Tag: Encouragement

The Road Ahead: A Blog About Fog

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This morning, I drove the boys to their first day of school (5th and 1st grade). It was so foggy here that we could barely see down the road in front of us as we pulled out of our driveway.

My oldest son took notice right away, “Wow, this fog is really creepy. It looks like the road just all of the sudden ends!”

He was right.

And if I didn’t know any better, I’d think the same thing myself: surely this is the end of the road — we can’t go any further.

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Sometimes it’s that way in life, too.

Actually — that’s pretty much the way it is in life every day.

Every minute of every day, even.

From day we’re born, we live our lives not knowing what the next second holds for us.

Sometimes that can be a blessing…and sometimes that can be downright scary.

But even though we don’t know what lies ahead…God does.

And even if we can’t see past the fog…God can.

If we believe what Deuteronomy 31:7-8, we can be comforted by the fact that God is not only with His people…but He goes before them to prepare the way as well:

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Have faith that though you may not always be able to see the road ahead, it’s still there and that He is the one paving it.

Keep ‘em at 10 and 2 and keep driving forward — just like we did today.

My boys would’ve loved nothing more than for me to turn that car around, give up, and let them go back to bed for the rest of morning, but after spending the last 78 days straight with them, I didn’t care if that road dropped off the face of the earth beyond that fog, we were NOT turning around! 😂

And ya know what happened? The road was there after all. Sure, it had some potholes along the way, but (much to the boys’ dismay 😂) we eventually made it the school!

But in all seriousness…I know a lot of us moms are a little scared today as we drop our kids off at school…not knowing what lies ahead. Praying they will be safe. Praying they will make friends. Praying they will learn and grow and overcome challenges. But not knowing exactly how it will all go.

But God’s commands and promises ring true in this scenario and in every other: Do not worry. Do not fear.

Don’t let fear keep you from moving forward. Take that next step in faith.

Have determination like I did to just keep driving forward come what may…trusting that what’s ahead is better than all that’s behind.

Be hopeful.

Be faithful.

And drive carefully along the path that God has laid out for you in His Word.

And one day you’ll reach a beautiful destination.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Too Big for Your Britches

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“You’re gettin’ too big for your britches!”

For a pretty scrawny kid, I heard this phrase a lot growing up…🙄

Of course, it had nothing to do with me actually outgrowing my pants — it usually meant I needed an attitude check.

As an adult, however, this phrase has taken on a much more literal meaning…

You’ve heard of the freshman 15, right?

Well, over the past two years, I’ve put on the “Covid 19” — if you know what I mean…😜

And as a result, I’ve literally gotten too big for my britches…😂😂🤣😔

When I first noticed that my pants weren’t fitting the way they used to, I thought…no big deal, I’ll just cut back on the calories…take a few more walks…and I’ll be down to my previous weight in no-time.

Ha.

Turns out, it’s a lot easier to pack on the pounds than it is to take them off.

So, despite my good intentions, it became clear that I needed to go with Plan B…

…Buy some bigger pants.

🤣🤣🤣

Ahhh…much better.

In the moment, it seemed my problem was solved…but there was just one glitch.

You see, I changed my pants without changing my habits.

I became so comfortable in my new, roomier pants that it allowed me the wiggle room to continue being complacent in my old eating habits.

Since my old snug pants were no longer there to make me feel like a busted can of biscuits every time I tried them on, there was no longer any catalyst for change.

So…….as I continued along over the course of a few more months, I reached a point where even my new pants were getting a little snug. 😱😱😱

And eventually (I’m ashamed to say), I decided it was time to activate Plan C…

…Stretchy Pants.

😂😂😂

I mean, it was during the height of the pandemic, so we really weren’t going anywhere anyway…(besides Wal-mart pickup, that is)….so it seemed like the perfect solution. 😂

But in the long run, it was more of a band-aid to my problem than a cure.

