Active Listening

    Listening: it is not easy for some people. We talk a lot about listening with students. When you work with 3–5-year-olds listening is hard. Children don't like being told what to do. They want to do what they want. But that's not how the world works. Many times, we cannot do what we want to do whenever we want to do it.

   That's why we teach the skill of listening to students. We tell them their ears need to be open wide. Their mouths need to be zipped. Eyes are looking at who is talking. And their body is still. That's how you are an active listener. But listening doesn't just involve hearing.

   Listening involves doing as well. When we are asked to do something, we should do it right away all the way. That means we don't wait; we try to listen as quickly as possible. And we don't do things part of the way we complete what we are asked to do. 

   It sounds easy in certain ways, if you are used to listening, but how are you at listening to God? Romans 10:17 says: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." That means to be listening to God we need to dig deep into his word, so we know what he is asking us to do. It means we need to be in communication with God. Communication is not a one-way thing. We don't just talk when we pray. We need to be actively listening for God’s nudging. No distractions. No talking. No doing other things. We are in silence and solitude.

   Then, when we do hear from God, we need to listen right away all the way. James 1:22 says: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Yes, we are to take time to be and be still. But if that's all we, do we are missing out on the mission God has given us. That's why it is so important to be actively listening to God.

   So, are you spending time with God each day? Are you actively listening to Him? If he calls you to do something, will you listen right away all the way?

 

The Straight Path

    One time I was at camp and my siblings, and I were walking back from a campfire in the woods. We could have kept going on the path or we could have cut across the ballfield which was a shorter distance between where we were and our dorm. 

   We chose to walk across the ballfield. As we were walking across the ballfield I said, "the straightest distance between two points is a straight line." My siblings and I began to laugh when we realized what I said. What I meant to say was "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line."

   While that fact is true, sometimes we are not asked to walk the shortest route in our lives. Sometimes God leads us down paths that seem difficult or curvy in our lives. During those times we need to remember that God has a plan for our lives. He knows where we need to grow and loves us enough to walk with us on our paths. 

   Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Many times, we wonder why God isn't opening the doors we want him to open. God knows what we need. He makes our paths straight even if they don't seem straight. 

   So, are you walking with the Lord today? How can you trust God on this journey of life? 

 

Peace in Knowing

   One series of movies and shows that most of my family enjoy watching is Star Wars. A while back they had a show originally on Cartoon Network called Star Wars The Clone Wars. My favorite character in this series was Ahsoka Tano. She was a Padawan who was being trained by her master, Anakin Skywalker. Throughout the whole series I was concerned she would die because she was not in any other Star Wars movies or shows. Then, after season 4 the show was taken off Cartoon Network. 

   For years I did not know what happened in season 5 and 6. But a new show came on Disney called Star Wars Rebels. In this show I got the surprise that Ahsoka was in it! How she survived order 66 or being Anakin's padawan I did not know but she was alive! I was so excited.

   Years later Disney+ came out and had seasons 5 and 6 of the Clone Wars on it. I was excited to watch it to find out more about my favorite character. But I was also comforted. See, when the Clone Wars originally came out, I was always concerned that Ahsoka would die. But now that I had seen Star Wars Rebels, I knew she would live. Because of that I had peace.

   Just like I had peace during scary moments in those shows we can have peace too. We know that no matter what we face on earth God is with us. He has told us how the story will end.

   1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

   We know Jesus is coming back. He died on the cross for our sins so we can be with him in eternity. That means we do not have to worry about death if we know him as our personal savior. We can have peace in knowing Him.

   So, do you know Jesus as your personal savior? Are you comforted by the fact that you know the end of the story? 

Not My Truth

   One day I was sitting at my previous job working on a project while the children were napping. My co-teacher looked out the window and said, "it's raining." I replied, "no" because I didn't want to stay inside with the children. It's better when we can take the children outside so they can get their energy out. She responded, "yes." I shook my head, "no, that's not my truth." She laughed and we tried to figure out what we were going to do inside that afternoon.

   It was a joke and made us laugh when I said, "that's not my truth" but some people say that even when they are not joking. What I mean is, when I said, "that's not my truth" to the fact that it was raining I knew it was raining. I could see the rain, but I jokingly said, "no, it's not raining." Meanwhile there are people out there who know the truth and have seen signs of it, but they choose not to accept it.

