One of the most infrequently cleaned things in my house is the globe around the light fixture in my ceiling fan. What a pain it is to take it down and put it back up. So by reason of its level of difficulty the poor globe doesn’t get much attention.

The other night when I turned on the light I thought the light didn’t seem very bright. I hadn’t noticed it getting more dim but there I stood trying to remember the last time I had cleaned that globe. And if I can’t remember…it’s definitely been too long! That globe was dusty and also a death trap for unlucky moths and other pests that found their way inside just trying to get to the light.

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:14-15 (NLT), “You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it give light to everyone in the house.” We are called to be a light to everyone around us. Like that globe on my ceiling fan light we can get dusty and worn. Daily wear and tear as well as difficult situations we go through could dim our light. Sometimes we find ourselves in the presence of those who would try to block our light from shining. We might not even be aware that our light is growing dim by the things that we are carrying around with us. It takes energy to keep our light burning…and we need to pay attention to what and even who is surrounding our light. In this dark world we are living in…this is no time to let our light grow dim. Stay plugged into THE Light who is Jesus and ask Him to help us keep our lamp clean!

When something happens that shakes our faith, in the moments that follow, we are faced with a decision to lean into what we know to be true about God or allow the doubts of His love for us to take up space in our mind. Days, weeks, even months may continue to bring the feeling that we are ‘hanging in limbo’, that our life is stuck ‘on hold’. In the pain and sorrow, grief and loneliness, we may feel as if we are being swallowed up in it. But, in all that we experience, we are not ever left alone. The Holy Spirit of God whispers hope to us…even in our darkest days. Even when other voices try to condemn us or confuse us. And speak lie after lie to us, we can ask God to speak clearly to our heart and we will know the voice of our Savior. The One who rescued us then…will rescue us now.

God may ask us to take a step of faith. When my world was rocked by a tremendous loss in 2013 it took me 7 years and a world-wide pandemic to bring me to a space of willing to finally clean out the compartment I’d stored my anguish and confusion in. The last chapter of Job had been so hard for me because I couldn’t wrap my brain around how disconnected it felt for a man to have lost all of his children tragically in chapter 1 and by chapter 42 have more children and…stuff…and seem like all was made right.

Finally, choosing to wrestle out my brokenness with God over this passage…to just sit in it…and wait…God spoke to my heart. As I was writing in my journal how unfair it was to Job and how his life would never be the same after sustaining such great loss, even when God poured out more blessings on his life in every area…as I wrote the words, “but Job would never be the same…” I heard that tender, quiet, so familiar voice etched with love whisper to my heart, “I didn’t want him to remain the same.” And in that instant I knew the heart of my Father was saying…”I don’t want you to remain the same either.”

We are changed when we walk through the shadow of the valley of death. We choose how we respond and it’s never too late to let it all go and find rest in the arms of our Savior. Life will never be the same. Even more true is that God doesn’t want us to remain the same. He is calling us higher. Will you answer His call?

I admit that I am not a morning person. While there are mornings that I wake up feeling fully rested and cognizant enough to begin the day with prayer, there are more mornings that I find my most intentional prayer begins as I am driving into work. Of course, praying while driving requires that I keep my eyes open and focused on my surroundings.

Do you ever pray with your eyes open? It might feel a little strange at first. And I do have to fight the urge to holler ‘SQUIRREL!’ from distractions sometimes! But its one of the first moments in my day that I put into practice the 1 Thessalonians 5 command to ‘pray without ceasing.‘ The other day I was reading Colossians 4:2 and I decided to read it from a variety of translations. It might be most familiar to us from the New International Version: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Listen to what The Message says: “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.”

…with your eyes wide open in gratitude! Our prayers can be diligent and full of all of our needs…but how much deeper would we go if we stay alert to the favor and blessings of God that surround our lives. Mix in gratitude in our prayer time with the Lord. Perhaps praying with our eyes wide open sometimes will give us a whole new perspective in our prayers!

Imagine that you are walking through a deserted, dry field by yourself and you see a bush a little ways off that looks like its on fire! You approach to get a closer look. You can see it’s completely engulfed in flames…and yet the bush doesn’t actually burn up! You’re so shocked that you talk to yourself, out loud… ‘what is happening? the bush is burning but doesn’t burn up!’

