Blame it on the Rain

Today, as rain and chilly temperatures cover most of the state, I want to encourage you to find time for yourself. Blame it on the rain or blame it on just needing to refresh and renew your spirit. The Bible mentions numerous times our need for rest so that we are able to thank Him for the blessings that He pours on each of us in our lives. We all at times get caught up being so busy, we literally forget to just be still and quiet. I know I'm often guilty of this frequently in my life. I don't know how to say "no." I feel I'm not being productive if I'm sitting still. 

My plans this afternoon are to take a couple of hours and participate in the Sabbath, a day of rest. God intended for Sunday to be a day of celebrating His love for us, followed by rest. I encourage all of you today to read a good book, watch a good podcast, write in a journal of your weekly blessings or just take a deep breath. Take a walk outside and let the raindrops remind you of God's continuous showers of His love. Listen to worship music, dust off your old guitar or sit in your favorite chair and pray for the week ahead. Find a place to just be peaceful. It is in the still and quiet places where we can most feel God's presence. I know we get tangled in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we  forget to replenish our souls. 

Don't be afraid to blame your relaxing, prayerful and calm day on the rain. So many times we repeatedly spend our days with to-do lists that we forget that not only our bodies, but our souls need rest. I once heard that "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." - Mary O'Connor

Happy Sunday my friends. Take time and spend with God. Inhale, Exhale be thankful!!! 

Run your Race

I attended The Village Church in Nolensville yesterday morning with my sister and her family. Each time I attend services there, I leave with a fire in my soul. The sermons always relate to real life situations and how each of our Christian journeys are different. I will try my best to elaborate on today's sermon that touched my heart. On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and His love that ultimately wins the race of this earthly life. His last words on the cross were " It is Finished." And He deserved to be finished. Jesus had run His race and fought the good fight on this Earth. Yet, he arose from the dead to circle back around to run our race with us. He didn't give up on us. He is calling our our name when we feel broken, shameful and guilty. He doesn't care where we are in our life or what we have done. He wants to be enough to meet us where we are in our race of life.
     Whatever your pace and whatever lap you may be on in your life, God wants to be our pacesetter.
If you have been running with Jesus for a long time and he sets your pace each day, then go and tell as many people as you can about the love of Jesus. Circle back around and run someone else's race with them. Help them and love them to continue on when they are tired and support and encourage them during the tough times in their race.
   Sometimes during our race, we end up on a detour. We feel like we can't continue on our race and we just want to take a shortcut to the finish line. This is not what God has intended for us. Sometimes God sends the obstacles to help strengthen and equip us to know that our race is not finished. It is our sign to stand back up and start running again.
  Then there may be some people who have never decided to run with Jesus. Find those people and tell them you are ready to start training and running with them. Some may just need a kind voice or a helping hand to kick-start their race.
   Wherever you are in your Christian race, know that God is there beside you. He fought the good fight and came back to prove we would always have Him here with us. And the same power that rose Him from the grave lives in us. I encourage all of you to take a deep breath and know that you are running your own race. It matters not if you are in the front, the middle or the back. What matters is that you are running and each of our us will run at our own pace in life. Allow God to pace your steps. There may be times when you need to slow down and catch your breath, or there may be times when you need to push forward and run faster. No matter where you are, don't lose hope. Keep persevering whether you on the paved concrete, the bumpy trail or climbing the highest mountain. God is there beside you every step of the way....KEEP RUNNING MY FRIENDS!!

God's Easter Eggs

As Easter rapidly approaches, my hope is that we can all slow down and comprehend what this upcoming Holy Week means to us as Christians. People often think our lives as Christians are without pain, hardships and struggles. The truth is, as Christians we are imperfect and flawed. We believe that God is constantly searching for us to help us grow in our faith.
I find it coincidental that one of our most celebrated Easter Traditions is hunting Easter eggs. Young children (and Adult children) spend an afternoon searching in familiar and unfamiliar places to see how many shiny, colored and oddly shaped eggs they can find.
I often wonder if God views us as His Easter eggs. He is constantly searching for us in dark, uncovered places or He can quickly spot us out in the open to pick us up and put us in His basket.
He doesn't care what color we are, what shape we are or where we have been hiding. He is consistently trying to find us no matter if we are buried or stuck in a shallow crevice. We are God's Golden eggs and He spends each day choosing us to fill His basket. Inside each egg are the
broken-hearted, the misfits, and the lost souls. He can't wait to crack open each of His eggs to examine and help change what's on the inside of each of us.
As you go through this Holy Week, may you constantly observe the little hidden eggs of your life. Whether your hidden egg is a friend that encourages you,  a prayer for someone you love, a sunset,  a long walk or just a breath of fresh air; take time to realize how blessed we truly are if we just Believe.
God sent His son to die for ours sins so that we may have everlasting life in Him. Jesus' death was only the beginning of His victory. It's the little victories in life that we often forget to appreciate. May we strive each and every day to  live a life worthy of God's faithfulness to us. Each day we walk this Earth, know that we are God's Easter eggs the He is persistently searching for daily to mold and love  to be more like Him.