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Take Courage: Encourage

With the start of a school year, students need courage to enter a new school and classroom, reach out and make friends, or tackle a challenging subject. The need for courage doesn’t stop with children and teens. 

Perhaps you are dealing with loud music from a neighbor’s home and need courage to address it. You may need courage to wake up each morning because your marriage fell apart. Perhaps we need courage to remain silent, when our mouth wants to move and give an opinion.

Life dilemmas and difficulties vary and fall across different circumstances and seasons of life. We never escape our need for courage.

Two Thoughts-Love

Good morning!

I’ve been busy writing in a few other places and want to share two of them with you.

What do T-shirts and love have in common? Find out at

http://www.christiandevotions.us/viewblogentry/1520

And… although summer is winding down, I had a good laugh with a Facebook post on swimwear. I had recently been to a writers’ conference and saw a comparison analogy. We all fall into the comparison trap whether or not we are writers. We compare bank accounts, health, appearance, success, and families. So, look at this post about comparison.

https://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/2018/07/swimsuits-and-writers-conferences.html

These may appear to be two different thoughts, but not really. If we think about it, when rooted in God's love we can best love others. When rooted in God's love, we are confident in His love and thankful for the unique way He made us.

Look for a way to show love today.

Painting with a Broom: The Right Thing in the Wrong Way

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23 NLT)

My Dad looked at the freshly painted room. “Did you use a broom to paint?” Though his observation was serious, we laughed. 

No, the teenage boy used a roller, but was more concerned about hurrying to get the job done and play baseball, than do it right. So, with a paintbrush, roller, and a new can of paint, he repainted the room.

My Dad was all about building character. “If you’re going to do something, do it with excellence.” He spoke those words to me more times than I can count. At his memorial service, my brother and I quoted them in our tributes. I admit as a child and teenager, I was often annoyed by the admonition. Since then, I have come to appreciate his counsel-not only personally but seeing how the effects of failing to embrace his wisdom causes damage.

Updating Before the Day Begins

I checked the outside temperature, poured my morning coffee, and walked to my screened porch. After high temperatures and humidity, I was thrilled with the notion I could have my morning devotions outside. It was a bit chilly (for me) at 6 am so I grabbed a blanket to cover my legs.

With an eye on refreshment, I sipped my hot coffee and prepared to open my Bible. Refreshed? How do you need to be refreshed after sleeping seven hours? Shouldn’t a good night’s sleep refresh? Yes, I woke up naturally, so I had adequate sleep. I was looking for something else.

Refresh carries with it being fortified or reinvigorated. In the world of technology, refreshing a computer screen calls for updating. That’s what I needed--updating.

Independence Day-Dependence Days

Today, July 4th, marks Independence Day. It’s America’s birthday! When the patriots drafted the Declaration of Independence they included the rights of individuals to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Signing the document meant a new day for those who had come to America. 

My family immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s. When they disembarked from their ships, they too recognized it was a new day for them and for their future family. They had no idea what the future held, but they were optimistic it would be better than the life they left behind. They were courageous and strong in the face of many obstacles. I admire their courage leaving familiarity to come to the unknown. They experienced discrimination because of their ethnic identity, faced a language barrier but persevered, worked hard, and left a legacy and heritage to cherish.

Six Month Review

What did you think when you read JUNE on the calendar?  School's out! Vacation! Graduations! Weddings! Half a year has passed?

In January many made resolutions or goals. Perhaps you blocked days for certain plans on a calendar. Did you choose a word or a Bible verse as a focus for the year? Some decided to journal meditations from Bible reading or write reflections and prayers.

Employers often have a six-month review to check on meeting goals or making progress in developing an expertise. What if we did the same? Not in the workplace, but comparing ourselves with ourselves from January to June?  Here are some ideas for a six-month review:

Throw Me to Jesus, Daddy

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5 NIV)

In South Carolina, we’ve enjoyed several pool days. My four-year old grandson has gained new confidence compared to last summer. Wearing floaties and kicking, he feels more freedom and doesn’t stay as close to his Mom as last year. He’s become more adventurous and even asked his Daddy to throw him up in the air.

“Put your arms up and reach the clouds,” his Daddy said.

Howling with laughter, he complied. Splash!

Ready for another turn, he said, “This time, Daddy, throw me up to Jesus.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Throw me to Jesus.

I do every day, sweet boy. I pray for you every day.

