Portion Control

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1:2)

You see it everywhere nowadays. They even have special plates you can buy to show how much (or how little) protein, grains, fruit and vegetables you should have. I imagine it’s a big help for those striving to take control of their physical health.

It made me wonder about “plates” for other areas of life.

 Finances plate: How much goes to food, the basics for keeping a roof over your head, entertainment, savings, and tithing?

 Daily Planner plate: How much time for work, family, self, God, and friends? What about the quality of what you’re reading, watching?

 Spiritual plate: scripture reading, prayer, extending the love of Christ to others.

 In the food plate diagram, you’ll see that not everything is in equal amount. Some things must be consumed in a good amount while others must be kept in check. True for every kind of plate? What is the priority on every plate?

 Looking to gain some control over your “full plate”?

 First you have to take a good, honest, realistic look. Think about what’s truly important. Start making plans for where you can make changes. Consider your priorities - do some things on your plate(s) appear a little out of whack?

 Gaining control is about being aware, being thoughtful, considering your choices. Being wise in your decisions.

May you enjoy good health in every area of life!

Mission Accomplished!

Mission Accomplished!

o   Completed!

o   Got it done!

o   It is finished!

o   Nothing more left to do.

o   Ready to be used.

o   All set.

o   Feelings of pure joy in completing a most difficult thing.

o   It is a beautiful thing.

o   Offering comfort and warmth.

o   And sure makes the recipient of this gift feel special.

o   Because people just can’t do it.

o   It is an overwhelming, too big a project to undertake.

o   It is priceless.

o   The perfect gift.

o   Anyone would love to receive it.

o   All the effort (the blood, sweat and tears) that went into it.

o   It was hard to do.

o   Hard to follow the instructions step-by-step.

o   But it got done.

o   Completed.

o   Mission accomplished.

o   It is finished.

How many of these statements could also apply to our Lord Jesus dying on the cross for our sins?

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30)

Do you think of the difficulty or the end result?

Fear and Suffering

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Psalm 27
Of David.
¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
 A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE BATTLING CANCER OR SOME OTHER ON-GOING DEBILITATING CONDITION RIGHT NOW, THAT THE EVIL THAT IS TRYING TO DEVOUR THEIR FLESH. LORD, MAKE THOSE DANGEROUS CELLS STUMBLE AND FALL.


³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.
LORD, INCREASE THEIR HOPE IN YOU. MAY IT RISE UP WITHIN THEM AND GRANT THEM CONFIDENCE IN THE ALMIGHTY.
⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
MAY THEY INDEED FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN YOUR HOLY, INCOMPARABLE PRESENCE EVERY DAY.

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
MAY THEY EYES BE OPENED TO JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.

⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.
O LORD, PROTECT THEM AS ONLY YOU CAN. MAY THEIR THOUGHTS RISE ABOVE THE CALAMITY THAT SEEMS TO SURROUND THEM.
⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.
MAY THEY TRULY SEE AND ENVISION A LIFE HELD IN YOUR HANDS. AND MAY THEY BE SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE REAL, ALIVE, INVOLVED AND AT WORK, RISEN LORD.
⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
LORD, NO ONE ELSE HOLDS SUCH PROMISE.

⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
THANK YOU, GRACIOUS GOD, THAT DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE SAY, WHAT DOCTORS SAY, YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, HAVE THE LAST WORD.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
I PRAY THEY ARE ABLE TO HOLD STEADY IN THE FAITH YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.


¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.
THAT THEY WILL REMAIN STRONG AND NOT CAVE IN TO HOPELESSNESS OR NEGATIVE THINKING.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.


MAY THEY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING KNOWING THE LORD HAS A HOLD ON THEM AND SECURE IN YOUR LOVING ARMS.


¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.
WATCHING FOR YOU, LORD, WATCHING AND WAITING FOR YOU – ALL WISE, ALL POWERFUL, ALL WONDERFUL ONE.

