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.

Why?

It’s the question we’ve all asked since we were little kids. Why?

If you’re like me, it’s one you find yourself asking a lot in life. Why?

If you’re like me, it’s one you find yourself asking God sometimes, or perhaps more often, depending on the circumstances. Why?

Why is there so much hurt and pain, God? Why would You allow this to happen, God? Why doesn’t it make sense, God? Why haven’t You made it clear, God? Why isn’t something changing, God? Why?

I like to know the answer to this question. It can get pretty frustrating when the answer doesn’t seem clear. You too? Alright, glad it’s not just me!

Well, if that is you, then let me challenge you with something I heard the other day. It challenged me, in a good way.

“None of us will ever fully understand God and His ways. If we could, He would not be God and we would never need to learn to trust Him. It is not wrong to want to understand, but our understanding must be secondary to trusting the Lord.”
-Derek Prince

Time for me to start moving the trusting Him thing up to #1 on my list. Something tells me He will reveal the answers at just the right time, in just the right way.

Thanks, God…looking forward to it!

Have a great day.

Fall Into Kindness

Sometimes, life just gets hard, doesn’t it? Things don’t seem to add up. Frustration, sadness, even confusion can all set in.

Why doesn’t it seem to be working out? You might be asking that question right now. I’ve asked that question before…totally get it.

Heard this song today and thought it might bring you some encouragement if you’re in this place at the moment. 

God will meet you exactly where you are. His kindness never ends, even when life doesn’t make sense.

“You’re with me still.”

Praise Him! Amen.

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.

A Real Reason for Hope

1 Peter 1:3-7

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.

You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do. On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.