Month: March 2021

I love watching the sunrise.  Seeing the night sky slip away into the gentle pink and yellow shades of morning is not only enjoyable, but also rejuvenating.  The chill of the night air gives way to the warmth of the sun as its glorious rays dispel the darkened shadows.  The dawn’s unfolding stimulates our hearts.  And we can be thankful because each sunrise offers us something we’ve never had before – today. 

Every today is a new beginning full of opportunity.  A task you couldn’t accomplish yesterday, can be completed today.  A problem hampering you yesterday, can be solved today.   An ailment facing you yesterday, can be healed today.  That prayer you prayed yesterday, can be answered today.

Each sunrise ushers in new possibilities for success.  When we approach today with that attitude, we open the doors for victory in our lives.  With God’s help, today can be the day of our triumph.  Why not?  Today is a perfect day for it! 

Now, I’m not so naive as to think that today is always idyllic.  Perhaps some challenges face us today that we didn’t have yesterday.  Regardless, we can still maintain our positive expectations.  Here is some advice I heard in a Bible teaching a few years ago:  When something goes wrong, don’t ask “why?”.  Instead ask, “What amazing thing is God going to do for me now?”.

There is one thing that does hinder us today, however.  And that is our minds being stuck in yesterday.  For various reasons, sometimes we just can’t seem to let go of yesterday.  Perhaps, we perceive yesterday as safe and today as scary because of the unknown.  Maybe we screwed up yesterday and we can’t get past that.  Whatever the reason is, it most likely stems from being afraid.  But it is not God’s plan that we live in yesterday.  He intends for us to live in today.  And He assigned yesterday the role of bringing us unto today, (which is an important role because we could not get to today without yesterday).  But no matter what yesterday was, we are not supposed to live there. 

So, here we are living today. The sun has risen, we are seizing our opportunities with positive expectations.  The hours pass, and the sun becomes low in the sky.  We take a break to watch the sunset.

Sunsets can be dazzling demonstrations of light and color.  The gentle shades of sunrise are now vivid displays of yellows, pinks, reds, and oranges.  The entire sky seems to burst into flaming brilliance as the sun slips closer the horizon, leaving a trail of remarkable color as the light begins to dissipate.  The sunset gives us quiet peace.  We can reflect on our day’s activities and be thankful for what worked or come up with ideas for what didn’t. We can thank God for His help and cast our remaining cares on Him. Today is winding down, but it isn’t over yet! 

God’s handiwork continues by His filling the night sky with sparkling gems of light.  I love the stars.  There is never a time that I see them that doesn’t thrill my heart.  My family even gave me a star as a gift.  Somewhere out there is a star with my name on it.  How exciting is that! 

God’s very deliberate sprinkling of these beautiful dots of light in the night sky (that are so bright that we can see them from lightyears away) is a marvelous thing to behold.  And of course – add in the glorious moon.  The moon captures our dreamy attention whether it’s full and bright or just a sliver in the darkness.  There is something romantic about moonlight.  

The night sky gives us a restful calmness that helps us relax so we can lay down to sleep, knowing that this day will soon become yesterday, and our waking moments will bring a new today.  And whether our waking moments are before or after sunrise, today is a new day filled with promise and possibilities.  Today we can soar.  Today we can win.  Today we can rejoice.  Today we can be thankful to God for all that He has given us.

1 Timothy 6:17b

…but (trust) in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

You may have heard the term, “carpe diem”.  It’s Latin and is commonly translated, “seize the day”.  It’s good advice.  We cannot change yesterday, and we cannot reach into tomorrow.  We only have today.  Let’s make today the best today ever!

Note to my readers:  There is no limit to what God can do for you today!  Thanks for reading!    

Many, many times when I was young, my mom told me to “stand up straight”.  My posture was important to her because, “good posture is important for proper young ladies.”  My poor mom, even with all her urging I never achieved ‘proper young lady posture’, mostly because I was one of the tallest girls in my class and I didn’t like that designation, so I always slumped.  Like many other things from childhood, I say, “if only I knew then what I know now…”  I would have heeded my mother’s advice and stood up straight.    

Standing up straight is healthy.  With our posture in proper alignment, our core is its strongest and in its best working order.  A strong spine is crucial to our overall wellbeing.  Standing up straight is also a significant part of our appearance.  Slumping distorts our proportions and overshadows our best features.  But even more important than either of those, is what standing up straight and tall means to us in our minds.

Standing straight and tall conveys confidence.  When we stand tall with our head held high, not only do we look confident; we feel confident.  We are able to look at challenges right in the eye and deal with them because our eyes are not downcast.  Confidence means that we are not intimidated, we are solution-minded.  Life is full of challenges; and meeting those challenges with confidence helps us to rise above them.   And if we do fall, our confidence allows us to get back up and try again.  When we remain confident, we will continue to stand tall.