That’s exactly what Moses did in Exodus 3. God answered Moses telling him not to come any closer to the bush, to take off his shoes for he was standing on holy ground. Then God gave instructions to Moses to do something WAY BIGGER than anything he had ever done before. And was expecting, in Moses’ mind, impossible results!

All that Moses could think was…You want ME to do it? God told Moses what He tells us every day when we ask that question. When that conversation or presentation or doctor’s examination is overwhelming you or causing you to fear, God is the same today as He was in the yesterdays of old. God’s Word is always…”Don’t be afraid for I AM with you!” And when Moses asked who should I tell them sent me? God said in verse 14, “I AM WHO I AM“. He is! God is all that we need, to do all that He is calling us to do, and “I AM” is always with us!

What if what you think is impossible is really possible? Think about how the word impossible begins…with the letters “I” and “M”. Sounds like “I AM possible” when you spell the first two letters. The next time we are facing something that feels totally impossible let’s look for the I AM in the midst of the impossible. Because with the Great I AM – everything is possible!

I am proud to be an American. God has uniquely blessed the United State of America. We have honored His blessings on our country and we have, at times, brought shame upon this great land and His blessings. And yet, God’s grace has been offered freely to all of us regardless of the honor or the shame that we have carried. God’s goodness prevails even in the darkest of days. Because God IS good.

There is coming a day when God will be our Judge. We will not be judged on our nationality or our race, our freedom or our bondage. We will be judged according to ONE decision we made in this life. Did we choose to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior…or did we not. The only way that we can truly be free today is to allow Jesus to set us free. That is why He came…to make us free.

John 8:36 (CEV) clearly tells us, “If the Son gives you freedom, you are free!” Despite your living conditions, your work environment, even if you are behind physical bars, if you have opened your heart to the Son of God, Jesus has set you free! My prayer for you today is that you would know for sure that you have been set free. If you don’t know, 1 John 1:9 (ESV) is a good place to begin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Our confession of faith is this, “Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died on the cross for my sins. Come into my heart. Make me new. I will follow You. Amen.”

If that is the first time you’ve prayed that prayer, know this, this moment…ALL of heaven is rejoicing over your decision! Let somebody know…in fact…let me know! I want to make sure you know next steps in your new faith! Today we celebrate freedom in Christ!! And when Jesus gives you freedom…you are truly free!

One of the beautiful benefits of summer is all of the scrumptious, fresh fruits and vegetables we have access to eat. I know what I love but I’m not very good at judging the ripeness of them. In fact, when I buy fruit I usually pick up a basket or bag that’s already been picked. I scan the top layer of fruit that I can see and if it all looks good – away we go to pay for it. Inevitably, there will be a few that are overripe. Sometimes there’s even a rotten one or two in the pack.

Recently I watched someone who prepares and serves fruit to customers go through the produce section of an outdoor market. He picked up every piece and looked at it meticulously. He even squeezed them a little. He wasn’t taking any chance that a pre-packed bag or basket of fruit wouldn’t be perfection. He judged each piece on its own offering.

I love what Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:16 (NLT). He said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” The fruit Jesus was talking about isn’t edible. It isn’t based on what it looks like or how it feels. Producing fruit that will last looks like volunteering at your church or other ministry. Giving to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Helping orphans and widows as James talked about in James 1.

Doing something to help someone else get to know God to help them determine the destiny of their lives… THAT is fruit that will last.

Over the years our family vacations have often included a round or two of miniature golf. It’s something the whole family can play. It doesn’t take a lot of skill and we can have conversations and good-natured fun while we play.

It’s always been interesting to me to see the variety of challenges at each green. Obstacles. From where you putt – to the other end where the hole is, is often a straight shot. But the obstacles between the two can deceive you. Obstacles that make you second guess your direction or how much power you put behind your swing. Sometimes the obstacles really are in your way and you are better off going around them. But many times if you send that golf ball right through the center of the obstacle’s opening you will come out the other side in a great position to achieve the goal. Getting the golf ball…in the hole…with as few putts as possible. That’s the goal.

Sounds a lot like life to me. Obstacles in our path can deceive us, cause disruption, second-guessing. Some can even give us an excuse to quit. It’s too hard. Too complicated. Imagine if we could play the golf course with the designer. The one who built the course. The one who knows every obstacle and angle and could coach us through the game. We might still have some over par games but that’s because we have to swing a lot to build up our skill. We mature the more we play.