And in my heart of hearts, I realized that if didn’t break this pattern, it could become an endless cycle…if I outgrew every successive pair of pants I purchased, one day I’d have my own reality TV show and have to be removed from my house by a crane. 😳😳😳

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But my struggle is nothing new…experts have been spouting statistics for years about the American diet/lifestyle and how it is contributing to conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

We get ourselves in these predicaments in at least one of two ways:

1. By eating for taste, not for hunger.

2. And a lack of exercise.

I think we all know that by now.

But what experts have yet to report on is that Christians in America are having similar issues with their spiritual diets as well:

In a spiritual context, choosing to “eat for taste, not for hunger” means we only consume Biblical teachings that are palatable to us (e.g. God’s love, forgiveness, and grace)…without feeding on the Word of God as a whole.

Many believers in America today want to skip over the “meat and potatoes” of the Bible and go straight to the “dessert” — and many churches are responding by holding back parts of the Truth for fear of offending picky palates.

But this isn’t Golden Corral.

You don’t get to just pick and choose what you put on your plate — and you definitely don’t get to skip straight to the Chocolate Wonderfall. (🤭)

By failing to acknowledge both God’s love as well as His severity (Romans 11:22), we’re not just loosening a belt…we’re loosening doctrine itself…for the purpose of our comfort.

And just like my own experience, it’s a slippery slope.

Over time, as we become more and more set in our unhealthy habits, the belt only tends to become looser and looser…the pants bigger and bigger…until, like me, one day you find yourself just lounging around all day in a pair of “spiritual sweatpants” (you know, the ones with the mystery stain and the elastic waistband that’s almost shot) feeling more than comfortable in your sins 😱…

I suppose that’s fine if you’ve got no where to go and no one to see…🫣

But let me remind you of this… just as one day the pandemic waned and I actually had to put on real pants to go out in public again…one day, we will have an appointment with God as well…and the last thing we want to do is show up looking less than presentable.

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God calls us to be imitators of Him, and the only way to do that is through spiritual diet and exercise.

Maybe you aren’t glossing over what the Bible says. Maybe you are feeding on every thing God’s all-you-can-eat buffet has to offer…that’s good and I commend you.

But that’s also a lot of calories to consume in one sitting.

So, we can’t just settle for a sedentary lifestyle…we also need to walk…with God.

James 1:22 puts it like this…”Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.”

Or to use a more familiar phrase…Just Do It.

It may be Nike’s slogan, but it applies to our walk with Jesus Christ as well.

What good are all those calories if we don’t put them to good use? Calories were meant to sustain our energy as we expend it!

In I Corinthians 9:27 (NLT), the apostle Paul says, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

Indulgence and complacency feel good in the moment, but the effects of their habitual practice are far-reaching…you know what they say, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. 😉

When it comes to what God’s Word says on a subject, don’t go “shopping around” for a better fit…instead make the effort to allow God to mold you to fit what His Word says…

…because after all, when we find ourselves getting too big for our britches, it not because He’s changed — it’s because we have.

Until next time…

-PWAP

You are the Song That I Sing

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My seven-year-old will NOT stop humming. 🙄

In the playroom, in the car, on the toilet, it doesn’t matter where he’s at, the kid comes with a built-in soundtrack…😂.

Couple that with a 10-year-old who has recently learned the art of whistling, and we’re practically one washtub away from having our own jug band.

— that is, a jug band that exclusively covers John Williams’ hits.

😂😂😂

But who exactly is John Williams 🤔, you ask?

(Sounds about as famous as the guy next door, right?)

Well, he’s actually the musical mastermind who composed the scores for such iconic films as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, E.T., and Raiders of the Lost Ark — which happen to be some of my kids’ favorite movies!

In fact, he’s composed so many well-known movie scores over the years that Apple Music even has a “John Williams’ Essentials” playlist now!

And……..of course we had to listen to it.

So, there we were on a Tuesday afternoon heading home from the grocery store — just a former music major and a couple of music “minors” — humming along down the road to one orchestral arrangement after another…

When all of the sudden, a song came on that I was not expecting to hear AT ALL…in fact, it was a song I hadn’t heard in over 20 years.