   John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible tells us the truth. We, as Christians, know we are to spread the Gospel to others. We know it is the truth. There are people out there who have heard the message but don't believe it is the truth. But Jesus is the only way to heaven. There is no other truth in the world more important to know than the fact that God loves you. He loves you enough that he sent his Son to die so you can be with him forever. That's the truth worth celebrating and spreading!

   So, what's your truth? Are you following the truth? How can you spread the truth to others?

 

A Closer Walk With Him

    Have you ever chosen to do something that was a bit outside your comfort zone? I had a whole year where I focused on doing that. But just because that was my spiritual focus for a year, doesn't mean I'm done with stepping out of my comfort zone. I still have to make choices that my brain says, "I wouldn't do that because you'll be uncomfortable." Yet, I choose to do it because I feel led to do it.

   One particular time I felt led to talking with new people. Now I am an introvert, but I enjoy talking with people one on one. When I was younger, I made friendships, new and old ones, idols. Instead of thinking of God when I woke up, I turned on my devices and looked at what my friends wrote me right away. That was unhealthy for me, and I learned my lesson. Thus, when I felt led to open myself to new relationships, I was nervous. I didn't understand why God would want me to do this when I struggled with this relationship problem in the past.

   Nevertheless, I followed the calling. Because I followed, I got to know new people. I got to help others grow and vice versa. But I think the biggest thing I realized through that experience is how much I had grown in the Lord. 

   Rather than leaning on those new relationships, I made my relationship with God more of a priority. I knew from past mistakes that if I leaned on anything other than my relationship with God I would get hurt and so would others. I spent more time with God when I began that season. I woke up each day thinking about God and how blessed I was to have a relationship with Him. I didn't check my phone every 5 minutes to see if I had a message like I used to in past friendships. Instead, I went about my day like I normally would have and didn't dwell on those new relationships. 

   God challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. Because I accepted the challenge, I grew in my relationship with him. If I wouldn't have done what I felt led to do because of fear, I wouldn't have grown or seen how much I had grown. God asked me to do something hard because he loves me. What's he asking you to do?

   Joshua 1:9 and Proverbs 3:5-6

 

I Can't Do It All

    Sometimes God brings about reminders that I am not a superhero. One time in particular was when one of my co-teachers was out for a week. Because of that, I had to work multiple days in a row from 7-5. Luckily, I talked with her over that next weekend, and she was feeling better. 

   Unluckily my other co-teacher got sick. On top of that another teacher got sick and it was spring break for the college students who usually fill in. And many of them went on vacation somewhere for break. Thus, I went through another three days of working almost every day 7-5. 

   It was that Wednesday that I reached my breaking point. I had worked many hours, interacted with children and others for most of my day when I'm an introvert, had other things to do outside work, and I was burnt out! I looked at my boss that day and I told her so. She understood and did what she could to make the week a bit smoother on me as my co-teacher was not in in the mornings the rest of the week due to her illness.

   Now, that week I had a choice. I could have continued to act like everything was okay. I could have done that and been cranky and emotional the rest of the week. But I didn't do that. I chose to be honest, real, and authentic with others. I chose to say, "God, I need your strength. Please help me shine your light during this week though I am tired." I chose to listen to Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

   God came alongside me, and I finished the week not on my own strength but His. Whatever you are going through, God will be there with you. He will carry you through if you trust in him.

   So, are you relying on God? How can you be authentic with others each day? What can you trust God with more in your life?

 

Changing Seasons

    One day I was listening to a podcast and the speaker was talking about how God doesn't call us to be safe. I got to thinking about that and I thought about all the events of the Bible and the people who lived through those events. Most of the time those people were not safe in whatever situation they were in; at least they were not safe according to the way of the world.

   Then I thought about how sometimes I crave adventure. How I get tired of the mundaneness of life. And then I remember times when I was asked to do something new. When I was asked to do something uncomfortable, I got scared. I was scared because that new thing was unsafe. 

   Here's the thing: we are not called to be safe, but we are safe in what God calls us to do. It's an incredible balance where we need to not let the season of life, we are in get to us. There will be times where we are thrust into action and there will be times where we are bored. The choice we have is what we do in those seasons.

   If you are in a season of mundane, you can ask God if this is where he wants you. If he has something more for you, or if this is where you are meant to be. Sometimes God asks us to just be. To do the typical routine and that's enough because you are working for him in that season.