So it is with life. Who better to walk the course with us than the Master Designer? God knows every stretch of this journey, every obstacle and every handicap we have. Deuteronomy 5:32,33 (MSG) says, “So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you’re about to possess.”

God knows that we can grow our life skills by practicing every day. And He would love for us to invite Him to walk today’s course with us!

You can count the number of seeds inside of an apple. But you cannot count how many apples are inside of a seed. You know what that is called? Potential! And potential….is powerful! So often when we pray for God to do something we are anticipating the juicy, beautifully polished apple…the finished fruit. When for many of God’s answers…He gives us the seed. And that may cause us to get frustrated! But it’s where our faith is grown.

Now if we put that seed in an envelope, or a dresser drawer…we might even stick it in between the pages of our Bible we’ve only stored it and that seed could lie dormant for years. The only way that seed will grow into its potential is if we SOW it! Whether we sow it in our soil…or we sow it into another’s…the seed that is sown, when it is cared for, will produce a harvest of so much more than its visible fruit. The fruit within us as we tend it and continue to pray for and look for its potential is exponential! Our faith will grow as we watch what God will do with a tiny, little seed when we are willing to give it.

Luke 6:38 (NIV) tells us to “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

What seed has God given you as an answer to your prayers? Have you stored it and its lying dormant somewhere? Are you ready to sow it into fertile ground and watch what God will do with your seed?Stewarding well the seeds that God gives us leads to answered prayers beyond our imagination because we serve the God who specializes in more than enough!

What do you write on your calendar? Birthdays and anniversaries…special events…doctor appointments, date nights and coffee dates? Some of us are not just calendar keepers. We are planners! Which calls for a next level schedule keeper. I have some days that feel like every minute has a name! And then I purposely have days with wide open spaces. I am learning that it is good to allow for some margin in our days.

A number of years back I got into the habit of taking 10 – 15 minutes the night before to pre-prep for the next day. It’s the time I take getting my meetings and plans in my mind so I dress appropriately, bring the right things with me for the day, and I make sure my “to do” list is written. At least 3 – 5 things I need to accomplish the next day are written alongside my places to go and people to see list. Do I plan out every single minute of the day? No. In fact, I get a little thrill when I see I have a couple of hours with NOTHING written in it. It’s my wiggle room…my creative space. I don’t plan it. I just wait and see what comes up.

The Lord brought me to Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) the other day. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” I love that word ‘establish’. To establish is to set up on a firm or permanent basis. If we could see God’s planner for our lives…I believe it wouldn’t have just the highlights or pivotal moments written in it. God knew the exact moment that you and I would turn our hearts toward Him and receive Him as our Savior and Lord. He also knew that we would have beautiful moments to take in today, simple moments, challenging moments. God has set or established our plans. And when we commit all that we do to the Lord, both our planned and UNplanned moments, we step into walking in unity with our Father’s heart and plan for us. And that is the best place to be!

Rarely in my lifetime have I ever found myself ‘speechless’. Let’s just say I was very zealous with my gift of gab when I was younger. I’d say that talking is my superpower but superpowers shouldn’t get you into trouble and I have definitely talked myself into some tight places on occasion.

The day I accepted a job in radio I called to tell my Dad and…after pausing a moment…this is what my Dad exclaimed: “I cannot believe you found someone to pay you to talk!!” To which I responded quickly, “Thank you! for letting me practice on you all these years!”

Zechariah was a priest who had been selected to go into the temple and burn incense. I’m sure he used his voice often to pray and share the scriptures. The day Zechariah entered the holy place to light the candles the angel Gabriel appeared to him. He told Zechariah that his prayer had been heard and that the child he and Elizabeth had prayed for would soon be on his way. Zechariah was instructed that his son would be called John, what his child would do and even who he would become! And yet, Zechariah struggled to believe. And so the angel Gabriel told him this: “you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words.” Luke 1:20 (ESV). Speechless..until the baby was born! Tradition would say the baby would be named after his daddy. But when Zechariah wrote it down – his name is JOHN – the Bible says his lips were loosed.

I have always looked at this story from the perspective that Zechariah was being punished for not believing. But what if the angel rendered him silent to protect the blessing that God was about to bestow on them? Our words have power. What we speak can be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes what God allows in our lives isn’t a punishment. It really could be for our protection.