And yet, as soon as I heard the music start, it was like Carpool Karaoke meets the Day of Pentecost (minus James Corden and the Holy Spirit, of course)…and I couldn’t help but sing along:

“Bee ya ma yee ah, 🎶

bee len geisia bee gammah. 🎶

Bee ya ma yee ah, 🎶

bee len geisia tee yamanga…🎶

…Mu ya mah mu yeh, 🎶

Mu ya mah mu yeh, 🎶

Mu ya mah mu yeh, Afrika.” 🎶

The song is called, “Dry Your Tears, Afrika” from the movie Amistad — And in case you hadn’t noticed…the lyrics aren’t in English — they’re in the west-African language of Mende.

But it was no miracle that I was singing along…I knew the words because we sang it in our school choir one year.

And while not miraculous, it was nothing short of impressive.

How is it that over 20 years later, I can’t remember anything my teachers said (in English)…but I can still remember an entire song in MENDE???!!

Let’s just say, hearing it struck a chord in me for the rest of the week.

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The whole experience made me think about how Ephesians 5:19, tells us to “[speak] to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…” and how God in His infinite wisdom knew the benefits of singing long before we could figure out the science behind it all.

According to Opera North, singing not only enhances our memory, it releases endorphins, enhances lung function, helps you relax, builds a sense of community, lets you express yourself, can help relieve pain, boosts your confidence, and enhances your overall wellbeing!

These benefits are even more apparent when it comes to the developing brains of children.

Kids learn better with music.

In fact, according to an article published in The Washington Post earlier this year, “Music speaks to children in the areas of the brain that process sound and emotion, which are both fully developed at birth,” and “…taps into the emotional and memory centers of the brain, so information and instructions delivered through song are more likely to stick…Consider this: How did you learn your ABCs, and do you still remember them?”

It turns out that the art of making imperfect music with another person…releases feel-good hormones that bond people together. It’s also a surprisingly mindful pursuit. “When you’re making music with other people, your thoughts don’t stray, because you’re drawn into the orbit of synchronization, and that requires focus and attention.”

Which explains why when my kids were toddlers, their pediatrician would end every visit, instructing me to “keep singing to them.”

From a medical standpoint, he knew that it was crucial to their development.

And from a spiritual standpoint, it’s vital to our development as well.

Even if we can’t carry a tune in a bucket, we have to keep singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” with and to each other…especially our children.

Your kids will remember what they sing, so bring your babies to Bible class, bring your kids to Sunday school. Bring them to worship and let them hear the voices of the saints blending together in praise to God.

It’s never too early — or too late to start.

So, this is yet another reminder to myself as a parent to turn off the KidzBop 2022 for a minute and sing along in the car with some Bible songs, too.

My friend Holly suggested a series of kid’s Bible CDs called “Slugs and Bugs,” that sets Bible verses to music. She said her kids have memorized a ton of scripture this way without even really trying! And now I think I understand why.

We followed her suggestion and started listening to Slugs and Bugs, too…and now my kids have added these to their humming/singing/whistling repertoire as well 😂…and so have I.

Until next time…keep on singing.

-PWAP

Write on My Heart Every Word

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My youngest son (who just turned 7) was sitting on the end of our pew during worship this morning.

He was a little farther away from me than usual, so I couldn’t see exactly what he was doing during church, but it looked like he had his pen and paper out, so I assumed he was listening while quietly drawing one of his world-famous pictures of Jesus. ❤️

Boy, was I wrong…😂.

When the final “amen” was said, he made his way straight over to show me his “artwork.”

Oh, it was artistic alright…but instead of using paper as his canvas, he had used the entire backside of his arm instead…😱🙄🤦‍♀️.

“Look, mom! I got a tattoo!”

As unsightly as it was, part of me was just glad it was only pen and not Sharpie. 🙏🙏🙏

I fussed at him for a minute…and then sent him off to Bible class.

