Honest Reflections

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.

One-minute read.

Finding work that doesn’t feel like work brings contentment from life.  Each of us has a purpose on Earth, specifically designed by God for us to do.  When we find the divine task the Lord has for us, we will not only do it with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, but we’ll experience God’s joy.

Unfortunately, many people spend their lives working at jobs they hate.  Day after day, the drudgery of doing what they must do instead of what they want to do takes a toll on them.  Living in a world that puts intense pressure on people to perform and attain certain worldly standards causes many individuals to spend their lives on the hamster wheel of keeping up with the Joneses.

Seek the Lord for guidance, asking Him to lead you to your purpose.  Finding the Lord’s will for your life will enable you to find your purpose and enjoy the work God gives you.  Fulfilling our destiny brings joy to our lives in a way nothing else can.  The Creator designed us to participate in life with Him, not sit idly by as the days blend, but to live in the now, fully alive and engaged in His plan.

Summer Fun Activity:

Make no-bake cookies.

One-minute read.

Eirene, the original Greek word for peace, means harmony, tranquility, safety, welfare, health, lack of strife, or reconciliation in a relationship.[1]  Thinking of a serene lake, water smooth as glass, the trees surrounding the body of liquid reflected in its surface, while the birds chirp and the air feels crisp against my skin, my nostrils filled with the earthy smells of the forest paints a picture of peace for me, all the senses exhilarated by the Lord’s beautiful creation.

From a spiritual perspective, having peace in my soul means that my heart and mind align with God’s leading, enabling me to take correct actions that please the Lord. Knowing I did the best  I could to honor and serve the Almighty allows me to let go of what I can’t control and trust God to do the rest.

Jesus wants us to live in His divine peace. He left it with us when He ascended to heaven.  Only by following the Savior can we experience the supernatural tranquility He offers, no matter our circumstances.  We can have trouble-free hearts, free from worry, when we trust Jesus to guide our paths.

Live fearlessly, with peace, following the Lord and enjoying His divine gifts.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go hiking.

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[1] NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary Copyright © 2015 by Zondervan.

One-minute read.

Following God leads you on a journey of joy you can experience no other way.  Even amid difficulty, you will find unexpected pleasures that you could find no other way.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young men with hearts dedicated to the Lord, suffered in the fire because they refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar, Jesus walked with them in the flames.  As the ruler watched from afar, he saw four men dancing in the fire, footloose and fancy free.  Read the full story in Daniel 3.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Christ told us we will have troubles in this world, but we can take heart, because He overcame them for us.  As a result, we can walk the path of righteousness with Jesus and live a joy-filled life because of the Savior.

Put your worries in God’s hands, pour out your heart to Him, and allow His Spirit to refuel it with divine joy and the peace that surpasses all understanding.  In Christ, you find abundant life.

Summer Fun Activity:

Play a sport: kickball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, softball, etc.

One-minute read.

Twenty-one days left in August, summer’s last days waning away.  To celebrate the season, I thought we’d have a summer fun challenge for the next three weeks, each day finding a new way to enjoy the carefree days of summer with simple pleasures.

Today’s verse reminds us that God made this day.  Rising from bed with breath in our lungs gives us a reason to praise the Lord.  Whatever problems may lie before us, the Creator has the solution.  Laying our burdens at the foot of the Cross, we can receive the Savior’s strength and mercy to face the day ahead.

Rejoice in this day; it will never happen again.  Let the Son warm your face with His love, allow His Spirit to guide your steps, and live abundantly in the Lord.  Jesus came to give us new life, one that we can live fully and completely.  Our best day on Earth pales in comparison to the joy we will experience when Christ calls us home.

Until then, we can rejoice in God’s blessings and live for Him, enjoying life to the fullest.

Rejoice, today is the day the Lord has made!

Summer Fun Activity:

Go swimming.

One-minute read.

And alas, we arrive at the end of the 40-day Random Acts of Kindness Challenge. I’m praying that God has used these past weeks to transform you in some way, shape, or form. The first time I took on this challenge, Ron and I traveled across the United States to Colorado in our RV. At every campground, I left quarters at the laundromats for someone to do laundry as part of my acts of kindness. Five years later, I still think about the people who found them and how it affected their day. My first completion of a Random Acts of Kindness challenge inspired me to continue doing them.

Ever since those days, I have sought ways to bless others. Buying lunch for a friend or a stranger, sending cards of encouragement, volunteering, donating clothes to a homeless shelter, or simply taking time from my day to listen to someone who needs to talk. Every day, the Lord gives me an opportunity to practice kindness, and I try not to miss it.

Pat yourself on the back for completing the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge. Make blessing others a part of your life. Don’t get weary of doing good; those who refresh others with themselves find refreshment. Making life easier for someone else with simple acts of love never gets old, and will keep your heart filled with joy.

Journal Question:

How did the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge transform your life?

Random Act of Kindness:

How can you make Random Acts of Kindness a natural part of your life?

One-minute read.

Years ago, while on vacation in Florida, Ron and I went to a dog race.  Physically fit Greyhounds lined up at the starting line, chased after a fake bunny, running in circles around the oval track, pursuing their perceived reward, but not catching it.  Excitement swelled among the crowd as we watched the highly contested race, the winner crossing the finish line just inches ahead of his closest competitor.

In the same way, as we pursue righteousness and kindness, we have heavenly witnesses cheering us on to the finish line.  Unlike the Greyhounds, we will receive our reward by living in the Lord’s blessing and investing our treasure in heaven. Comparing Matthew 5:6 and 6:33, we learn that pursuing righteousness fills us with “life, prosperity, and honor.”

Think about the last time you did the right thing, whatever the situation.  Knowing we obeyed and followed God’s direction, despite the outcome, fills us with peace and contentment because we tapped into the Savior’s strength and did what He would have done.  Jesus works all things to the good for those who trust and believe in Him (Romans 8:28).

Get in the race today, pursue righteousness and kindness by following Jesus.  Whatever the situation, find out what Christ would do, and do that.  Love God and people with all your heart, soul, and mind, pursuing His will above all else, and enjoy an abundant life in Him.

Journal Question:

What comes to mind when you think of pursuing righteousness?

Random Act of Kindness:

What’s the next right thing you can do today for someone else?

One-minute read.

Love and faithfulness, the two covenant terms in Israel, describe their attitude towards the Lord.  We must first love God before we can obey Him faithfully.  And as we have talked about in previous days, we love because He first loved us.  When we ask the Savior to live in our hearts, Jesus engraves His name in our being and begins the process of transforming our lives, leading us to abundant living with Him.  Applying Christ’s teachings and becoming fully devoted followers of God’s Son will cause people to notice as we lead with love and kindness, seeing them through the lens of the Creator.

Learning and memorizing God’s word writes it on our hearts and binds it around our neck.  As we face life’s situations, we’ll respond differently because of the knowledge we possess.  Instead of letting our human tendencies dictate our actions, we’ll begin to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Our emotions will take a back seat as our faith leads the way.  Faithfully with love, we will draw people to Jesus through our actions as we let His light shine brightly through us.

Living in the Lord’s favor opens doors we can’t open ourselves.  Blessings will rain from heaven as we align our hearts with God, follow His commands, and become more like Jesus with each day that passes.  We won’t achieve perfection until the Almighty calls us home, but we will experience an adventure like none other following Christ.

Journal Question:

How has Jesus imprinted Himself on your life?

Random Act of Kindness:

What’s one way you can show faithfulness to Jesus today?