Please don't have a nice day...

Although I usually don't respond to emails from "junk," I was curious one morning and checked one out....

It was an invitation to the London Book Fair

 along with the announcement of its postponement 

due to  Corona Virus issues...

I am not interested in the London Book Fair for a certain price; however, I appreciated some quotes the email included:

1) No one walks a path the same way.
2) There isn't anyone you couldn't learn to love once you've heard their story.
3) Please don't have a nice day. Have a day that matters. Have a day that's true. Have a day that's honest. A nice day? Mmmm, you'll be miserable.  Have a day that means something."

With Cornona news penetrating our brains, we may have forgotten that it is spring. While studying Hosea this same morning, I read Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him! Then He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. 

This too shall pass was a phrase often used by a friend's mother. It's origin comes from a Persian poet. All things must pass comes from the Bible. Matthew 24

Instead of simply waiting for it all to pass, lets have a day that matters, have a day that means something. A friend of mine is making face masks. Others are sharing childcare responsibilities. Our daughters are working from home and setting up home-schooling routines for their children. Call those who are isolated and lonely. Send a card. Pray. Pray.

Purpose in life is the meaning of your existence. It's nothing that comes like a thunder-bolt. Sometimes, it's the little things you accomplish to survive on a day to day basis. Or, to help someone else survive on a day-to-day purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 reads For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

We were created to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Have a day that matters.

We're all just walking each other home...

...We're fascinated by the words--but where we meet is in the silence behind them.

Ram Dass

Details and God

"The devil is in the detail" was a phrase used more in our parent's generation-- an idiom that refers to perhaps a mysterious element hidden in the details, meaning that something might seem one way at first but with more time....

It originated with, "God is in the detail".... expressing that whatever one does should be done with care.

 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.

 He delights in every detail of their lives. 

Psalm 37:23

I am often awed by details that God has included in scripture. Understanding that all scripture is God-inspired and useful for instruction, I sometimes wonder Why all the particulars?

Noah received specific directions on the building of the Arc.
Exodus gave specifics on the construction of the Tabernacle, right down to the type of metal and wood to use for minor parts.
Leviticus was written as a handbook for priests and Levites as to how to carry out the duties of their office, specifically.
Numbers was a census registering clans and families.

Matthew begins with a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah--42 generations of them.
When Jesus feeds the 5,000 in the book of Mark, it tells of how the crowds were organized (in 50's and 100's) and tells what the disciples started with (5 loaves and 2 fish) and then what was left over (12 baskets of leftover bread and fish).
And, Revelation has details with numerous analogies and prophesies concerning the end times that it is difficult for most of us to wrap our minds around it.

As the CREATOR, consider the life of an ant, their colonies, their purposefulness. Consider the galaxies above, the millions of stars. Consider families, communities, countries, the earth and all its complexities and know that He does care. He is a God of details. He created it. He will redeem it. He keeps His promises.

So, just like all those who came before us, God is in the details of our lives.
Stuck at home? Out of work? Homeschooling kids? 

He knows when we sit and when we rise; 

He perceives our thoughts from afar.

 Psalm 139:2

He looks to the ends of the earth 
and sees everything under the heavens. 
     Job 28:24

Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 
Matthew: 10:30

Knowing this, when you pull the covers over your head tonight

 or when you first place your feet on the floor in the morning, 

you may want to view yourself and the world differently.

If time, check out Bette Midler's "From A Distance" on u-tube

My Corona List

... my morning devotions were about to-do lists. It was timely as I have what I call my Corona List of projects  during this self-quarantining time. 

Corona To-Do List:
___ clean out, reorganize two file cabinets
___ clean behind washer and dryer
___ hose down patio and outdoor furniture
___ sort through my closet; get rid of items
___ ....

I check out the list in the morning, take glances often during the day,  and reflect on it when climbing into bed. Sometimes, I figuratively pat myself on the back; sometimes, I chastise myself and feel my day has been not purposeful. 

Today’s devotion prompted me to think on Jesus and the Fruits of the Spirit and not what is happening with my little projects. If I did this, my list might look like this:

Jesus to-do List:
___ did I share joy with someone
___ was I patient when frustrated
___ did I use self-control when tempted not to
___ was I gentle when I wanted to show irritation
___ was I faithful as God would have me be faithful (especially in these unprecedented times
___ ....

There are nine Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) including the above and also love, peace, kindness, goodness.

My time considering my experiences during the day with these attributes would definitely be more purposeful night-time reflections than what I did with a file cabinet or a closet full of clothes.  After all, God wants us to be holy. Holy? Impossible, but a good thing to strive towards.  In other words, did I use Jesus as an example for my own behavior?

Some of us due to self-quarantining have more time for reflection.
Hope this gives you something to think about as you walk your spiritual journey. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay connected to your Creator God.