But shortly after I finished preaching to him about his arm…his little arm preached a sermon right back to me…

You see, he was (in his own weird way 🙄) actually on the right track as far as what God desires for us all…

As the church hears the Word of God taught each Sunday, God is making an indelible mark on our innermost being…so, in a way we are each getting tattoos of our own.

Week after week, the Word of God is being tattooed on our hearts…the most intimate place you could EVER get a tattoo!! (Despite what you’ve heard to the contrary…🤭.)

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says:

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

When we teach, we tattoo. When we learn, we become tattooed.

And whether we realize it or not, our tattoos themselves have the ability teach others, as well.

With one glance, a tattoo can tell the world a little bit about us. It’s a powerful representation of who we are and what we love.

And this is even more true when it comes to tattoos of the heart — because our hearts determine everything else we do:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

For this reason, it’s vitally important to be careful about what we choose to tattoo on our hearts, because unlike my son’s “temporary tattoo,” permanent ones are not as easily removed.

Which is exactly the reason why my husband always says, “If I ever get a tattoo, I’m getting the words ‘Know Regrets’…because I’d probably end up regretting it…” 🙄😂🤣.

But he’s right in a way…getting a tattoo is a long, tedious, costly, and even painful process…so it is a choice you want to be sure of.

In a lot of ways, the process of tattooing the Word of God on your heart is really no different.

But don’t let that scare you away from becoming His disciple…because I can tell you one thing for sure…it’s something you’ll never regret. ❤️😊

Until next time…

-PWAP

Here’s Your Sign

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I was driving through town the other day when the car in front of me suddenly turned its hazard lights on and began driving suuuuper slow…until finally coming to a complete stop.

I was trying to pass, but the oncoming traffic was relentless — so, for the moment I was stuck.

As I sat there waiting, I started to wonder…why is this car come stopped?

Is it car trouble? A medical emergency?

Dozens of pessimistic possibilities began swirling around in the compartment of my mind that does all of my overthinking for me…🤔.

My initial annoyance was quickly turning to concern.

So, when I finally got the chance to pass, I peeked over just to make sure everything was ok.

The good news?

Everyone in the car appeared to be fine — whew, what a relief!

The weird news?

Apparently, the driver stopped because of a sign. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

And I’m not talking about one of those little red and white octagonal ones either. 🛑🤣🤦‍♀️

Nope — this woman was holding up traffic all to take a picture of our town’s welcome sign.

Wait — what????

Ummm, like it’s not even that great of a sign, people — it’s plain, it’s old, and for all intents and purposes, it might as well be labeled “Podunk, USA.” 🤣

I’m just kidding, I like the town I live in. But the sign? It’s definitely nothing to write home about.

So, as I passed this stationary vehicle, part of me wanted to roll my eyes…🙄🙄🙄

But the other part of me wanted to roll down my window and shout…“Don’t stop!! Keep going!!!!”

Now, at this point, I you’re probably thinking, “Road rage? 😳 This is sooooo not where I pictured this story going.”

🤣…but I promise it wasn’t anger-management issues that triggered my hypothetical outburst…no, quite the opposite — I promise my intentions were good.

You see, I wanted to tell the driver that just up the road, our town has a pretty hip Instagram-worthy “Greetings from…” sign painted on the side of one of the quaint little buildings downtown.

Simply put, I wanted to tell them that there’s something even better up ahead.

If only they knew…

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Sometimes, I wish I could go back and express a similar sentiment to my younger self…

If only you knew what was ahead…that better things are waiting for you down the road.

I don’t know if I could count all the times I’ve stopped short, not putting enough faith in the One who holds the future.

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I get it…there are times in this life when it’s tempting to turn on our flashers and pull off to enjoy all this world has to offer.

But what we have to remember is that this earthly life can’t even come close to comparing with what’s waiting for us up ahead — in Heaven.

When we stop short, we sell ourselves short in so many ways…

It’s like settling for crumbs, when God the Father has prepared an entire table for us. (Luke 14:12-14)

Or selling your birthright for a bowl of porridge. (Genesis 25:29-34)

It’s asking for an early inheritance — and squandering it all. (Luke 15:11-32)

It’s hoarding the treasures of earth in lieu of the blessings of Heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)

When I think of these verses, I know what God is trying to teach us.

