaves in the summer. So, I toil to help these plants receive nourishment in other ways; but nothing is as good as the sun’s vitamin D. I will most likely end up cutting them all back and replanting them to another spot.  How often do I, a child of God, forget that I must walk in His Light? Thinking I can do things on my own, my life becomes weak and frail. I find myself spending extra time trying to make things right. There are even those moments when life cuts me back and sets me in a different place than expected. Yet, when I walk God’s Light, I find the strength and endurance to find success wherever I am planted. 

So I answered them and said to them, "The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build. – Nehemiah 2:20a

June 8, 2017 - Truth

How much truth do we need to know? God has given us Scriptures, Tradition, His Living Son, and His Holy Spirit. Within each lies His Truth. Yet, God has chosen to send us little bits, in little chunks. Some followers are ready for the complete picture. Those are called Saints and live in Heaven. For us on earth, we must be content with knowing that God reveals what we need to know on the level we need to know it. It is not for us to judge how much another knows, or how much information is revealed to them. Our role is to listen with the Holy Spirit, rely on Christ's examples, and read the Scriptures with the mind of God. Then, in God's Omnipotence, truth will be revealed.

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:19, 20

June 7, 2017 – Pause

Life brings us many moments within every day. Take the time to pause and reflect on each one: the good and the bad, the small and the large. Let your mind rest in the new knowledge received; not so much as ‘judgement’ or ‘reasoning’, but as ‘knowing’.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

June 6, 2017 – Encourage

When we are faced with a journey that calls us to be something greater than we suppose we are, remember, Christ is before us and is leading us in every moment. It is in Him that we have our strength and through our faith and trust in Him we will find success and His Glory will prevail.

To end then, brothers, we wish you joy; try to grow perfect; encourage one another; have a common mind and live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthians 13:11

June 5, 2017 – Joy

What brings you joy; not just laughter here and again, not just satisfaction from completing a task, but true, peace-giving, soul-reaching joy? True joy lingers even after the moment. It penetrates our being and invigorates, enabling us to have the stamina to carry on in the not so joyful moments. Make certain to make time to be joy-filled. Put the world on hold, and spend quality time with your God. Give Him all that binds you – and let go. It will all be here when you return and you will be able to face it with renewed clarity, passion, perseverance, and joy.

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. – 1Thessalonians 2:19, 20

June 2, 2017 – Understood

Living your life as a beacon of Christ isn’t always fun and games. There are time when you feel no one understands and your efforts are not worth the frustration. Yet, we must remember, that Jesus is the ultimate Judge. He understands every ounce of our being and of those around us. Place your hope in Him. Trust in His bidding and become confident that, as long as you seek and do His will, you are right where you should be.

“When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. – Acts 25:18,19

June 1, 2017 - Temptations

Time spent contemplating whether or not we should embark on something we know is not good for us is actually time that allows that temptation to imbed itself deeper into our lives.  Put your thoughts on God.  Praise His Name. Focus on His goodness, mercy and love.  Give thanks for all the gifts you have and are to receive. You will find your strength becomes a natural element within you. When you join with Christ and our Holy Spirit and take on the Essence of God, temptation will turn away.

All the gods of the heavens are idols. It was Yahweh who made the heavens! - Psalm 96:5