Easy Does It...Stay Cool

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

In the 1960’s classic musical West Side Story, the two gangs,  the Jets and the Sharks, sang a little song reminding them to ‘stay cool’ but even if you are not in an impending gang fight,  it is necessary to remain cool in other situations too as it is easier to overcome stress if you do.

For instance a couple months ago I did not have a paper copy of an airline boarding pass and accidentally deleted it off my phone. This was quickly  remedied by the ticker counter agents. I could have come unglued and gotten hyper as I have done previous times something like this happened but chose to just take a breath. 

Do you need to practice keeping your cool when something goes in a different direction than you had hoped? 

PRAYER: Thank you I can call on you at any time and you can help me be still and stay collected. Help me not get wound too tight when stuff doesn’t go as planned. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wake Up Little Soldier

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.2 Timothy 2:3

As Christians did you know you considered a 'soldier in the Army of Christ?'. A soldier in the military endures difficult and rigorous training in order to get in shape for possible battles. This training includes strict discipline and regulations. If a soldier expects to succeed they abide and follow along.

A soldier of the cross of Christ too needs to stay disciplined in reading, studying, and knowing God’s Word in order to fight the battles from the enemy of our souls, Satan. You as a military soldier are serious about what you do and this new training regime becomes a lifestyle. The Christian soldier should take their training seriously as well.

Are you prepared for spiritual conflict? Do you consider yourself equipped with God’s armor to avoid the fiery darts of the evil one. Perhaps it is time to take soldiering seriously.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus this battle is real but I am ready and able with your help to stand strong in the face of the attack’s of the enemy on me and my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Can You Be Still?

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Stillness is a trait you should want to develop. It seems like rushing to and fro and being busy is a badge of honor. The question is asked “ How are you?”  The common reply usually being “fine” or “busy”. Too busy for things that matter normally like exercising your body to stay healthy and exercising your spirit to stay strong in the Lord. Maybe too busy to even sit for a minute to read this small devotion. 

Some may ask “but how do I intentionally slow down” and my answer would be “find a way before you wind up sick in the hospital for neglecting what matters.” You can not run on empty spiritually and expect to last long nor can you neglect working out the ‘temple of God’, your body long without paying the consequences so you need to prioritize what you are rushing to do and ask yourself what can be eliminated. Time for some serious pondering.

Maybe you mean well and you know that you need a quiet time daily and a trip to the gym. How to accomplish it is the issue. Even if you can get out in nature and walk it will help relax your mind and be a great time to carry on a conversation with the Lord. So the ball is in your court. Stop committing to everything you don’t need to and insure you stop to ‘be still’ for what matters most. 

PRAYER: The tyranny of the urgent is upon most of us. I know busyness is not your game plan Lord. Help me as I seek to break the stronghold of unnecessary things that take me away from things that matter which are you, my family, and staying healthy. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Remembering The Fallen Of America

For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends. – John 15:13 

The official Memorial Day is May 30th not today but since it falls on the newly adopted Monday holiday calendar I chose to write about the war dead on this day. Memorial Day is often used by everyone for remembering their family members who have passed on to eternity but the real purpose of this day was to remember those who gave their lives defending this nation. Arlington National Cemetery as well as other national cemeteries and even public cemeteries have ceremonies to reflect upon what this day means. 

The men and women of the Armed Forces when they commit to serving after taking the oath to defend this country against all enemies both foreign and domestic never know if they will lose their life ever in peacetime operations or combat. You as a soldier, sailor, airmen, or Marine don’t really think about it. I know I did not but I as a female could have in fact been placed in situations where I could have lost my life serving my country. 

Even though as a nation often this day is a blur unless you intentionally set aside the time to observe it pause and think about those immense sacrifices made in peace and war time by Americans  who paid the ultimate price with their lives. If you have small children or grandchildren around on this day take them to the local cemetery to show them graves of the fallen soldiers. As a veteran, all are entitled to burial in a national cemetery if they choose even though maybe not dying in combat but as you reflect think about WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and many other conflicts and thank the Lord for the freedom you enjoy because of these brave patriots. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for the gift of freedom. Many nations are in bondage to tyrants, dictators, and those who do not allow freedom to worship you. I praise God for the gift of a Bible and this freedom on account of those who stood and some died defending this.  I pray for those on active duty now to stay safe. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

NOTE from Americas Library.Gov on the first Memorial Day:

The First Official Memorial Day
May 30, 1868 
 In 1868, Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic issued what was called General Order Number 11, designating May 30 as a memorial day. He declared it to be "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.

The first national celebration of Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day) took place May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Self Pity...Stop It Now!!

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

There was a day I was taking a walk on a nearby military base and having a huge bout of self pity. Me the Lemonade lady was really struggling. Alas I knew it was an attack from the enemy and spiritual warfare.

As I continued my self pity stroll I passed a field full of camouflage painted military equipment and soon my thoughts went to Afghanistan and the military who were serving there. This wake up call of sorts snapped me from my funk as I said to my self “look at these pieces of equipment and think of the troops over there operating them."

Do you need a wake up call to get you out of a ‘whoa is me’ mentality? Satan tries to get your thoughts on all the wrong things and it is important to recognize it as warfare.

PRAYER: Lord I am blessed and have no reason to get stuck in self pity. Help me stay out of that pit and praise you instead. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Burnout, Boredom, Midlife Crisis

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

When you start feeling bored, burned out, and tired it not only is time for a vacation but time to recharge and reflect with God. Feelings like this are not from God but all people are susceptible to them. Sometimes these feelings could cause you to make terrible mistakes and use poor judgment.

Try to take time to get away. Get a couple days off. Go somewhere and leave responsibilities behind if you can. Take time to pray, read God’s Word, and reflect on joys and blessings in your life. This isn’t the time to make life altering decisions. Satan loves it when believers find themselves like this. If married include your spouse and talk and listen to each other respecting the others opinions.

After a time of recharging your battery and seeking God you should have a different outlook on things. Maybe for some it is the time to pull back or retire. For others you just needed time to reflect and think without daily pressure. Whatever it is let God into it. 

PRAYER: Thank you so much for my life and all its blessings. Bad stuff happens and situations that make me want to run away or give up. I know you desire me to pause, reflect, and charge on. Guide my steps and give me your wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God Has It Figured Out...Relax

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Have you ever tried to play God? You know, trying to figure things out, doing the ‘what if’ game. Often you can waste so much energy trying to figure stuff out when in fact God has it and He has you. Expending energy and brain cells trying to figure it out is useless so don’t do it. 

What makes you do this? Well for me it is cause I am anxious for an answer to a prayer and wish it could be rushed up a bit. Settling down and waiting on God and His plan after you have prayed is the route to take. Sometimes depending on the situation this is extremely hard to do and requires immense discipline. 

Do your best and trust God for the rest is something I heard which makes a good deal of sense. Don’t keep asking why, when, how but be still and wait then be amazed! 

PRAYER: Father sometimes it is so hard to not worry but what good does it do. It is also hard to be quiet and not mess up your work with my needless words. Help me be still. In Jesus’ name. Amen.