Serendipity in a Tall Glass, Especially in June

Did you know that next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world? In 2017, Americans consumed over 84 billion servings of tea, or more than 3.8 billion gallons. 

 

Approximately 85 per cent of the tea consumed in America is iced. I don’t have statistics to verify it, but I’d guess most of the iced tea consumed is in the south and when you order tea in South Carolina, it’s assumed it’s sweet tea. Is there any other way to serve it? It’s culture in a glass, the signature beverage of the south. 

Many stories have circulated regarding the origin of iced tea. The most widely accepted is its introduction at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Richard Blechynden, an American merchant promoting teas from India and Ceylon, offered cups of hot tea to passersby. On a steaming hot day, people wanted to cool off, not drink hot tea. In desperation, Blechynden poured his tea over a vat of ice and iced tea was born. Even though other stories circulate about the origin of iced tea, this desperate tea merchant is credited with popularizing and commercializing a fairly unknown beverage.  

What a serendipty! 

Word Count and Words Count

I just returned from a writers’ conference where I spent five days surrounded by spoken and written words.

One topic discussed was word count. Observing the number of words an editor requires for an article is critical. If the word count is set at four hundred words a written article submitted is five hundred, the writer needs to edit in the best way possible without compromising the intended meaning.

I love my words. I selected them. Each time I delete, rearrange, or choose a different word, it almost hurts. I chose the words with care-or thought I did. Eliminating them makes me feel as if they weren’t chosen for a part in the school play. But, cut I must. Once I do, I re-read the article and yes, it is better with fewer, often more specific, words. And… I find some words were unnecessary.

Two recent experiences reminded me how critical word count is in our relationships. I was wounded by a comment in a conversation. 

The Treasure of the Wow Factor: Simplicity and a Toddler

Two and a half hours with a two-year old. What do you picture? Crumbs, sticky hands, scattered toys? My morning didn’t include any of those, though I did fill a sippy cup with juice.

I planned a “Show and Tell” experience and walk through my yard to show and tell my grandson about my flowers.  

A Look at Mother’s Day

When Anna Jarvis was 12 years old, she heard her mother’s prayer in Sunday school following

teaching on mothers of the Bible: "I hope that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it." At her mother's graveside service, Anna remembered, and said, "...by the grace of God, you shall have that Mothers Day." So, in 1908, Anna followed through on her decision and created Mother’s Day as a day to honor mothers.

Eventually President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Once he did, it became so commercialized, that Anna called it a “Hallmark Holiday”.

She said, "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world."*  She regretted what she had established. According to my research, she was arrested for disturbing the peace while protesting the commercialization of Mother's Day. She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against what the holiday had become. She said that she wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control. Over one hundred years later, Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest days for long distance phone calls, dining out, and buying gifts, flowers and cards.

Travel Plans with Stops

This morning I received several opportunities in my inbox: beach houses, mountain chalets, and discount cruises offered attractive vacations. The drastic percentage cuts peaked my curiosity and I clicked on cruises. The number of days and ports of call gave options. Each had stops with unique charm.

We make stops in life, and they may be unique, but “charm” isn’t the description I’d use for all of them.

Treasures: A Climb and a View

Within minutes of arrival on Fripp Island, my friends and I spotted deer prancing across grass. Two came to our car.

Later, we saw a flock of egrets, an alligator, and a statuesque grand blue heron. Fripp is not a beach with a boardwalk and crowds, but an island charmed by wildlife. I spent the week quietly enjoying natural beauty with good friends. What's not to like about drinking morning coffee greeted by a spectacular sunrise overlooking an ocean?

The Treasure of Gratitude: More Than a Post-it Note

I’m reading Life Together by Dietich Bonhoffer, and this treasure popped off the page this morning.

It’s Monday…Where are You Looking?

I've enjoyed scrolling through Facebook posts of friends’ Easter photos. We took family pictures, too, and adults stood with several camera phones, trying to capture smiles. In some attempts, one or more in our group had eyes closed, or looked away from center. It was a challenge to have five or six focused in the same direction at the same time, especially when children were part of the group.

Looking in the wrong place often happens. In Luke 24: 8, we read words, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”. Yes, people sought Jesus, but in the wrong place. He wasn’t dead in a tomb, but alive. The tomb was empty.

Friday’s torture, became Saturday’s silence, and then Sunday’s surprise. In a path of contrasts, the ultimate showed up: death to life.  