And I know that when it comes to seeking God and trying to love Him every day with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind — I won’t stop. I can’t stop.

And don’t you stop either. Keep going— because nothing this life has to offer can compare to what’s ahead.

Take Paul’s advice and “…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14

Until next time…

-PWAP

Famished Flowers

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Speaking of parched plants and famished flowers…the post I shared yesterday, A Drought in the Storm, reminded me of another post I wrote around this time last year — before I even started this blog.

By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll definitely be convinced that I don’t have a green thumb…and you might even be tempted to report me to PETP — People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants…🤣…but here goes nothin’:

In Matthew 6:28, Jesus asks us to “consider the lillies of the field.”🌷🌻🌹🌼

This verse came to mind as I took the time to consider mine today, LITERALLY…and…I found some of them in pretty bad shape 😣…after just a few days with no rain during the “dog days” of summer🌞, they were already looking pretty rough!

I don’t have a green thumb AT ALL, but I’m also no dummy. It was pretty simple, these flowers needed water ASAP.

I should have been watering them daily, BUT…life is busy and there always seems to be more pressing matters. But I couldn’t put it off any longer…or else all of the time, effort, and money we had put in just a few weeks ago to plant them would have been for all for naught! 😩

As I was watering, I started thinking about how God compares our own lives to the life of a flower – beautiful, yet fragile and short. And just as flowers need water to live physically, we also need the Living Water that Jesus provides to live spiritually.

We may think we are able to go without it for extended periods of time when the conditions in our lives are favorable — but when those “dog days” of life come, even a short time without His sustenance can be irreversibly damaging.

Thankfully, although the flowers in my yard did lose some of their blooms, the plant itself remained green. There’s still hope to save it from complete destruction.

And the same goes for us — as long as we’re still on this earth, there’s still hope for us too. As long as we are breathing, we are never too far gone for Jesus to bring us back to life spiritually!

The Bible says God is faithful to send rain on both the “just and the unjust,” but experience teaches us that there will also be times when it is necessary to SEEK out water in order to live.

When I saw my plants in need of water, I didn’t just pray like Elijah for a miraculous rain, I went and sought water…from my garden hose.

An ordinary and practical solution — but I have faith that the results it will produce will be nothing short of miraculous, restoring abundant life to a half-dead plant!

Maybe lately you’re finding yourself a bit parched as well, and you’ve been looking for God to send a “miraculous rain” to bring you back to life too.

But maybe what He’s really asking you to do is to simply seek Him at the water source, His Holy Word, a well that never runs dry.

Pick up your Bible, attend a worship service, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, learn about His teachings, believe, be baptized and live your life at the well.

If you do that, He promises that YOU will be like a tree planted by the waters.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Until next time…keep planting and watering. 😉

-PWAP

“7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”…10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”…13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:7-14)

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye. shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh. findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. – (Matthew 7:7-8)

“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.”
(Psalm 103:15- 16)

A Drought in the Storm

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According to the calendar, summer “officially” began last week…

However, according to my electric bill, summer actually started last month…and its been breathing down our proverbial necks ever since. 🥵😣😒🙄😎🤣

(Move to Florida, they said…it’ll be fun, they said.) 🤣🤣🤣🙄🙄🙄🤣🤣🤣

Besides the heat and humidity, summer in subtropical climates also comes with plenty of rain.

The rainy season in Florida is that magical time of year when every afternoon like clockwork, the clouds roll in and it rains cats and dogs for at least an hour or so, allowing enough time for our plants and flowers to get a drink — and local theme parks to cash in on selling oversized-trash bags to tourists for 15 bucks a pop. 😳😳😳

While I’m not a Florida-native, I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to this monsoon-like weather pattern over the years.

And for the most part, I’ve learned to plan my day around these storms.

