Heaven’s Hotline
I'm not one of those people who has to have the latest, greatest phone. In fact, half the time, I forget to carry my phone with me. That being said, for my birthday, Jason surprised me with a nice new phone. The main reason for this change was because my old phone had been acting wonky for some time now. On several occasions, people claimed I didn't answer their call when the truth is, my phone never rang. Messages didn't always go through. And recently, it took me five tries or more to even make a call.
The frustration of an unreliable connection is maddening. You need to make an important call, but your device decides it's the perfect time for a technological tantrum. We've all been there, haven't we?
But as I finally gave up on my rebellious phone that day, a beautiful thought struck me: aren't you glad our "phone line" to Heaven doesn't work like that?
The Weighty Matter of Sin
I stood in the bathroom, taking deep breaths and mentally preparing myself for what was to come. It had been months since I'd last checked my weight, and I'll admit, I'd been avoiding this moment like a cat avoids bath time. But today was the day. I'd finally mustered enough courage to face the music—or, in this case, the numbers.
"It can't be that bad," I whispered, trying to channel positive thoughts. "I've been eating...somewhat sensibly. And I do walk every day. Well, almost every day."
Closing my eyes, I stepped onto the scale. The moment of truth had arrived. I counted to three, opened my eyes, and...promptly wished I hadn't.
"That can't be right!" I exclaimed, causing poor Tess to jump. "There must be something wrong with this scale. Perhaps it needs new batteries. Or maybe it's possessed!"
Starting Your Day in Tune With God
Rise and shine, my friends! A brand new day awaits, brimming with promise and potential. Now, before we hurry off to tackle that to-do list, let's pause to tune our instrument, shall we? After all, as Hudson Taylor said, “Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.”
Have you ever arrived at a concert early and been privy to the pre-concert tune-up? Honestly, it makes my eyes twitch and my head ache. Each musician is busily tuning his/her instrument, seemingly oblivious to all the other “noise” around them. There are squeaks and scrapes. In short, it’s a hideous sound. But as Taylor’s quotes remind us, it’s a necessary one.
Morning Time With the Master
Can you believe another new year has begun? Where did the time go? As the holiday hustle and bustle ramps up, it's hard to believe 2024 has arrived. Fortunately, with the new year comes many new opportunities.
As many of you know, I'm excited to launch my new line of monthly planners and journals accompanying my Optimize Your Day program! I designed them to be uplifting and practical, helping you organize your days while keeping your eyes on Jesus. I'll share more about them in a minute.
But today, I want to discuss an even more important topic than planners and journals—beginning each day with the Lord.
An Earnest Prayer
I love music. I listen to it all the time. That being the case, I’m very familiar with many songs, especially the good old hymns I’ve sung all my life. When we started traveling the country to raise our mission support, I realized I didn’t know quite as many hymns as I thought. With so many churches having different hymnals, I discovered many “new” songs.
What’s Your Perspective on Prayer?
I’ve had a devotion on my mind this morning, which I’ve contemplated before, but honestly, I can’t remember if I’ve ever shared it with you. Either way, I feel it’s what I need to write about this morning, so here goes.
I begin each morning with my quiet time, which includes Bible study, prayer, and journaling. One of the sections in my journal is labeled “Gratitude,” and each day, I list something I’m grateful for. Some days, it’s family. On other days, I’m thankful for my beautiful home. But today, as I contemplated what I wanted to list, I noticed the music playing in the background and tuned in enough to recognize the tune of Sweet Hour of Prayer. Suddenly, I knew exactly what I wanted to write in my journal.
Keep Holding On
For a long time, every time I read this passage, I felt Jacob was being presumptuous. If you follow his life story, he wasn’t exactly a model believer. He lied and cheated on more than one occasion. His very name means “supplanter” or “deceiver.” Knowing that, doesn’t it seem rather bold to declare to God, “I won’t let go until you bless me”?
But, as I’ve grown in the faith, I’ve come to realize we should follow Jacob’s example. No, I don’t mean we should lie and cheat, but we should come to God boldly, determined we won’t let go until we receive that for which we came.