Empty ... to full, just as He said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  (John 10: 10). 

So, where are you on the Monday after Easter? Do you still have pieces of a chocolate bunny, or a basket of plastic eggs holding treats from an egg hunt?  Ready to eat that last slice of dessert? Maybe you are laundering the tablecloth and putting china away used at your Easter dinner.

Have you thought about the living among the dead? Have you thought about personal emptiness to fullness?

In the forty days leading up to Easter, I focused on a particular life-giving thought each day in my devotional reading. I reviewed a few this morning: mercy, trust, courage, grace, follow, strength, surrender, love…The list of forty is made possible only through the power of the living Savior. The exchange of my emptiness for His fullness.

We learned if we want photos worthy of a frame or posting for others to see, we need to keep our eyes open and focus in the right direction at the right time.

Looking for fullness of life uses the same principle…
     eyes open, focus in the right place…on the only One who knows we are empty, but wants to fill us with His power to fully live.

The Treasures of a Most Significant Week

Passion week is the most significant week on the church calendar. If you do not have daily devotional readings for this journey, 

a scripture guide for the week follows.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21: 6-11) 

Palm Sunday, opens a parade of praise, leading to days of persecution: Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:36-37; John 12: 12-19.

Now or Next?

I clocked 1.6 miles last Saturday. No, I wasn’t walking as part of planned exercise. I was on a mission with a list: groceries and gifts. From aisle to aisle, running into carts and people, and looking for parking spots, I checked off items on my list, going to the next store. I accomplished most of my tasks; most-- stores were out of a particular item I was looking for. So, I’ll be looking for that gift the next time I’m out.

We always have a next. It’s the next season, so house and garden stores are overflowing with people looking for plants, shrubs, mulch and pine straw.

It’s the next holiday, and the candy aisle is filled with chocolate and jellybeans.

It’s the next week, and we consult our calendars for appointments.

It’s the next deadline, so I rush to complete a project.

It’s the next due date, and I make sure I pay bills on time.

It’s the next installment of a favorite series. I tune in or record it, so I don’t miss out.

Moving, driving, walking, hurrying… I always seem to run to a next, but what about the now?

When do I stop to enjoy the gift of the now? When do I savor the now? Joni Eareckson Tada wrote about multi-tasking and enjoying the now.  It's a practice worth considering in our multi-tasking and dealing with nexts.

And…this past week, a friend quoted an excerpt from a poem that we studied in college literature.

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

           ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh

Seems as if I am getting reminders about enjoying the treasure of the sacred now. 
How about you?  Shall we stop to savor the now, or are we busy looking for blackberries in our next?  

Did You Save Time When You Changed Your Clock?

I heard it in conversation, on radio call-ins, and from email reminders not to be late to church Sunday. “Don’t forget to change your clocks.” Daylight Saving time began Sunday at 2 am. We sprang forward, and in November, we will “fall back”.

Contrary to popular thinking, daylight saving time is not about farmers, but about conserving energy. We get one more hour of daylight in the evening. As spring and summer approach, people can be outside in more daylight. If you’re curious, you can check out other interesting facts about what daylight saving time does and doesn’t do.

We are all interested in saving time. With busy schedules, needs to meet, and things to do, many are left with unfinished tasks and not enough time at the end of a day or week.

Treasures in Moving Costs

As I turned into my neighborhood, I saw a new “For Sale” sign on a front lawn, then a few feet later, spotted another. Two families have made decisions to move. I don’t know if they are moving locally or to another state, whether they are downsizing or making adjustments from a two-story to a one story, or want more space or a larger yard, but they're planning to move.

Moving has been front and center for me in the past few weeks. One daughter is planning a cross-country move, and another a local one. Regardless, they meet moving costs, and they know moving costs.

As for the former, hiring a moving truck can be a costly venture, even when we purge and consolidate-realizing as we pack, we don’t need three frying pans and outgrown clothing. We move to a new house and spend money in paint, light fixtures, and perhaps different furniture to accommodate a new floor plan. We have moving costs.   

Moving doesn’t happen overnight or even in a week. Once we relocate, and leave friends behind, we search for new relationships and essential contacts such as doctors and stores. Box after box is unpacked, closets filled, cupboards lined with shelf paper and we are tired. Moving costs time and emotional and physical energy. Yes, moving costs.