All around me

© 2014 Julie Crane All rights reserved

... even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10)




O my Father God, You are great in every way. Awesome beyond words. May my face, my heart, my hands be lifted up to You in praise, in awe, in wonder at Your marvelous works in my daily life. Both big and small.

My Lord in my mundane moments. My Lord in my over the top moments.

My Lord in every little thing that makes life smooth and easy. My Lord of strength in every mountainous challenge.

The Lord of my uphills, downhills, and long stretches of valley.

The Lord of my dark nights and bright morning sun.

The Lord of my desert days. The Lord in the cooling lakes and streams.

My Lord - Who surrounds me on every side.
Who's love, mercy and grace continually wash over me.

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Not watered

You will be like a well-watered garden, like spring whose waters never fail. - Isaiah 58:11

These poor little plants! Doesn't your heart just go out to them? Boy, do they need to be refreshed with some water...

MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE WILL DO IT. I didn't buy these plants. I don't even like gardening. Surely somebody will come along who cares and give the poor things a little drink.

MAYBE GOD HIMSELF WILL DO IT. Isn't God supposed to take care of everything? Supply all our needs? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow or reap. And yet the Father takes care of them. - (see Matthew 6:26)

I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. -1 Corinthians 3:6

Looks like we've been invited to start something and let God complete it. My kind of assignment!

I know you've come across someone who looks like these plants. Oh, not physically. But spiritually drooping. Life has taxed their faith to the limit. They are limping along. 

Doesn't your heart just go out to them?
But maybe somebody else will do it.
Maybe God Himself will do it. 

A hug. A hi. A smile. A text. A call. Something. Anything. To water their soul.
Then see what God will do ...

Living in Color

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of  doves is heard in our land. - Song of Songs 2:12

It's finally summer here where I live. After so many months of grey skies and dark, naked trees and browned grass ... it is surely breathtaking to see the vibrant array of color! Blue skies, white puffy clouds, green leaves and fields. Flowers! Flowers! Flowers - of every hue imaginable! I find myself stopping and just staring - at a flower. I want to linger. Absorb. What sights to behold. WHAT JOY FILLS MY HEART! Thank You, God. Thank You!

I remember when my son was in Afghanistan for over a year. Everything there was desert tan. Tents. Trucks. Uniforms. Towels. Everything. Drab tan. Then when he came home, he excitedly joined his friends on a trip to the mall. The sights and sounds and smells and the crowds and ...! Sensory overload! I never thought about the effects of living under those conditions and how it might affect someone.

And I recently read a book by a woman who went overseas to finalize an adoption. There - buildings were all cement. Streets grey. People dressed in drab "colors". And cold shoulders to the American.

My son adjusted with a little help from his friends. The author too, and her adopted son, made it back, with the help of many friends. *

But there are still others. Living in a drab, grey world. Physically, emotionally ... Forgotten - in jail. Forgotten in nursing home rooms. Suffering at home from the effects of cancer treatments. Unable to walk any distance or drive. Others. Neighbors. Stuck at home.

Don't go from here feeling guilty. Look at the adoptive mom. She couldn't rescue all those precious children she saw living in dire conditions. But she certainly brightened the life of one.

What would it take to add some living color to a life? A call. A card. A coffee date. A handful of flowers from your garden. A short visit to chat.

Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? (Matthew 25:44)

Living in color.
What will you do? For just one.
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40)

* Read her amazing story of international adoption in her book, Until We All Come Home by Kim deBlecourt with Ginger Kolbaba.

That Wise Builder

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. - Luke 6:48

When life is going good, so am I. I remember to pray, read my bible, sing praises, and smile with the love of Jesus in my heart. I feel like that wise builder. Unshakable.

Then trauma enters in. I forget everything. I rant and rave. I pout. I cry. I feel hopeless. I struggle. I wrestle with God. Maybe I'm not so much like that wise builder after all. My faith can seem so weak sometimes. I start to doubt my foundation. I question whether I have invested enough time in fortifying it.

Whether you feel like you've built on rock or sand ...

KNOW THIS!
God's character does not waiver.
He neither slumbers nor sleeps. (Psalm 121:4)
He doesn't grow tired or weary. (Isaiah 40:28)
He is forever faithful. (Psalm 89:1)
His love endures forever. (Psalm 100:5)
He is unchanging. The same yesterday, today, forever. (Hebrews 12:8)
Full of love and compassion. (Psalm 86:15)
Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:8)
He is your Help. (Psalm 10:14)
He has a solution to every circumstance. (Mark 6:42)
He can be trusted. (Psalm 145:13)

God is your Almighty.
You don't have to have it all together. Just keep the truths you know about Him close by. He will do the rest. I bet you ride the storm out better than you think. Thank You, Jesus.

I want you to want Me

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23

A familiar verse. Often followed by a groan. In a world where comfort and ease rank pretty high, being called to deny yourself can seem unrealistic. Why would a loving God want us do uncomfortable things … daily?

First of all, it begins with a choice. Your choice. As I have been trying to eat healthy, I have noticed that good choices make me feel good. I am so happy when I make a good choice. I feel lighter, brighter, and energized. When I make a poor choice - not only do I feel bad and disappointed in myself, but my body becomes sluggish under the weight of heavy carbs and too much sugar. I DO need to deny myself too much sugar. And yes, it feels like daily.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. - Matthew 6:24

IF you want to be ...Yes! Lord. I want to be known as a close, connected follower of You.

Then you MUST … foremost in my mind, my greatest desire, above all else is You, Lord.

DENY YOURSELVES ... give up my own notions, stop relying on my own limited knowledge and emotions.

Take up your cross DAILY … Now. Present. Not wait and start tomorrow. Not I did good enough yesterday, so …

And FOLLOW ME … I will. I will seek Your face always, Lord. You do the leading. You do the choosing. The direction. All the hows, whys, and whens. Because it's a privilege to go with You, Lord. An honor.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. -Psalm 37:5 (TLB)