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Listen – Can You Hear That?

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Dogwood Flower At My Granny's House!

Dogwood Flower At My Granny's House!

Sunday, I had the opportunity to go and spend a few moments at my Pa’s old place.  It’s just a little house out in the country with a couple of barns and an old outhouse.  While I was there standing on the edge of the field, I was amazed by what I heard:  NOTHING AND YET EVERYTHING!  Nothing like all of the noise that I have grown used to trying to drown out of my life and everything that I needed to hear to bring me to a place of peace.  There were no sounds of traffic, hustle or bustle.  Only the sound of the breeze blowing through the trees and some geese flying into a distant pond.  I appreciated the moment and it reminded me of the importance of having more of those moments!

Yesterday, I spoke with and challenged our staff to take some time for meditation!  We live in a world that is filled with noise and with all of the noise it is hard to hear the still small voice of God.  All of the noise seems to put us in a state of constant hurry and this causes us to run past so many wonderful things that God has for us.  We need some time and quiet for God to do His act of re-creation in us.  This is what meditation is about!  Meditation is our opportunity to step out of the hustle, bustle and noise of life and get into the presence of the One who can do something about making our lives better and more fulfilling.

When we meditate – we listen to God, think about what God is up to and how He is working.  We remind ourselves of His faithfulness to our lives in the past and know that He is in our present and will be faithful in our future.  This time of seeing, hearing and knowing God helps us to see, hear and know ourselves and allows us to discover the areas of our own life that need a special touch.

Take some time at some point today to step away from it all and get into His presence!  It will make your life better!  I am praying for you today – that you experience God in a powerful and life changing way!  God Bless & Press On!

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I Feel Good! (Na na na na nanana)

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I am pumped this morning and I have a whole big ole bunch of stuff in front of me that I am not looking forward to.  But I plan to work my way right through it, because it has to be done.  I have been trying all morning to figure out why I am extra pumped this morning – I had a great time with God, but that is every morning.  It is still raining and dreary outside, but I want to sing with my best James Brown imitation “I FEEL GOOD – Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now.  I feel good, I knew that I would, now.  So good, so good, I got you.  Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice.  I feel nice, like sugar and spice.  So nice, so nice, I got you!  (Let the sax kick in – you hear it?)

I think it is because I got a great night of sleep.  I actually feel rested and ready for whatever is going to come my way today.  I usually do not sleep all that great, but last night was great!  Let me give you some tips that I believe contributed to my great night of sleep:  We need to begin our day with God and we need to end our day with God and we need to stay connected with God all throughout the day!  Psalms 3:5 says  “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me!”  And then we read in Psalms 4:9  “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety!”

I don’t know what you are facing or dealing with, but I do know that God loves you and has a plan for your life and He does not want you to lose sweet, refreshing, peaceful sleep over something that He can take care of.  Really give your life to God and then before you go to bed at night make sure that you have not taken it back from Him at some point during the day, and if you have, then make sure that you give it back!

I hope that we both get some good sleep tonight, so that tomorrow we can sing:  

Whoa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now.  I feel good, I knew that I would.  So good, so good, I got you.  So good, so good, I got you.  So good, so good, I got you.  HEY!!!  (Spin around, take a bow and have a great day!)

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Awards!

This morning I am sitting in the cafeteria of the school where Gracie my eight year old attends.  I am waiting for awards day to begin.  They have an awards day every nine weeks to celebrate perfect attendance, grade improvements and exceptional reading.  Gracie and a lot of other kids from our church will be getting some of these awards and they are all very excited!

It is good for all us to remember that as we live life here on this earth that we are getting a grade.  The Bible says that God’s eyes are going back and forth across the lands looking for someone/anyone who is being faithful and living in obedience.  Let’s remember that all of us are still in school and there is much to learn!  What can you learn today?  How can you use what you have learned to show God obedience and show others His glory?  Let’s get busy and grow our lives today!