Picture this…  You’re back on the playground and there is the big slide, which frightens you.  Then ‘that one’ kid comes along and says, “I dare you to go down the slide”.   You have to save face in front of all the other kids who are watching, so you stand up tall, climb the ladder and go down the slide.  (And usually find out that the slide is a lot of fun and you’re glad you did.)   As adults, we can picture life’s challenges like a kid’s dare.  Of course our motivation will be different, but our confidence won’t concede to being bullied by a challenge.   

Confidence then leads to determination.  Sometimes we are faced with multiple challenges at once, or what seems like a constant barrage of them.  Our determination gets us through those times.  Life tends to know how to ‘push our buttons’ and discourage us.  But we can stand tall with a strong backbone and determine that no matter what life throws at us, we will get through it.  We can stand up to any amount of mud life flings at us.  And if we get knocked down, we pick ourselves up, wash off the mud and stand tall and strong again.  Standing tall with determination helps us develop a habit pattern of success in our lives. 

Think of a child learning to walk.  He is not daunted by how many times he falls because of his determination to stand up and walk (straight and tall).  Even if he gets hurt, he still gets up and tries again.  And when he is walking capably, the number of times he fell before his success becomes completely insignificant.  We must have that same kind of determination. 

Determination then leads to bravery.  There are times when life throws us a debilitating blow.  These are more than challenges; these are devastating attacks.  These are overwhelming odds from which we are not sure if or how we can recover.  These are the times that we must be brave.  We rally all the confidence that we’ve garnered and the habit pattern of success that our determination has brought us to stand tall with our spine steeled in the face of adversity.  

Bravery is simply not giving in to fear.  Whenever fear rears its ugly head, we must stand tall against it.  We must not give in to its intimidation.  We must not yield to its demands.  I know that this is not an easy task.  But with all the bravery we can gather, we must always try.  We must hold our head up, throw our shoulders back and utilize all the strength in our core to stand tall against the attack.  We must never give up.  Standing bravely offers us every chance of victory, while quitting only offers a chance of failure. 

Confidence, determination, and bravery then lead to pride.  When we stand up to the challenges of life and conquer our fears, we can be proud of our victory.  Standing tall demonstrates that pride.  We no longer need to slump in despair or cower at adversity.  We are proud of our accomplishments and unashamed of the successes that we’ve attained.  We are not arrogant or haughty.  We do not brag.  We simply stand tall and let that speak for us. 

Now, here is the conclusion of the whole matter…

We can be confident in our own abilities or in God’s limitless ability.  We can be determined by our own will-power or by claiming God’s promises.  We can be brave with our own strength or with God’s mighty arm that He bares for us.  We can be proud of our own results or of the deliverance God provided for us.    

I bet that you agree – the choice is obvious.  Our confidence, determination and bravery grow exponentially when we rely on God’s abilities rather than our own.  He is the Almighty God with unlimited resources.  His love for us never fails.  By His power, we can be more than conquerors. 

Let us be confident in everything that our heavenly Father has given us and does for us each and every day of our lives.  Let us be determined to have His sufficiency in the face of every challenge.   And let us stand proudly as His sons and daughters with no fear because He has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Note to my readers:  My prayer for all of us is that we can stand tall together in this day and time despite the negatives and distresses that surround us.  

I grew up going every summer to Maine and New Hampshire to visit my grandparents (both sets).  One of the highlights of those vacations was going to the ocean.  The rock-bound coast of Maine and the wide sandy beach in New Hampshire were my favorite playgrounds.  Jumping in the waves, playing in the sand, and exploring the tide-pools were my favorite activities. I can still hear the thunder of the waves as they crashed on the shore and smell the salty marine air.  The cold deep-blue water of the Atlantic provided some of my favorite childhood memories.

Then as an adult, I got to go to Hawaii (thanks to my wonderful husband).  It was my first experience with the crystal clear tropical waters of the Pacific around the islands.  I was enthralled with the color of the water, even out in the deep the beautiful aqua shade was a something to behold.  I got to snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles.  I got to hear whales singing when I ducked underwater and see them breaching from the shore.  A whole new set of favorite memories was formed. 

The sea has an almost universal appeal because of its beauty and majesty.  It also is a source of inspiration for life.  Here are some thoughts…

The oceans are vast. So also are our possibilities.  But we must be honest in this regard.  Possibilities are opportunities to accomplish something, not free tickets to wonderland.   “The sky’s the limit” is available if we are willing to work for it.  And working has two components – believing and doing.  These two are necessary to achieve any success.  We cannot do anything that we don’t believe we can do.  And we can’t demonstrate believing without doing something.  We know that the scriptures say, “with God all things are possible” which means that God is able to do what man cannot.  So it surely stands to reason that we can accomplish much bigger and better things with God’s help than we can by ourselves.  The next time you look at the ocean as it spreads out to the horizon as far as you can see, think about all the possibilities you have with God’s help, and get moving.   