   If you are in a season of adventure, you can continue talking with God to ensure you are in his will. You can call on him for help. You can know that with him on your side, even if the adventure gets scary, he is with you and will not let you fall.

   So, what season are you in right now? How can you trust God no matter what season you are in?

We Don't Talk About Feeling Alone: Encanto Series

    We've all felt it at one point or another in our lives: loneliness. One character in Encanto felt loneliness a bit more than others: Bruno. Bruno's gift was that he could see into the future. You can imagine how this would not make him the most popular person as he sometimes had to deliver bad news. In fact, there's a whole song in the movie called "We Don't Talk About Bruno" which talks about how Bruno delivered bad news.

   There's a person in the Bible who reminds me a lot of Bruno. His name is Joseph. Joseph had dreams where he saw the future. A future that was good for him, but not so good for others. Because of these dreams, his family alienated him. In fact, his brothers sold him into slavery because of his dreams.

   Joseph was taken to a new country (Egypt), he didn't know the language, and he didn't believe in their gods. Talk about loneliness! To make matters worse, he was falsely accused and thrown in prison. 

   Like Joseph, Bruno was in a prison as well. He hid in the walls of the house that his family lived in. The reason? He didn't want to give bad news anymore. 

   You may feel like you are in a prison of some sort of your own. You may feel alone. Deuteronomy 31:6 says "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." This verse reminds us we are never alone. We can have courage because God is always with us. No matter how lonely we feel, God is there. He has a plan. We just need to trust in him.

   Joseph trusted in God, and he was rewarded. He saved Egypt and his whole family from famine. Things worked out for Bruno as well. He realized his family loved him for who he was. 

   So, no matter how lonely you feel, do you remember who you can lean on? When you do feel lonely what can you do to remember you aren't alone?

 

All the Pressure: Encanto Series

    Do you ever feel like you have so much going on in your life that it's too much? Do you ever feel pressure to be perfect all the time? Do you ever feel like showing emotion is weakness? Then you will relate to the song "Surface Pressure" from Encanto.

   This song is sung by Mirabel's older sister Luisa. Luisa's gift is strength. When someone in the village needed something moved, they would go to Luisa. There was a problem though. Luisa was strong physically, but she may have felt like she needed to be strong emotionally as well. She was the "rock" of the family. That is a lot of pressure. What happens to something if you put too much pressure on it? It breaks.

   See, like Luisa, sometimes we put too much on us. We are not perfect. We never were and we never were meant to be. There was only one perfect man and he walked on water. You can't do that. I can't do that. So why do we feel like we must be perfect all the time? 

   Maybe it is because we live in a world where an emphasis is put on success, money, having it all, etc. We feel if we fail, we are letting someone down. But in failing we learn. In failing we grow. In failing we see the need for a perfect savior. 

   Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us of this when it says: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." God wants us to come to him with our problems. He wants us to trust in him. He wants us to confess our sins to him so we can be with him in eternity. God doesn't expect perfection. He expects confession, love, and faith. He then gives us hope. We don't need to stress or feel pressure because God has taken that away with his Son's work on the cross.

   So, what are you stressing about today? How can you remember to trust in God instead of leaning on your own power?

 

 

In the Fire

    I've talked about feeling sukkerpunched before. Well, those times when everything seems to be going wrong or there's a lot of problems or changes can also feel like you are in a fire. Like you are getting burned.

   I've felt that way before. I feel that way now. There's a lot going on in my life right now. There are problems in almost every area of my life. But there is hope. We only need to look at the Bible to see the hope. Story after story tells us about people who had faith and hope in God.

   One specific story about faith in the fire is about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abbendago. They knew it was wrong to worship a graven image. If they chose not to worship it, they could lose their lives. They would be thrown in the furnace. That was the literal fire they were facing. They didn't know what would happen, but they trusted that God would be with them. They had hope that God would save them.

   They chose to follow God even though it was hard. They chose to do what was right even though it would impact their whole lives. Because they did that, God was with them in the fire. He saved them from death because they chose to follow him.

   So, when you are facing the fire what do you do? How can you trust God more in the fire?

https://youtu.be/AeBaS_w67Ak

Don't Settle

    A few years ago, I began the journey of online dating. I was older than most people were when I started dating. I knew it may be possible that I find someone who was following Jesus but wasn't quite what I had in mind for a husband. I wasn't expecting perfection, as no one is perfect, but I was hoping for someone who could walk through life with me and who was following God.

