Intentionality

I always seem to get caught up in the "urgent" rather than the "important." All day I work through a checklist - whether written down or in my head. Priorities, I tell myself. Things that have to get done.

Then, as I lay my head on the pillow at night, exhausted, I think of Jesus. Where was He on my list of priorities? Saddened to discover that He never made it on the list. And with the heavy guilt, I pray. Ask for forgiveness. Promise to do better.

But how will tomorrow be any different?

One word.

Intentionality.

I am to purposefully bring Jesus into the forefront of my day. To talk to Him, to pray to Him, to praise Him. To meet Him in His Word. To notice Him even in the little things of daily life. To remember to whisper "Thank You" and quick to say "Help me Lord".

How I live Jesus as a priority should be evident in my daily interactions with Him. Am I intentional in meeting Him and in seeing Him? Everyday He is there with me. Intangible and unseen but very real. All He's waiting is for me to move towards Him.

I am willing Lord. I am making that step.

An outing overflowing with blessings ...

perfect beach weather in late September:
cool wet sand between your toes:
sweet messages written on the sand:
giggles over waves breaking:
ice cream/sand mustache:
curious exploration:
a moment to ponder and enjoy God's creation:
(#45-52)

Contagious Joy

To tell you the truth, I've been spiritually dry. There has been a silence (on my part) with the Lord. I don't like this place. Feeling empty and incomplete.

What a blessing it is to be in the Word consistently. That is why I am thankful that our community bible study finally began earlier this month. We have been diving right at the beginning of it all -- The Book of Genesis. Then, the women in our church began another study using Christina Kinde's book Contagious Joy. And this one is cutting deep into my soul and it is only Week 1.

The first study was about Joyless Living. And I quote, " We are surrounded by all of God's goodness and blessings. By all rights we should be content and happy. Still, a restlessness, a boredom, and the conviction that something is missing settles around us. Despite everything we have to be thankful for, we find no joy in our days."

I am so there.

But what are the signs of joy? According to Scripture, it's laughter and singing (Isa 24:8). God's own should be singing "out of the joy in their hearts" (Isa 65:14). But what if there is no joy that causes us to sing?

"Circumstances have a way of conspiring to leech the joy right out of our days. Even though we know joy is our rightful heritage from the Lord, we live as if we have never known joy's presence. We long for joy as if it were something far off and unobtainable. But joy isn't really a matter of receiving something new, but of discovering what has always been there. For believers, sometimes discovering joy is simply a matter of opening our eyes to a new way of seeing."

So when joy slips from our view, we can pray for its return.

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice." (Psa 51:8)

And if joy is a matter of finding a new way of seeing, we can ask the Lord to show us the way into joy:

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psa 16:11)

"Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths." (Psa 25:4)

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (Psa 119:18)

Thank you Lord for these treasures in Your Word. May I find joy in my days ... joy that is rooted in You alone. An abundance of joy that it overflows to others around me. A joy that is CONTAGIOUS!

Father We Thank Thee

As we count Your blessings ...

clear blue sky
hummingbirds in the backyard
a nap under a shady tree
husband working away in his yard
giggling squirrels running on top of the fence
seeds to plant & sow
piles of artwork from a child who loves to draw
doing school in the backyard
wonderful, enriching books
songs of worship from a 3-year old

(#36-#45)

Our labor in the Lord

Five days out of 7, my husband wakes to the sound of an alarm set at 6 am. Some days, he is quick to get out of bed. Other days, he lingers longer ... sometimes too long that the alarm clock just shuts off.

Almost daily, he labors. To put food on the table, roof over our head and clothes on our back. Sometimes, the days are long and I can see exhaustion written on his face.

I am thankful for what he does. He works hard to provide. It's in his nature to work the fields. To labor. And he is very good at it.

As we enter the Labor Day weekend and enjoy BBQs and get-togethers, I can't help but wonder our labor in the Lord.

sharing the gospel

helping the needy

a prayer for a friend

opening the door for a stranger

cooking dinner for a sick member of the church

a conversation that edifies

less talking, more listening

and so on and so forth ...

Do we toil the ground just to get fruit for that day? There's certainly nothing wrong with that.

But when we give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, that is when we know that our labor is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58). And we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:9).

God is not asking us to scale a mountain or cross the ocean. We just need to be faithful in the little things, always looking for the next opportunity to shine His light and show the world that He exist. To be His hands and feet ... and labor diligently.


Thank you Lord, for choosing me to be one of your fellow workers. May I labor in you always.