The waves of the sea are constantly rolling in and out.  So also are our thoughts – information is constantly flowing in and out of our minds.  Sometimes it’s high tide with more waves rolling in than out.  And sometimes it’s low tide, with more rolling out than in.  Sometimes the waves are calm and refreshing – those waves we enjoy.  Sometimes the waves are strong and intimidating – we must be cautious around those waves.  On occasion the waves are violent and destructive.  In those circumstances, there is often a forewarning so that we can be prepared and take the necessary protective measures.  But if we are caught without warning, we still can recover and rebuild.  Like we deal with the waves of the sea, so we can deal with our thoughts.  We can harbor the calm refreshing thoughts that edify and encourage us.  We can avoid or refute the intimidating thoughts that could knock us down.  And we can do our best to protect ourselves against the destructive thoughts.  We can be prepared and intercept them before they cause damage.  But if we do suffer loss, we can regroup and heal.  Of course, no matter what waves of thought we encounter, God will guide us, help us, and answer our prayers. 

The oceans are full of majestic beauty.  So also is life.  We all have seen that beauty in the eyes of a loved one or cherished friend.  We’ve heard it in a child’s laughter.  Or felt it in a healing touch or a helping hand.  We smile at sweet memories, or cheer in eager anticipation of great things to come.  We rejoice in God’s love and in His grace. These are just a few of the things that bring beauty and splendor into our lives. For the real beauty of life is not in fame and fortune.  But in the quiet moments of the heart when we are at peace.  We know that we are blessed by a loving God who cares for our every need.  So the next time you visit the ocean, you can not only be thankful for the grandeur of its beauty, but you can also thank God for all His abundant goodness in your life.

Finally, the sea exudes mystery, which is a big part of its allure. We imagine that the sea holds some great treasure that is yet to be discovered.   Sometimes our lives are perplexing.  We don’t always understand why things happen, or what we should do.  But we can pursue our search for life’s treasures (answers) with the patience and zeal of any treasure hunter because God knows all the secrets of life and He knows us.  And even if our treasure remains undiscovered, we can always trust Him to care and provide for us.

Close your eyes and grab your best ocean mind picture; relax and enjoy.  

“The greatest cargoes of life come in over quiet seas.”  Dr. V.P. Wierwille

Note to my readers:  Thank you for being you!

For my blog this week, I thought I would share a poem that I wrote a few years ago…

 What do you see when you look at me?
 Is it just a jar of clay?
 Is it merely a jug well worn with age,
 That’s clearly past its day?
  
 Do you only see the faded paint,
 And the cracks around the base?
 Is your focus caught by the graying rim,
 And the lines about the face?
  
 Is the top too small or bottom too wide?
 Is the shape not what you like?
 Do your eyes stare only at the scars of use?
 And do imperfections fill your sight? 
  
 Perhaps a change is needed
 To fully understand.
 If the surface is what stops your gaze,
 You don’t see who I am.  
  
 Take a moment to look inside
 And consider what is there
 Forget the wrinkles and the bumps
 And all the graying hair.
  
 Look only at the Christ in me
 And all that it entails.
 Think solely with the love of God
 That for me, never fails. 
  
 See through the tender eyes of God,
 A child He calls His son.
 Consider what a price He paid
 To have me for His own. 
  
 Disregard the shallow view
 Which is all the world can see.
 Fill your thoughts with what God says
 And so, walk in liberty.
  
 Again I ask, Oh looking glass,
 What is it that you see?
 If the surface is what stops your gaze,
 Then you’re missing the best of me.  

Sometimes we are our own worst critic because when we look in the mirror, we don’t always like what we see.  A shallow view can do us a great disservice because it misses the most important part of who we are.  Our exterior is merely a container for the wonderful qualities that make us unique and lovely.  If we look only at the surface, we might not see things like kindness or honesty or integrity.  And those are the types of things that make us truly beautiful.

I was looking at photos of my family and thinking of how beautiful they all are.  Yet, I still had a negative opinion about myself.  I asked myself why?  And I realized that I looked at my family with loving eyes, but I didn’t look at myself the same way.  It often seems like we are good at looking at others through our eyes of love, but when it comes to ourselves, we miss the mark.  So I began my quest to learn to look at myself the way that the Bible says God looks at me. 

God loves His children more than we can fathom.  He looks at us through eyes full of that love. When we look at ourselves like He does, we will begin to see the REAL us. Our reflection will be that of God’s opinion of us.   We will begin to appreciate all the wonderful things that we have and are because of all that God has given us.  The beauty of God’s love will shine in our face.  And best of all, we will see it (and so will everyone else).  No longer will we see a shallow version of ourselves, but we’ll see what God meant for us to be. 

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…

Note to my readers:  You are lovely inside and out.  Thanks for continuing with me on my journey.