Author: Beth Morrison

One-minute read.

Sunday mornings when the worship band begins to play, my heart leaps with joy, especially when they sing one of my favorite songs. Closing my eyes and lifting my arms, God’s spirit rejuvenates me from what lies behind and prepares me for what will come. Strengthened and renewed, the time spent in corporate worship with other devoted followers of Christ encourages me like nothing else.

Our strength comes from above. When the tolls of this world begin to weigh us down, we have a Creator ready to lift the burden from our shoulders and replace it with His strength. Knowing that our time on earth has an end, we can trust in the Savior to help us persevere until He calls us home to Him.

When you need strength, drop to your knees, lift your arms to the sky, and ask the Lord for help. Allow His Spirit to fill your soul, strengthening you for the battle ahead. You have a trustworthy God, ready to help you, whatever your need. Tuning into Him will align your heart with the Creator’s endeavors and give you divine tools to help fulfill your purpose.

Lean into the Lord, receive His strength and guidance, and experience divine joy.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go on a bike ride.

One-minute read.

“I want to open a campground in my seventies. Yeah, that would be fun!”

Sitting around the campfire, Ron started dreaming about what we could do a couple of decades from now. As he talked, I began praying, realizing that anything could happen between now and then, but God willing, with prayerful waiting, maybe one day we will own a campground.

Waiting on the Lord to fulfill God-sized dreams strengthens us. As we begin to hope and pray for future events, seeds begin to grow, and paths begin to appear. Hope energizes us and gives us strength to continue the journey when life tries to bog us down. We need aspirations to keep hoping for a better tomorrow.

In Jesus, we have the best hope of all, Him and the eternal future that we will share, basking in the light of His glory forever. Hope in the Lord, allow the Almighty to give you strength to persevere, knowing you won’t grow weary as you run to your destiny.

With Christ, we have all we need to achieve our divine purpose, strengthened by the Savior, the impossible becomes possible. Run towards your dreams with the hope of the Lord leading you.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go on a nature walk.

One-minute read.

For my fiftieth birthday, we took a trip across the United States to Colorado. Driving into the state, we climbed the mountain in our Dodge Ram truck, the Crusader, a 2014 fifth wheel in tow behind us. As the hill steepened, we couldn’t see anything over the hood. An unforgettable moment; from our view, it felt like driving off the edge of the world, unable to see what lay ahead of us.

Faith often feels like walking off a cliff. We don’t know what will happen when we take the next step, no visible sidewalk in front of us. Trusting God means moving forward, even though we don’t know what we will find, with confidence that the Lord will provide stable ground for our feet.

Even though we couldn’t see the road ahead of us that day years ago, we trusted it existed. In the same way, we can trust that wherever the Lord leads us, He will provide a way for us to get there. Following Jesus takes us on an adventure like none other. As we experience our life of faith, we will enjoy an abundant life, living in the divine joy of the Savior.

God leads us; we don’t have to see the path ahead to trust that it exists.

Summer Fun Activity:

Do something new.

One-minute read.

Over the weekend, I ate meatloaf twice: once at Cracker Barrel and again at a local restaurant. Growing up, the ground beef concoction graced our table regularly, but in my adult life, I rarely make it. So, when I saw the specials, I couldn’t resist the temptation to taste the goodness of the simple dish.

Eating the scrumptious loaf of meat made me want more of it. When we taste something good, we can’t help but want more deliciousness. Tasting of the Lord’s goodness leads us down the path of righteousness because it makes us want more of Him.

From the moment Jesus enters our lives, He begins to transform us.  As we begin to experience the change, we draw closer to the Savior and desire more of Him.  The Lord’s goodness gives us unconditional love, grace, mercy, peace, and divine joy that fills our hearts, despite our circumstances.  Who doesn’t want that?

Taste of the Lord’s goodness, then keep on tasting as You seek and follow Him.  Experience the divine gifts that only come through a relationship with the Savior. In Christ, we have all we need; nothing in the world compares to life with Jesus.

Summer Fun Activity:

Make homemade ice cream.

One-minute read.

Understanding the vastness of creation and the Creator can’t happen from our human perspective.  Look around at your surroundings. Writing from my backyard, I see green grass, towering trees, and flowers in bloom, all of it created by God for us. 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1

Life began because God initiated it.  When the earth had no shape, he gave it one.  With four words, “Let there be light,” (Gen. 1:3) God dispelled the darkness, and the world came into existence.

All of creation glorifies God.  Watching the sunrise or set mesmerizes us with its beauty.  The changing seasons illustrated the circle of life and the need for change.  Waves crashing against the shore, coming from depths beyond our comprehension all the work of the Lord’s hand.

As you enjoy these last days of summer, let the beauty of creation draw you closer to the Creator.  Thank God for the beauty He created, and enjoy the blessings of nature.  All the earth sings of the Lord’s sovereignty, the work of His hands in every molecule, combined to form the world we know.

Summer Fun Activity:

Visit the beach.

One-minute read.