Which is exactly why it threw me for a loop when summer kicked off with a bit of a dry spell this year….

Don’t get me wrong— the forecasters still predicted showers every morning…and the storm clouds still rolled in every afternoon…

…but day after day, the dark clouds made an appearance, only to pass over us without releasing a single drop of rain.

I found myself parched…and perplexed.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

And as the days went by, I watched my flowers and plants begin to wither without these daily showers.

But I was still convinced that the rain was coming, just like it had all those years before.

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And that’s when I got to thinking…

How often do we spend our time bracing for “storms of life” that never come? And how parched are we becoming in the process?

From thunderstorms to hurricanes, we all know forecasters get it wrong A LOT.

And so do newscasters for that matter. 🙄

Just like the predicted chance of storms sometimes never come to pass, we have to remember that some of the doom and gloom that we hear predicted on CNN or Fox News will never come to pass either.

Right now, our country is a buzz over things like inflation, gas prices, wars, gun control, and abortion laws, just to name a few.

It seems a dark cloud has settled.

But no matter how ominous the Doppler radar of our lives may look, it would be helpful to remember that all storms eventually blow over — and the dreadful things we think will happen, sometimes never even come to pass.

God doesn’t want us to spend our lives anxiously awaiting the next storm or wondering where the next bolt of lightning may strike (Philippians 4:6-7).

If we spend our days simply “preparing for the storm,” instead of “preventing the drought,” we may end up like my flowers — parched.

Instead of constantly keeping our eyes on the skies, God says we would do better to meditate on Him instead.

And when we do, the Bible says we will be “like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Stay in God’s Word, hydrate yourself with its Living Water…and don’t be anxious for the drought or the storm, because God is the God of it all.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. -Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. -Jeremiah 17:7-8

Feeling Zesty

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I went through the drive thru at Burger King this afternoon to get a burger and some onion rings.

When the young man handed me my bag of food, I said, “Oh, could I have some zesty sauce please?”

He nodded politely and the next thing I knew, he was handing me what seemed to be an ENORMOUS pile of zesty sauces. 😳😳😳😳

As he transferred the packets into my hand, I said, “Thank you so much,” simultaneously thinking to myself, how many zesty sauces does one woman need???? 🤣🤣🤣

My cup-holder runneth over. 😉

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As I drove away, a verse came to mind…

And no — it’s not “Man shall not live by zesty sauce alone.”

😂😂😂

It was Matthew 5:41-42.

“…And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

In a world where condiments are growing scarcer by the day (I mean, even Chick-fil-A has its limits), this young man went above and beyond the call of duty.

I only asked him to go one mile, and he went two.

I was floored.

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It may seem like “just zesty sauce,” but the principle of the matter is really so much more.

He didn’t just grudgingly “do his job” or try to skate by with the bare minimum to keep from being fired.

And as Christians, neither should we!

God is our “boss” — and He doesn’t want us just “getting by” doing the bare minimum just to keep from being fired.

No, in this world believers are even more scarce than condiments, but that’s all the more reason to willingly go the extra mile to give of ourselves to others just as this young man gave of those zesty sauces.

It shows we care about people not because we “have to,” but because we want to, because we genuinely love God, genuinely love them, and because most importantly God genuinely loves them!!

When we heed Jesus’ call in Matthew 5 to go above and beyond the call of duty for friends and enemies alike, they may not always appreciate it. They may even look at us like we’re crazy…or metaphorically speaking just spit in our face.

But if nothing else, it’s a sure-fire way to get people’s attention…and to give God the glory.

So, go the extra mile for someone today.

If zesty sauces can make that kind of impression, there’s no telling what kind of impact you might make!

Until next time…

-PWAP

If You Can’t Take The Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen

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It’s no secret…I’m not the world’s best cook.

In fact, if someone took a poll asking who in our family has started the most kitchen fires — hands down, the answer would be…ME!! 🙋‍♀️ 🔥🔥🔥

— Guilty as charged.