Wants, Needs, Wishes

It's interesting how our wants, needs, wishes change as the years pass. When I was little, I wanted a doll with eyes that open and shut. A few years later, I wanted a bicycle. In high school, I wanted a boyfriend. In college, I didn't know what I wanted; I just needed to be done, graduate, get a job, and get on with my life. Although I had no idea how that would all play out...

Well, one of my little brothers thought my new dollie needed a bath, put her in the tub, ran water over her, and emptied the A-Jax can on her face. Her beautiful eyes that open and shut became permanently open in a clouded stare. My older brother's friend borrowed my bike on a summer afternoon. It came back with dents and a broken spoke. My high school boyfriend went to another college and eventually into the service. I finished college, got a job...  Life played out with me wanting, needing, wishing for different things as one year became another.

Over time, I've come to understand that the only thing that permanently satisfies me is my everlasting relationship with someone named Jesus.

I realize that there are many in the world who are without adequate food, shelter, and clean water. I wish it were not so. We are fortunate to live in a place where these needs are generally available either because we get a paycheck or there are services available to help those who can not work.

However, I, like most of my acquaintances have a closet full of shoes and clothes, a warm house, plenty of food, and a grocery store down the street. If you have all this and are still wishing and hoping for something else, something forever fulfilling, try Jesus. Your heart's wants, needs, wishes will change.

You may be asking--Try Jesus?--what does that look like, how does that work?
He's beside you, right now.
Tell him of your sorrows, your joys, your wants, needs, wishes.
He hears it all.
Praise him, too.
Why?
Because of the wonderful promises He has given you.
It's all in the Good Book, the Bible.
Try John--it comes after Matthew, Mark, Luke.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. 
In him was life and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness...

Louie Anderson's book "Hey Mom" or For You and You and You

Thanks to a friend's recommendation, I am just finishing Louie Anderson's book, Hey Mom. It's a book of letters to his deceased mother filled with memories of his life growing up as number ten of eleven children and his current life as a comedian. Due to an alcoholic father, an enabler mother who he loved dearly, there was dysfunction. And, therefore, now as an adult, there are questions--hundreds of them. Near the end of the book, he writes...

I have a question for you--you, reader, not my mom, but you: When are you going to contact, surprise, hug the people you love? That's my deadline for everyone... Call your mom. Call your dad...sister... brother... son... daughter... Make plans... with them. Give them some of the time they've given you. Sometimes even give them time they haven't given you... Don't be one of those people who starts weeping with regret...

The longer I exist, desire grows within me to reconnect, reconnect...
God is really into relationships. Did you know that?

Whether your family was perfect or not; whether you were perfect or not, we each are a part of Christ's body and individually members of it... just as are others. 1 Corinthians 12:27

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are man, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Romans 12:4-5

The song, They'll Know We Are Christian by Our Love begins with, "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.."

It's time to reconnect.
Or, it's time to connect for the first time--show you care; give that hug; offer to help out.
It feels good.
It's what God wants for you and you and you....
Also, check out Louie's book. It's quite thought provoking.

BFF

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 reads Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.

Many of us have been fortunate to have a Best Friend Forever in our lives. Some of us have more than one. These special people allow us to complain, cry, laugh. In turn, they are honest, give encouragement, and simply accept and love in spite of our faults and difficulties. However, when I think of these very special persons, something is missing. I can not talk to them every second of the day; they don't know ALL my thoughts. Because of their own life difficulties, they can not humanly take care of my every need.

However, there is One who can love unconditionally every second of your worst day; you can talk to Him whenever you feel like it. He even hears your sighs, He knows you better than your BFF.  He is your Savior. He is your Eternity.

He is the Ultimate BFF.
Truly....

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11-12

Time for prayer?
He's already listening.

Memes and Happy Forever

For those of you who like words, I discovered a new one today: meme. Although it sounds like something that might come out of a toddler's mouth, it is an abbreviated form of the Greek word "mimeme" which means something imitated and was coined by Richard Dawkins in l976 to explain how information spreads. A meme can include a belief, fashion, story, or phrase that passes from person to person and is typically short-lived.

After doing a search for meme images, I see Kermit the Frog, French fries, and a poster that states boldly, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO FIT IN. There is such a variety of memes that it is almost confusing.

I googled religious memes and found a poster that read, TECHNICALLY, MOSES WAS THE FIRST PERSON WITH A TABLET DOWNLOADING DATA FROM THE CLOUD. I learned during my search that "Memes For Jesus" has almost 500k followers on Facebook with the potential of brightening days and encouraging faith.


Apparently memes are an important means of communicating and a sense of humor helps. Some of the memes, however, were not laughable or even friendly. Like everything in life, Godly discernment is important.

So memes are popular, short-lived communicators whether it be with fashions, food, stories, words and phrases.... But, just a minute, what about Moses and his tablet? The commandments still work for us. Following them makes life easier, more peaceful for each of us, and they've been around for a long time.

And where does God come in with all this? None of his communication is short-lived. It's a forever thing and involves an eternal promise. Happy New Year? Happy forever!

My God is changeless in His love for me. Psalm 59:10