When Christmas came around the first year Ron and I dated, I had anxiety about his gift.  Afraid I wouldn’t like the present, I didn’t want to hurt my love’s feelings.  However, as usual, I worried for nothing.  The small heart pendant, featuring a pink flower encrusted with jewels, fit me perfectly, and expressed his feelings.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord.  Ron’s knowledge of me helped him choose the perfect token to express his love for me.  And God gave us the perfect gift we all needed when Jesus came to Earth in human form.

Today, take stock of the perfect gifts you’ve received from above.  Thank the Lord for the Savior who paved the way to reconciliation and a relationship with our Creator.  Then, list the divine gifts God has bestowed on you: family, friends, homes, food, transportation, clothing — the list becomes endless as we start counting our blessings.

Even more so than earthly fathers, our Divine Dad loves bestowing blessings upon us.  When we seek and follow Him, we will discover joys that we can get no other way.  The Lord wants to bless us, and when we use those blessings to help others, we bless God in return.

Live for the Savior, receive His gifts, and share them with all you meet.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go shopping for a new outfit.

One-minute read.

Reading about David collecting the necessary things needed to build the Temple, and then Solomon doing the work, I couldn’t help but think of God’s provision.  From precious metals and fine cloths to skilled workers with attention to detail, the Lord provided everything for the father and son to complete their tasks.

As our sovereign Creator, God has dominion over everything under the sun and beyond it.  Wherever the Almighty guides us, whatever divine tasks He assigns us, the Lord will give us the tools we need to finish the job.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Phil. 4:19

What we want and what we need differ.  Just because we want a new car doesn’t mean we will get it.  Instead, we can choose to be grateful for the one we do have.  The more we appreciate the Savior’s provision in our lives, the more we will recognize it.

Start making a list of your blessings.  You will quickly find God has abundantly blessed you, providing all you need when you need it.  Speak to the Lord from the heart, tell Him your needs.  Ask God for provision and watch as He provides.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go to an AdventurePark

One-minute read.

Animals do teach us about God’s glory and His divine nature.  As a child, while feeding horses, I slipped and fell.  Playing around me, I watched as the hooves landed inches from my head, realizing in that moment the power contained in the tall bodies.  For decades, I feared horses and wouldn’t go near them.

But on my fiftieth birthday, I asked the  Lord to help me overcome my fear of horses.  And He did, as usual, in a surprising way. 

While on vacation in Colorado, Ron and I went for a bike ride around a farm.  Stopping to take a picture, I didn’t notice the black stallion, hidden in the corner shadows.  His movement startled me, and for a brief second, we locked eyes.  I saw fear reflected back at me, realizing I had scared the black beauty as much as he had alarmed me.

Understanding my new friend’s fright somehow released me from mine.  My youthful passion for horses reignited in a brief instant.

Spending time watching animals teaches us about the Lord’s nature.  Their instinctive nature allows them to survive and thrive in the ever-changing world.  God made us all for a purpose, including the animals.  All made to glorify the Creator and honor Him with our lives.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go to the zoo or aquarium.

One-minute read.

Personally involved in our lives, the Lord shepherds us through life, vigilant and caring. He makes sure we reach our eternal destination with Him. Sheep need guidance, as they constantly stray off the beaten path without realizing it. And vulnerable, they require protection from the many enemies, big and small, that prey on them.

As God’s children, we act like sheep. When we see a shiny, new object, we can easily follow it to our demise. Worldly ways often appear as the key to immediate happiness, but in the end, cause us heartache. In the same way, scripture tells us the devil prowls around looking for ways to cause us misery.

Thankfully, we have a personal Shepherd who knows each one of us inside and out because He created us. Following Him will lead us to green pastures and restful sleep, having everything we need to persevere through the day’s troubles.

Listen for the Shepherd’s voice in His life. Follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings and trust that when things don’t go as planned, God has a better way that will lead to greener pastures.

The Lord is our Shepherd; we have all that we need in Him; we lack nothing.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go fishing or crabbing

One-minute read.

“I love your nails,” I say often when I notice a woman who has taken the time for a manicure.  In my younger years, I spent a lot of time at the nail salon, ensuring my fingers looked beautiful. I know the amount of time, money, and effort it takes to maintain pretty fingertips.  And so, when I compliment someone’s manicure, I do it to encourage them for their effort.

Encouraging someone doesn’t take much effort.  The most obvious compliments come from their appearance.  Last week at dinner, I noticed a woman with gold, glittery Crocs on her feet that made a statement, so I told her I liked them, because I did.  What people choose to wear, or do to their bodies, expresses their personality, and by complimenting them on their choice, it inevitably encourages them.

An even better way to encourage someone happens when we compliment their character.  “Great sportsmanship.  Way to be honest,” comes often from my mouth when coaching.  “Thanks for setting that example for me,” or “I appreciate your kindness,” also encourages and uplifts people.

Find the good and say the good, and you will encourage all you meet.

 Summer Fun Activity:

Invite friends over for a picnic.