   As I began the journey, I talked with some guys who called themselves spiritual but didn't believe in Jesus as their personal savior. I stopped talking with them fairly quickly as I knew that I needed someone who would follow Christ. Then I talked with some who were believers in Christ, but something still didn't feel right.

   See, I knew that there wasn’t one perfect person out there for everyone. What I was looking for was someone who could lead our family in a biblical way. Anything else was a bonus. The guys I was talking with were Christian and some were even leaders in their churches so I knew they would be good as a husband. But something kept holding me back from agreeing to be their girlfriend.

   Then I met Nate. He believed in Christ and was a humble leader. In no way was Nate perfect, but he was following the same path I was, and I felt equally yoked to him. And, as a bonus, he had many of the same interests I did. 

   He was more than I could have hoped for. Because, for years, I thought something was wrong with me. I thought no one would want me because no one had shown an interest in me. But that was a lie. God wanted me. He wanted me to trust him. He wanted me to grow in him, lean on him, and love him before I could love another the way God loves. 

   He also wanted what is best for me and it was better than what I was expecting. I was ready to settle. When I say settle, I was ready to find a man who was following God. And, yes, that would have been enough and fine. But God had more in store for me. He had a different plan. And it was so much better than settling.

   So, are you where you need to be in your walk with God? How can you trust in his plan more each day?

Slipping Down the Cliff

     Sometimes I feel like Cliff Hanger from the show Between the Lions. I am holding onto the cliff, trying to climb it, but it doesn’t seem like I'm getting that far. Worse, there are times where it feels like I am slipping.

   What I mean is, when I am in a close relationship with God I am holding onto the cliff and climbing just fine. God's showing me which handholds and footholds to use. But when I miss spending time with him in his word or in prayer I begin to slip. I miss a handhold, and it feels like I am falling.

   These are times when life gets busy. You know the times I'm talking about. When you have school, work, activities for you or your family, church, vacations, bills, etc. And time just gets away from you. That's the time the Devil seems to love the most. He loves poking at your hands and feet to try to get you to slip away from God.

   But here's the thing, even though it's not always easy we do have a choice. When we begin to slip, maybe fall back into sin, we can choose to hold on. We can choose to reach up to God's hand that is right there to grab us.

Take a Hike They Said

    Have you ever been hiking? It can be a fun experience depending on the difficulty and distance. Well one year my husband decided he wanted to hike to flat rock at Camp YoliJwa. I told him I'd do it if we did it in the morning so we could see the sunrise and so it was cooler. He agreed and we got my siblings and some of their friends to agree to do it as well. 

   We started out strong. Then we began to go up steep hills. I had done the hike before, but it had been a while. And this time I wasn't in the greatest shape, my allergies were acting up, my knee was in pain, and I had asthma. I had a lot going against me, but I wanted to try to make it. 

   I started to feel my breath becoming ragged, so I stopped. I continued after a bit. Then after a few more minutes I could feel it happening again. I stopped and took off the warmer layer I needed because it was cold. I let someone else take the lead at that point so I could go at a slower pace. It happened one more time after a bit. I sat on a rock this time.

   At that point I could feel a panic attack coming on. We were over 1 mile into a 5-mile hike. I felt like giving up and going back. I felt like I was a burden to the others and especially to my husband who stayed back with me. Then my husband asked how I was feeling. I said I felt like a burden. He said not to worry about the others but worry about myself. He said I was fighting a lot more than he was because he was just fighting being tired. He also said not to let it steal my joy. 

   Those were all the things I needed to hear. I had major fear in my heart of letting others down, of letting myself down. I was so focused on others and what they thought that I wasn't focused on me and my needs. I got back up. I kept walking even if it was slower than I wanted to. Eventually, I became the leader again for a time. Then we made it to flat rock. It was a nice view. 

   The trek back down the mountain was a lot easier. And we had some good conversations along the way. Had I decided to turn back, I would have missed out on the sights of God's creation and some bonding time with other Christians. I would have missed a lot if I would've listened to the fear and doubt. And that's how it is in most instances in life. If we listen to the fear and doubt Satan sends our way we miss out on good things. On the things God has planned for us.

   So what challenges are you facing now? How can you trust God in those challenges? How can you trust God when you are afraid and doubt?

IDK What's Going to Happen

    Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future. I try not to get too far ahead of God but this time it was bordering on worry. No matter how many times I tried to stop, something else would come up. Someone would say something about the future or ask about my future plans. I don’t have any. That made me spiral and worry about if I need to be worrying about the future.

