Good Despite the Not so Good

2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t it? Lots of things to put in the negative column for many folks, and I’d be lying if I said this didn’t include me.

But, isn’t it interesting…good has still been there to be found, through even the most difficult year of pretty much everyone’s life on this Earth.

God is good. He has been there, even during times when it may not have seemed like it. I see it now, as I start to reflect on the events of this past year. It’s taken some time for me to get it into view, but He’s starting to reveal His goodness to me from this chapter of life more clearly. And yes, it’s still 2020.

I read this Bible verse the other night and it sums up what I’m talking about, here. Praise God for always being faithful, no matter what. He is always enough!

Lamentations 19:24
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.

To My Fellow Parents

Just a note of encouragement to say…keep going, keep wanting the best for your kids, keep training them up, keep trying, keep loving them, keep believing the best, keep leading them, keep their perspective in mind, keep trusting He cares for them more than you ever can.

Don’t give up. Parenting is one of the most important roles ever created for us on Earth. If you’re a parent, you know it’s one of the most challenging, too. There is no manual and it may get stressful to the point it hurts, but it is worth it. Your kids are worth it.

So, take a deep breath and know you are making a difference in their lives when you do your best as a parent. Sure, you’re not perfect, but they don’t need perfection. They need you to show them how to live, as best as you – flawed, imperfect but caring, loving, dedicated you – possibly can.

Love on your children today. It is a deposit you will get back with interest. It’s perhaps the best investment you will ever make.

Have a great day.

Recirculate

You never know where you might find inspiration. Sometimes, it appears on a valve control.

Huh?

This morning, I was adding the final round of chemicals to the pool for the year. The directions indicated the importance of making sure those chemicals were distributed throughout the entire pool, for maximum effectiveness in keeping algae and other undesired material from settling in during the winter months.

All of this is fine and good…except when it’s not getting distributed. That was my dilemma, as the filter did not want to kick in.

Turns out, there’s a feature on the valve control called “Recirculate”. Basically, it bypasses the filter and just shoots the water back into the pool, moving it all around and, in this case, making sure those important chemicals would get distributed.

It got me thinking…recirculate. To circulate something by definition means to move or cause to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area. To recirculate is to circulate continuously.

I don’t know about you, but there are some things I need to start making sure to circulate and then recirculate inside me, more often. God’s truth and equally, His grace. The eternal hope we have in Jesus – no matter what life brings our way. Positive self-talk and thoughts. You know, good stuff.

Problem is, the things I tend to have circulating in my mind aren’t always good. I get bogged down with yuck so easily. It’s been too easy for me to forget He has a good plan for my life.

The things circulating – moving continuously or freely through our minds – can be detrimental to us. Negative thoughts circulating continuously will only take us away from the destiny God has for us and the peace we can have during this life, even when the challenges are many.

It’s time to grab onto the hope which can make me glad at all times, and recirculate it until it is all that is flowing inside of me. But, why stop there?

Circulate also means pass or cause to pass from place to place or person to person. I want to share hope with everyone, pass it from place to place. Admittedly, it’s been a little while; some chapters of life are more difficult than others. But, God is still good, through it all.

I’m going to hit the “recirculate” button on hope, joy, peace, and everything good He wants inside me. We’ll see what happens next.

Have a great day.

Breakthrough

“Breakthrough begins where my excuses end.”

Are you waiting for a breakthrough in your life? The sentence above might not be what you’re looking to hear, but I’ll bet it rings true the more you think about it. It sure does for me.

Isn’t it true we make so many excuses for the things we feel we can’t overcome? I do it all the time. Let me know if any of this sounds familiar:

God, there’s no way this could possibly change or get better. I’m not worthy of Your grace. My past is too messed up to have a bright future. You could never understand. I really want things to change but it’s impossible, this is just the way it is and always will be. It would be too hard to do what it takes to really see change happen. Why haven’t You given me a breakthrough?

“Could it be possible that while you’re waiting for God to come down, God is waiting for you to get up? Maybe breakthrough doesn’t begin when your situation changes, but when you make a determination within yourself, ‘I’m not blaming anybody, I’m not waiting for anyone, I don’t need my situation to change. God change me, that’s my prayer. God change me. Do a work in me. Living Water, spring up a well within my soul.’ And God says, this is the place where breakthrough begins – not with them, not with it, with Me. Do a work in me, God. I’m ready!”

This message from Pastor Steven Furtick challenges me and I wanted to share it with you. Perhaps you need the same challenge right now.

Let’s challenge ourselves to be the change we are seeking in our lives. Let’s not sit idly another day. Let’s believe God wants us to get up, instead of waiting for Him to come down. God, change me…I’m ready!

Have a great day.

Hope at Christmas

The big day has arrived. It’s Christmas!

Are you excited? Or, does Christmas mean something less than happiness for you this year? If the latter is you, I understand. I’ve had some tough Christmas seasons in my life in previous years.

There’s something about Christmas that is so special…and at the same time, when life isn’t going the way you wish it would, Christmas seems to magnify that for whatever reason.

I just want to encourage you that if that is you, just know that you are loved. So much, in fact, that God sent His only son to this world for you and me to give us the gift of life. Eternal life! It’s the gift of hope, and it’s available at any time.

I hope that will provide some comfort if you are in a difficult season right now. We get to celebrate the birth of a Savior today, and He’s with us, through it all.

Merry Christmas.