Good Sense…..Makes Good Sense

My 5:45 am early morning walks are getting darker and darker. I thought, because it’s summer, that it would stay bright and light at least until September, but not so. I walk that early before it gets so hot outside. But this morning, it was pitch dark so I knew I needed to take my flashlight to brighten my way. I’m glad I did.

I had the good sense to know I made the right decision when I came across this handle that I could easily have tripped over. I’m still in recovery from the face plant that I encountered a few weeks ago, simply because my foot hit a heave in the street. Then, not much further down the road, this rag was in the street and I could have gotten tangled up in it.

I started singing that old African American spiritual song: “All night, all day, angels watching over me, my Lord. All night, all day, angels watching over me!” Thank God for my guardian angels who I’m sure have double duty over me!

And, without that flashlight, I might have missed seeing this frog. I took the photo and bid him farewell and thought: “Could this be my Prince Charming and I should have kissed him?”

I don’t like to over-spiritualize everything in my life because God gave us “good sense”. But, still I believe that “good sense” really is the Holy Spirit Who Jesus said would be ours when He ascended to heaven. So, call it what you may, I still believe good sense, our conscience and Holy Spirit are one and the same when we acknowledge Him. The Bible teaches us that those who put their faith in Christ for salvation, receive the person of the Holy Spirit for indwelling. The Holy Spirit within us is the source of all knowledge and of all common sense.

Jesus said in John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Thanks, God, for the help AND the Helper! Thanks, God, for my angels! Thanks, God, for the good common sense you gave us. May we activate and appreciate all the gifts You have given us because You love us so much!

Another Year of Potential and Possibilities

What a breath of fresh air it has been to see such optimism on my FB feed lately. Of course it has to do with all these adorable children heading off to another year of school. Wide-eyed wonder and excitement about what this new year will hold: new friends, new adventures, more challenges that open their minds to possibilities, understanding and building those little minds. They aren’t perplexed at all about what’s going on in politics.

And I especially appreciate how optimistic you parents are with your bold confessions of faith for your kiddos. Maybe the first couple of days were a tackle with getting in a routine again, but for the most part, I’m hearing a sigh of relief that another year is underway. I loved one mom’s prayer: “My prayer tonight as G___ gets ready to take those steps into Middle School and D___ starts a new school year with an unexpected twist. Of all the dreams I have for them, Christ follower is at the top. They've got this and He's got them.♥️”

That’s the attitude we should all have for our children and grandchildren. Of all the knowledge they acquire, all the common sense experiences that they will learn from -- the single most important achievement is to be devoted followers of Christ in their friendships, in the decisions they make and their problem solving with God’s wisdom leading the way.

Luke 2:52 mentions four areas Jesus grew in as a young boy: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” Our Lord grew wiser and He physically grew. His relationship with His Heavenly Father continuously strengthened. Jesus even gained favor with people who saw Him day to day. I love the simple sentence that precedes this: “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” We never see Mary worried and anxious. She pondered about her son, but she didn’t allow her heart to become rattled.

May we all strive to be like Mary, turning our anxious thoughts into treasured prayers, kept safe and held fast by our loving Father — the one who knows our hearts and loves our children even more than we do. When a concern pops up in our mind, we carry that concern to God. When we start to fear for our child’s future, we petition the One who knows what the future holds -- the One Who knows everything about everything.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all these precious children that are starting a new school year. Protect them, encourage them and fill them with strong minds to learn and grow. Help them to be a great friend and to have great friends. I pray the moms and dads turn their concerns and worries into prayers, knowing You are in control. Please help them to treasure each moment with their children as they grow in wisdom and stature and favor with others and You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”