I don’t know what it is, but I have always been a little clumsy…a little accident-prone, especially when I’m trying to do more than one thing at a time.

I’m just not that great at multitasking, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

If you read my last post, Living the Meme, I’m sure you’re well aware of how I feel about multitasking in this crazy busy life…and sometimes we have so much going on, we have to put certain things on the “back burner” so-to-speak.

As I was cooking the breakfast for the kids this morning, I was feeling the pressure of multitasking once again — dipping and flipping the pancakes over on the griddle while simultaneously trying not to burn the eggs or start (yet another) fire with bacon grease on the stove. Add hollering at two rowdy kids on a Saturday morning to the mix and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster.

Most of the time, my husband and kids are gracious in regard to my culinary catastrophes.

If their eggs are a little burnt or their bacon extra crispy, they don’t give me too hard a time…mostly they’re just glad I was making them something to eat at all. 😂

It’s just like my mom always said — the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. 😂🤣

And metaphorically speaking, it’s sort of that way with God’s heart too.

You see, He’s given us the “recipe for life” in His “cookbook” — the Bible. 😉

But it’s up to us to gather the ingredients and actually whip it up — even if we’re the not the best chefs in town. It’s important we read and follow the recipe carefully, especially when we’re just starting out.

But as we’re cooking, sometimes we get distracted — whether it be by a phone call, text, knock on the door, or a couple of crazy kids wrestling each other on the couch.

And before you know it, something’s gone awry with the meal you were trying to prepare.

With all the different pots we have on the stove of life, it’s almost inevitable that one will boil over, stick to the pan, or start one of those fun-little grease fires…😳🫢🔥🙄

And that’s where grace comes in.

Like a fire-extinguisher for our souls, God’s grace is there to put out those fires that arise as we’re trying to follow His special recipe.

Even if the blaze is so big that it takes a fire engine to come put it out, God’s got the insurance policy to cover it!

But though grace may be offered free for all…it isn’t a “free-for-all.” Contrary to the beliefs of some, God’s grace is not an insurance policy that covers intentional sin when there is little or no effort on our part to prevent and/or contain the fire.

You have to reach out to that fire extinguisher in order for it to work and you have to be willing to call 911 for help!

Think about it.

Should we TRY to burn the food on purpose?? Should we TRY to intentionally start that kitchen fire???

Insurance won’t reimburse for a 5 alarm fire that was the result of a self-sabotaging act of arson.

And neither will God.

So, then does it make any sense that we should “sin that grace may abound?” God forbid! (Romans 6:2)

In fact, the Bible teaches, “If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

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The opposite is true as well…turning all the burners off and just “ordering take-out” is not part of God’s plan either.

Just like a family recipe handed down for generations, we should cherish God’s Word and its recipe for our lives. Why settle for a cheeseburger when you could have a home cooked meal??

Are we all going to become the next Rachael Ray or Emeril Legasse in the process?

No, but we have to be trying.

God expects us to follow His recipe to the best of our abilities.

I wonder if that’s why despite his flaws, the Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart. (I Samuel 13:14)

He was a cheater and a murderer — talk about some big fires to put out. 😳😳😳🔥

But he repented — and he never stopped seeking God.

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I say all this to say….

Culinarily-speaking, if you’re like me and you’re accident prone in the kitchen — then you’re gonna want a fire extinguisher close by when you’re cooking. 🤣

But spiritually-speaking, if you’re a person who like me who is “sin-prone”…then you’re gonna want to keep Jesus close by. ❤️

Only His precious sacrifice can provide us with the grace we need to keep on cooking…

…and one-day land that 5 star review from the most important critic of all time, God Himself.

Until next time…

-PWAP

Living the Meme

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When I saw this meme on Facebook the other day, I had to laugh…and slightly cringe.

Why? Because I could relate. 🫢

When I was little, I always dreamed of being a Disney Princess…and now look at me — here I am a grown-woman relating to the likes of Cruella DeVille. 🙄🙄🙄🙄😂🤣

You know what they say, “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Okay, maybe I’m being a little melodramatic…but there certainly is some truth there.