   All that worrying is futile. It's not helping the situation. There's a saying that goes, "never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." I believe God has a plan for my life. I just don’t know what it is yet.

   There is one thing I do know; I know God is with me. He is for me. He loves me. As long as I seek him, I can never be out of his will for my life. He’s got this. He believes in me, when I doubt myself. I guess that was more than one thing, but you get my drift.

   Life isn’t easy and we are promised it wouldn’t be because if we follow Christ, the world will not like us. But there is purpose in the pain. And the pain will only last a little bit. Then we will be with our creator in heaven. That's the future I'm looking forward to. How about you?

https://youtu.be/ZtsOR-5iOPY

Give the Fight to God

    Have you ever had a time when you were going through something difficult? Just something bad happened. Like something that could change the course of your life. That's what happened to me one summer right before I went on vacation.

   This was my first vacation where I wasn't volunteering in years. I was going to South Carolina with my boyfriend to stay at his parents’ house. Honestly, I wasn't that nervous about that fact. But it could have also been due to the fact that I was preoccupied with this problem. We went there and I enjoyed my free time, but the problem was still in the back of my mind. I knew I'd have to face it when I went home.

   Sunday rolled around and we went to church. The pastor said he felt the spirit telling him that someone was there who needed to let something go in order to continue in their purpose for God. Now, I don't like going forward in front of people. Yes, I've preached before but that's different. This is going up and asking for help. I don't like bothering people or being perceived as weak. 

   I felt led to go forward but my brain was fighting my spirit. Eventually my spirit won, and I went up. I bowed at the alter and just poured out my spirit to God. A lady, who was one of their prayer partners, laid her hand on me and asked me what was going on. I filled her in on some of the problem. She prayed over me. She prayed that I would give the fight over to God. I hadn't even told her all the story and she prayed specifics about what was going on. After, I felt peace. The problem was still there but by letting someone in on it when God called me to, I had peace for the first time in a while. 

   So, when problems come up do you follow the leading of the spirit? Are you giving the fights in your life to God?

https://youtu.be/_6R-RqxkYMU

Powerless Except For

    Have you ever had a time where you couldn't help someone because you just couldn't. It may have been an instance where they didn't need something physically, you couldn't cheer them up, or you just didn't know what to do for them because maybe they didn't even know what they needed. I've experienced that. It has happened many times but one time it happened within two days there were two instances where I was powerless to help someone I loved.

    The first time was when he didn't feel well. All I could do was give him meds and offer to get him something if he felt he needed it. Then I just sat there and watched as he was in pain. The next day he said he didn't have the greatest day because he was with a childhood friend who was struggling. I didn't know what was said in the conversation, but it was weighing on him. I tried distracting him, but I don't think I was that successful.

  In both situations I was powerless. I wanted to have something I could do, something I could fix. Something I could fight for him. But I couldn't. So, what I did in both situations is I prayed silently. I prayed for healing. I prayed for strength. I prayed for God to move in his life.

   Prayer is powerful. It is always powerful. But it is especially powerful when there's nothing, we can do ourselves. It's the first step we should take instead of the last. It's what we should do in every instance and not just use it as a cop out. You are not powerless because you have the God who created everything on your side. He loves you and created prayer so he could have a relationship with you. Are you conversing with him and asking him to move in your life?

https://youtu.be/DcqWc7QvSs4

Supposed To's

 What's with all the supposed to's?

It feels like it's nothing new.

We are supposed to have money to live comfortably,

But is that what we always see?

We are supposed to be always perfect and on,

But that wears us down to the point where we sing a sad song.

We are supposed to be happy all the time every day,

But that just makes us unreal I need to say.

What's with all the supposed to's?

It seems like there's so much to do.

We are supposed to obey the law,

But how can we do that for the long hall?

We are supposed to love others,

But what if someone doesn't act like a brother?

We are supposed to serve,

But what if you are overworked and on your last nerve?

What's with all the supposed to's?

God loves us no matter what we do.

We should lower our expectations and just be,

That's what God wants from you and me.

He wants us to grow,

And to reap the fruit we sow.

Faith in our work is what will show,

When we just learn to let God and let go.

