Here Comes the Sun

 

Cats love to lay in the sun. It's so warm and cozy! They don't seem to have a trouble in the world, do they? Life is good in the sunlight. 

When it starts to feel a little cold and "dark", they wake up. And move to where the sun is shining. Again and again, I can watch them move across the living room floor as the day goes on. 

Is your world feeling cold and dark? Wake up! Move to where the warmth of God's light is - a walk in nature, sure. But it could also be some praise music or the company of a good friend. I've saved some inspirational quotes and love looking through them when the day feels blah. Got a fireplace? Or some great-smelling candles? Soon we'll be enjoying the glow of Christmas lights. Know what makes you feel near to God. I bet you find a warm, cozy feeling there. Move there. Again and again. Take it from my cats; there's no better place to be.

Your sun shall no more go down or your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:20) 

Jesus said to the people, "I am the Light of the world, So if you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path. (John 8:12)

At all times, in all places

 

When you are traveling, away from home, or even just at home during the summer break - your daily routine changes up. You may sleep in instead of doing your morning quiet time with God. Or fall into bed exhausted from a full day of vacation adventures, foregoing your usual nighttime prayer. But there are all kinds of new and different times and places to experience God. New surroundings. New rest periods that you didn’t have before. Something new can actually be… wonderful. It can be delicious to taste and see God from a new angle. But one thing is sure:

It is indeed right, It is our duty and our joy, At all times and in all places to give You thanks and praise, holy Father, heavenly King, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ Your only Son our Lord. (Communion script)

Your prayers during this time may sound like a song. Your quiet time with God may be taking in the sights of beauty all around you. In thanks, adoration and praise.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

Just like I can’t forget about my gluten sensitivity while on vacation, I should not forget to be aware of God while away from my normal routine. Just as menus offer new and different choices from what I would normally fix at home, different surroundings can offer up some new eye opening blessings from God. Look. See. What is new and exciting to embrace - relish - from God in these summer days? There is always something, some God-gift blessing, waiting to be discovered whether you are home or away.

So enjoy your summer - to the fullest!

And keep enjoying time with God too!

The way it is... right now

© 2018 Julie Crane All rights reserved

"I'm sorry. The cat food at the grocery store - the brand that you prefer - was all gone. This stuff is in a blue bag just like the other. It's chicken flavor, just like the other. We're in the midst of a pandemic. We all have to try new things for awhile."

Noooo! They cry. And cry. And paw at me with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry," I say yet again. "I'm not purposely trying to upset your norm. I'm doing the best I can. This is what we have available."

Maybe you don't have a finicky pet. But you may remember the moans and groans of family in the days after Thanksgiving. After: turkey sandwiches, turkey quiche, turkey casserole and turkey on a shingle...

And then there are these passages from the bible:

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onion and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna! (Numbers 11:4-6)

My cats version:
If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." (Exodus 16:3) (emphasis mine)

So, it's plain to see that having to make some adjustments for a season of time is not a new thing. And yet:

The cats cried.
The family cried.
The people cried.

And for what purpose?
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

As we enter yet another day of limitations, let us remember from past teachings. Let us remember spiritual food, spiritual abundance, and feast on what is truly God-given goodness.

The Sustainer of all life - past, present and future.

Seasons come. Seasons go.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:13)

Anyone who experiences four distinct seasons in their climate is happy to see winter go and have spring spring into action. It’s already happening, slow but sure. More sunshine. More birds chirping. Buds on the trees. And flowers beginning to poke their heads out.

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)

Those flowers. What have they been doing all these winter months? Just sitting there? Unproductive?

I sometimes feel that way in my personal life. There just seems to be “stages” or “seasons” when I am energetic and full of life and can’t wait to get started on a project. And other times, when I feel not very productive at all. (Lazy)

Could it be that there are seasons to our personal lives as well as in nature? Whether it lasts months, or revolves through its cycle each day …

Is there a winter where there is more reflection and rest?

A spring where new ideas and energy leap into action?

Summer full of smiles and sunshine and enjoying the outdoors?

And a fall, where things wind down…

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. (Exodus 34:21)

Even during the plowing season and harvest … hmmm.

Maybe, like nature, we aren’t meant to stay in one season continuously. Maybe our energies, and the energy of those around us, ebb and flow – like the world around us.

He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. (Psalm 104:19)

Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. (Jeremiah 8:7)

Even the stork in the sky knows ...

Everything has been created by God. Organized and orchestrated and cared for by God. And by His hand, there is a beauty to every season.

Are you thinking you need to be going full tilt for the Lord all the time? Every waking moment? Or are you restless because you think you aren’t doing enough?

How about we let God decide.

God has the rhythms of life in His hands and He is always working things out.

Relax. He’s got this.

Simplify?

But the Lord replied to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (that which is to her advantage) , which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42 AMP)

The collection of bracelets on my arm have started to gain some attention. (Okay. Rightly so.) Each one reminds me of someone special in my life. They also remind me of something else. Something important. Don't worry about what other people think.

What's most important is this: What does your Father in heaven think?

I tell myself, "I'm 60 years old! It's time to simplify. It's time to live in the pure and simple joy of the Lord. And to live for the Lord alone."

I recently had a conversation with a person heading into a sticky situation. Sticky because of what we anticipate other's reactions will be. When the only thing we should be spending our time being concerned about is:

What does my Father in heaven think?

Oh, what peace we often forfeit ...

Have you, like me, sometimes got caught up in seeking the approval of others? Spinning your wheels?

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one." (Luke 10:41-42)

Will I be removing these bracelets to a more "sensible" number? Not at all. Collectively, they remind me of the one thing. The one necessary thing. 

Simplify your life.
Give the Lord His proper place.
He is the Utmost.
He is the one thing.

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!

What's waiting in your queue?

 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Don’t you hate it when you hit the print button and nothing comes out? Then you have to backtrack to the printer information screen and see two or three other documents waiting in the queue.

On hold.

Stalling progress.

Keeping something else from happening, from being released.

What to do? What to do?

You immediately start deleting.

Get rid of.

Remove each one in the way of what you want.

What’s left? What you wanted in the first place. What you wanted has now been freed and in your hand.

Are you wanting the peace of Christ?

Is what the world offers keeping you from the real peace found in Christ?

Rid your mind of all that is standing in your way of having what you want in your hands (and your heart).

Immediately start deleting.

Get rid of.

Remove what’s in the way …

What are you waiting for?

May the peace of Christ be with you …