My inner Cruella tends to come out when I overcommit.

One such example happened over winter break last year — my boys were playing around in the backyard with the neighbor kids while I was doing some housework inside. I watched them through the window as they played.

Later on, when the kids finally came in for the night, my youngest son informed me that the little neighbor girl had inquired as to my whereabouts — sweetly asking, “Is your mom inside baking holiday treats?”🎄😊🎄

To which my 6-year-old son bluntly replied:

“No. She’s stressed out.”

😳😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😩😩😩😩

Kids say the craziest things, don’t they?? 🤣🤣😬

But, if I’m being completely honest…the sad truth is, he was right — I was “stressed out.” 🤯

It was Christmas after all…and in typical mom- fashion, I was trying to do ALL THE THINGS (decorating, shopping, baking, Elf on the Shelf…need I say more?? 🥴😵‍💫🫠).

I was trying to live up to waaaaaay too many expectations (mostly self-imposed)…and had bitten off more than I could chew.

Let’s just say it wasn’t bringing out the best in me.

In fact, in my quest for Pinterest-worthy Mary Poppins perfection, I had become more like the villain instead of the hero. 😔

And while I’d like to say it’s just the holidays that stress me out…everyday life oftentimes gets to me, too.

Bills, school assignments, work deadlines, never-ending piles of laundry, grocery shopping, budget-balancing, doctors’ appointments, sick kids…after a while on that hamster wheel, it’s easy for your mental space to become a far cry from the “peace that passes all understanding.” 😬😫😔

Despite the often misapplied verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13), I’m writing this blog post to remind myself (and others) that we were never meant to literally do it all!!!!

In fact, when it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, we would do well to remember that even the Messiah himself (who lived a perfect, sinless life) didn’t “do it all” while he was here on this earth.

Now, I’m not saying He couldn’t have done it all…He could have healed everyone in the world, brought world peace, etc. (Matthew 26:53)…yet, somehow He chose not to.

Which leaves us with one burning question…

Why not????

Why didn’t Jesus do it all while He was here?

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Well, simply stated, He had a mission and He stuck to it: “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10) — the spiritually lost.

And while he did help people along the way, He never let that detract from His ultimate goal.

Maybe that’s why when a paralyzed man was brought to Him, Jesus initially chose to forgive the man’s sins rather than healing him (Matthew 9:2-8). 🤷‍♀️

You see, He knew that restoring a person’s physical life was good — but that restoring a person’s spiritual life was better.

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Just as Jesus explained to Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we too have a choice to make between what is good and “what is better.”

With the limited time and resources given to us, we have to choose wisely where to channel our energies as well. We literally can’t “do it all” and still be pleasing to God (Matthew 6:24; Joshua 24:14-15).

If we are burning the candle at both ends so-to-speak, eventually there’ll be no light in us left to shine!

How then will we as followers of Christ be the light of the world as he has called us to be??? (Matthew 5:14)

Just like Jesus, we have a purpose and a calling: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

There will always be laundry to do. Dishes to wash. Crumbs to sweep. There will always be another dollar to make, another bill to pay. Another holiday to decorate for.

All good things in and of themselves.

But when does too much of a good thing…stop being a good thing?

All I’m saying is this — the hamster wheel will always be there…but there may never be another chance to:

– sit and learn at Jesus’ feet

– talk to your neighbor about Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

– help a sick friend.

– teach your children the ways of Jesus while they are still young.

Despite all the distractions of this life…we too should be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

The time is now, and we have to choose carefully how we use it — maybe we’ll never quite master doing “all the things.” But did we do the most important things? The things of God?

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Perhaps you’re like me and have come to realize that the never-ending pressures of this world are insurmountable, as well.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

When I read verses like this, I’m reminded that in a world that values “keeping up with the Jones’s” (or the Kardashians, for that matter) — keeping up with Jesus makes a whole lot more sense.

Jesus is the difference between “living the meme” and “living the dream” — for eternity.

Until next time…

-PWAP