"Trey Tuesday" - August 18, 2020

 Fading Flowers

Beautiful summer flowers in their vase remind me of Trey...a once vibrant and bright little boy.  But as the blossoms fade away, I think of Trey leaving this earth and arriving in Heaven.

But that's not the end....what happens next?!

The fading flowers drop seeds which can grow in to new fields of flowers!  :)

And Trey left manyyyyyy seeds behind of God's life and light and love which continue to grow in each one of us!

What kinds of seeds are you leaving in your path?

"Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."  Psalm 126:6

"Trey Tuesday" - August 11, 2020

 Nothing

There are soooooo many friends and family and coworkers and neighbors we haven't seen in months.  Sooooo many special occasions canceled, postponed, or celebrated without us all being together.  Add in some current events/issues/policies/decisions/preferences and we have a recipe for feelings of division and isolation.

And then - one day - you pray about a friendship.  And your phone dings with a text from a lifelong friend who just so happens to be in town!  AND you have endless time for catching up!  :)

Or an emergency hits your world and you cry out for prayer!

Or you experience a huge victory that you just can't wait to celebrate!

Or a major life event that changes your family/job/home/health and your friends gather around you!

We don't need to feel alone - we are NOT alone!  NOTHING can separate us from the love of God!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38

"Trey Tuesday" - August 4, 2020

Speak Lord

There are countless memes and tweets and posts and podcasts joking about all that has happened this year.  The year 2020 seeeeeeemed to be such a nice round number, but we have now associated it with trauma, drama, and much emotion.

Have you had enough?  Are you listening?  

I don't have any answers for you.  Hey - I don't even know what the questions are!  But I do know the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  The Creator of our very life.  The Manager of the wind, the waves, the grains of sand, and the number of hairs on my head!  He also knows the innermost struggles, thoughts, and hopes of my heart.  And I rest in Him.  Unchanging, everlasting, eternal Jesus - the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Can you stop looking for answers everywhere else for a moment?  Can you cease striving?  Take a deeeeeeeep breath and listen for the voice of the Lord in the midst of the storms.

"'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening."  I Samuel 3:9

"Trey Tuesday" - July 28, 2020

Refresh

It has been a longgggg hot summer!  It has been a longggggggggggggger weirder 2020!  I hope you have created a season of refreshment at the beach or at a park or daydreaming in your favorite chair!  :)

When our browser stops functioning or our wifi refuses to work properly, we need to hit the refresh button.  

When was the last time you took a moment to allow God to hit His Refresh button of your heart? "May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14

"Trey Tuesday" - July 21, 2020

Christmas in July

Hallmark has done it again with endlessssss Christmas movies this July!  :) It has been a nice distraction this sweltering summer...but I now have an even greater appreciation for it! 

A friend told me recently that when she first became a Christian she could only sing Christmas songs!  She couldn't sing hymns or contemporary songs, because she didn't know all the words!  God used Christmas song lyrics about the birth of Jesus to nurture her young spiritual walk.

Let's refresh ourselves with some powerful lyrics!

- O Come Let Us Adore Him - Christ the Lord
- Glory to God, glory in the highest: O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

- The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
- O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."  Colossians 3:16

"Trey Tuesday" - July 14, 2020

Super Stars!

Joe and Bella are wonderful, strong, resilient teenagers.  That is an amazing accomplishment for any kid today - let alone having lost their baby brother almost 6 years ago.  By the grace of God and the love and support of family and friends, the experience has increased their love and compassion for people.  They get "it" in ways many adults don't comprehend.  And I love watching them live life with their parents openly and honestly - AND they all like each other! :) 

Will you please take a moment today to thank God for His Hand upon Joe and Bella in their grieving and healing?  And pray for them to continue to seek the Lord and His guidance for their futures!  Two high schoolers - one getting ready for driver's license and college applications - let's pray for Jay and Rachel, too!  :)

"But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who long for Your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”  Psalm 40:16

"Trey Tuesday" - July 7, 2020

Puppies, Ice Cream, and a Shiny New Car!

Did you smile at reading those happy words?

What other words would you add to the list?
I might add....the beach!  :)

Will you take a minute or two and rest in God's refreshment that He sends to you?

I know you are busy - and you're burdened.  You're tired - and you're tired of "it".

But for a few moments at a time, let's try a little harder to live and speak of the glorious riches we have in Christ for a weary and watching world!

"How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7