Cheers!

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

What cheers me up?

Sunshine. Blue skies. Puffy white clouds.

My cat curled up in my lap.

A phone call that’s just “checking in”.

A thinking-of-you card in the mail.

A funny joke.

Toe-tapping music.

A refreshing drink.

Pretty yarn.

Dinner already in the crockpot.

Clean sheets.

Fun, colorful socks.

 … and the thought that these are all sent into my life because God loves me. Every day - His love does not shift or change.

 So what’s on your cheer me up (gifts from God list)?

Pass the peace, please

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

… seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

I’ve been just sitting here restless. Can’t get interested in anything. I woke up tired. Didn’t even do my normal bible reading this morning. But I did finally get around to it this afternoon. I could have just by-passed it for today. I mean, so what if I miss a day, right? But the restlessness and unsettling thoughts (i.e. worries) persisted. That’s when I decided to “seek peace”. I “pursued” it; opened my bible and read:

 O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

 As I read, my breathing shifted; settled. As I read, I was reminded Who is truly Lord over it all. Being restful is part of His plan. Taking refuge in the stillness – in Him. And peace certainly is. It’s there. You just have to take the time to “taste and see”. You may have to actually “pursue” it. You may have to allow it time to seep in.

Are you interested?

Short and Sweet

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

One of the things I like about this photo is the “holy, shining” light on my head – as if from heaven. Makes me think of God’s presence right there with me.

 But in truth, that “holy, shining light” feeling isn’t always on me. There are darker days. In the past, I have been writing blogs based on when I’ve sensed a good, strong message from God through my prayer journaling. Something that I felt an urge to share. But today I am thinking, maybe I’m doing it all wrong. Maybe I should be writing about Who God is, always is, every day - because He is good every day - and not wait for some emotional filter. Because the truth is: God is always present. God is always helping. God is always strengthening, maneuvering, supplying, providing and the list about Who God is goes on and on – every single day of our lives. He is always at work on our behalf.

 For we who believe, there is – always a higher power, always a great source of hope. Whether we are standing in the sunlight or curled up under the covers of our bed. God is near. And He cares. He is at work. For you, dear one.

Call waiting

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

O Lord, sometimes Your Word reminds me of my shortcomings. Maybe I need to be brought down a peg or two, stop striving for some excellence, some approval. Maybe just relax and release this drive to be driven to perform and have a bunch of activity. Is my restlessness from You, God? Is there some God-given pressing purpose that I am ignoring or is this still about impressing people and seeking their acceptance and approval? When I’m restless and bored, do I randomly fill in the time or do I take the time to seek Your direction? Or do I think once in the morning is plenty for the day? Do I need more drama in my life in order to sit with You, Lord? Can I be conscious of You in a restful state? Seek. Ask. Knock. I know You hear. Do I hear You throughout the day? Do I slow down and be still long enough to see if You have further input for me since early morning?

Breathe. I am still growing and learning and that’s a good thing. It’s good to have things to do and whatever you do should be done for the glory of God. It is always good to praise Him. But maybe it’s okay when things slow down and allow them to slow down, and to just pause and breathe and not be so quick to fill that time in with … anything. Is the Lord Himself slowing me down for a reason? Does He have something further to say to me? Am I even considering that?

Do I hear You calling? Am I listening for Your voice? Day and night? My Help before I even think of needing it. My Guide. My Hope. Remember Me … I remember you.

Today's checklist

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

According to Psalm 147: (excerpts)

God:	You:
The Lord builds up …	Praise the Lord
He gathers …
He heals …
He binds up …
He determines …
And calls …
The Lord sustains …	Sing to the Lord
He covers …	Make music
He supplies …
And makes …
He provides …
The Lord delights …	Extol the Lord
He strengthens …	Praise your God
And blesses …
He grants peace …
And satisfies …
He sends …
And scatters …
He has revealed …
He has done this …	Praise the Lord

                                                  Uh …, how’s your day going?