So, are you focused too much on the supposed to's in life? How can you learn to lean on God and grow in him?

https://youtu.be/cGUaZPbW-s4

The Next Chapter

    I am a person who thrives in one-on-one meetings. I can thrive in groups if I'm comfortable and I can thrive on my own and need that to recharge at times but one on ones is where I feel most comfortable. That's how I usually meet with my friends. And that's how I was meeting with a friend from high school and college one day.

   Near the end of this meeting, I asked the question I usually ask my friends: is there anything I can be praying about for you? It was funny because even though it had been a year since we met my friend knew I would ask that question. She replied and then asked me the same question. I asked for prayer because I was falling into the trap of thinking my life was mundane. 

   Now this friend isn't one that just lets things like that rest. She wants to dig deeper, to search for the meaning behind the words we say. She said that I sounded like her sister who asked her the other day if her life has meaning. To this I immediately replied that I know my life has meaning. Then why are you feeling this way? She countered.

   This caused me to pause because I knew that I was feeling this way, but I didn't know why. I dug deep to try to figure out the reason. I spoke the words as the thought came to me, I was impatient for my next chapter of life. I was bored with my life in general. It was the same every day. Get up, get dressed, read my devotional, eat, work, eat, work, home, eat, relax, sleep, and do it all over.

   And there's nothing wrong with that schedule or your schedule you have. But I'm sure you've faced this problem too. You feel bored or like there's something more for you out there and you want it now. It's okay to want things. It's just that we shouldn't let the desire for those things or new chapters take away from the here and now. In looking at my life as mundane or boring I was missing out on little miracles right in front of me. I was missing out on a chapter God was writing in my book.

   Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." God is writing our stories. He has a plan for each of us. We just need to surrender to his will. We need to be willing to enjoy each chapter of life no matter if we perceive it as hard or mundane because God put it there for a reason.

   So, what chapter are you going through in life right now? How do you feel about that chapter? How can you trust God with each chapter of your life?

https://youtu.be/geR0UBzDpdY

Footprints in the Snow

     As a kid, I enjoyed many activities in the snow. One of them was making footprints in the snow. Now, I was organized even as a child. I tried to make footprints only in one area. Also, I kept a specific area in the yard clear of footprints because I liked seeing snow without them in it, but that’s beside the point.

  Why did I enjoy making footprints? Well, other than enjoying acting like a giant, I liked making an impact on something. Once you put your foot in the snow and took two more steps you could look back and see what your shoe looked like. It was interesting looking at the details that the bottom of my boot made. Then I would race off to make a snowman or go sledding and not think about it much more after that.

   My footprint wouldn’t stay there long though. Inevitably more snow would come, someone else would step there, or the snow would melt. But that took time. 

It’s incredible to think about how temporary things are. One minute I made my impact on the world (literally if there was mud) and the next it was gone. That’s how our lives are too. One minute we are here and the next we are gone. Wow, morbid turn I know right. But it’s the truth. Our legacy will inevitably end and what then?

   What will matter in the long run? Will the house you have, the car you drove, how much money you have matter when you die? No, none of that will matter. What will matter? How can you have a legacy that lasts? Paul talks about this in Colossians 3:1-17. He says we are to put away the things of this world. We are to focus on Godly things such as compassion and love. Those are the things that will matter in heaven. That’s what will make a legacy, not for us but for God. And that’s what we should be focused on.

   So, are you focused on your legacy or on God’s and how you can make a difference for him on earth? How can you make an impact for the kingdom each day?

https://youtu.be/PYPJv0pfI3w

It's Good

To all my readers, I apologize for not posting for a while. For some reason, blogger would not allow me to post anything for some time and I do not know why. I am hoping the problem is fixed. Thank you for continuing to read my blog! 

My car is beginning to rust.

It costs so much to fix that my wallet may bust.

But it’s good.

I’m struggling at my job.

And the stress is so much it’s making my back throb.

But it’s good.

I may not be able to coach soccer.

That’s causing my heart to stir.

But it’s good.

I may not get married when I want.

And that’s making me sad if I’m being blunt.

But it’s good.

Things aren’t going the way I planned.

And I may not understand.

But it’s still good.

You may ask why?

Don’t get me wrong, I still cry.

But even through that, it’s still good.

It’s a really simple reason.

I may not enjoy every season. 

But it’s still good.

God is with me through it all.

He will never let me fall.

That’s why it’s still good.

So, through it all do you know it is still good? How can you trust God more each day?

https://youtu.be/_2G6PlSZxZ4