Can You Spare a Little Change?

Play on words. Not really the spare change found in our pockets or purse -- but the changing of seasons that we may be going through in our personal and family's lives. In Texas, we get four distinctive seasons. Sometimes, more or less distinctive but I enjoy the change in creation and the cooler weather Fall brings. We may not have white Christmases, but we can enjoy lighted snowmen in our yards. I’ll admit, I do miss a little of that ton of snow in Canada's Winter Wonderland.

Once upon a time, I changed the decor of my home at the turn of every season. I’d get rid of the old so we could embrace the new. In my quest to declutter, my seasonal décor is now driven by a "less is more" mentality. The Bible says there is a season for everything in life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). If only we could embrace the seasons of our lives as willingly as we embrace the seasons of the year. But we tend to resist change that goes outside our comfort zones.

God planned the seasons of our lives with infinite wisdom. He ordained each one, knowing exactly what fruit is to be harvested during each time frame. I believe that since His desire is to do us only good, He plans each season for us. So why are we prone to resist the season we’re in? When it’s summer, we want fall. When it’s winter, we want summer. When we are single, we want to be married. When we are married, we want children. When we have children, we want them to be grown and out of the house. When the nest is finally empty, we miss them and want them back -- at least occasionally! 😁

We are so like the children of Israel. They murmured and complained and kept demanding more. God brought them out of 400 years of slavery, gave them rest from their enemies, and provided daily food, water and protection. But no matter what He did, it wasn’t enough. They refused to place their total dependence on God whose plans were for their good (Jeremiah 29:11). So, an entire generation perished before seeing their promised inheritance. The wilderness journey was not a picnic. It was an adventure into the unknown, and it was a change of season for an entire nation. But the Lord knew the way through the wilderness, just as He knows the way through ours.

God ushers in the seasons in our lives and walks us through them. He desires that we embrace what He is doing in our lives with faith and gratitude. During the season of planting, when there is no harvest, God is watering, nurturing, and fertilizing us so that in due season we can bring forth the fruit He desires. Then, after harvest, it's a time of pruning. Ouch! As painful as it may be, God knows how good it is for us so we'll produce more fruit. We can trust God to do whatever He needs to do in our lives today because of His proven faithfulness yesterday

Tomorrow begins Thanksgiving week, the time to count our blessings and enjoy, as God does, this season right now. Every day is a gift so let's savor all the sights, sounds, smells, family, friendships, fellowship, food and fun of the season. God, in His infinite wisdom, planned our lives and leads us through many fruitful seasons. Instead of wishing we were in a different one, may we be grateful and embrace THIS ONE!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Gratitude Lifts Our Attitude

On Wednesday, this picture and a message from FB was posted on my timeline. Seems this was the first photo I ever uploaded from my phone to FB. Obviously, I was in the gratitude mode at this time back then. I hope I never change!

It is a product of our upbringing and circumstances that we are "by nature" either complainers or praisers. Most people would agree that we have a lot to be grateful for. After all, most of us live a lifestyle of conveniences -- comfortable homes, nice clothes, reliable transportation, no shortage of clean water or healthy food. We have access to quality healthcare and education, and basically live a good life with freedom, in safety and security.

It’s easy to take these wonderful blessings for granted and sometimes get into the bad habit of focusing on what we don’t have while millions of people around the world live without the basic necessities of life. I remember our missions trips to South Africa, Belize and Mexico, visiting those who lived in small huts and cardboard dwellings with a minimum of conveniences and witnessing children digging for food and anything worth selling in a city dump. Lord, may I remember them, especially when I even start to complain about ANYTHING!

Just think about the blessings we often overlook -- like getting dressed on our own, driving to work, going to the grocery store, sending emails and text messages, and hundreds of other routine activities of life. It’s where the majority of our time goes, so why not learn to show gratitude for them? Choosing an attitude of gratitude not only honors God…it’s good for us!
No matter what, it's possible to BECOME grateful -- even if it's not our natural "bent", but it does take discipline. It takes practice and doing it over and over again. The reality is that a grateful heart will make way for finding the good in EVERYTHING we encounter. Best of all, it opens the door for blessings. We just have to replace complaints and fault finding, with praise and thanksgiving. I love Nancie Carmody's thought-provoking words that turn complaining to thanksgiving:
I AM THANKFUL
...for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
...for.the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed.
...for the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
...for my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
...for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
...for the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
...for my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
...for all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
...for the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
...for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
...for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive.
...for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
-- Nancie J. Carmody

Oh, how blessed we are! Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the blessings of You, my friends and family and all the many, many reasons you've given me to be grateful today!

💥💥💥💥 2,000 and Still Counting 💥💥💥💥

This day, July 11, 2019 -- is the BIG ONE! The BIG ONE as in posting my 2,000th blog. Pardon the personal high-fives! 🤚🤚 I’m beyond grateful for God's faithfulness to me to inspire, motivate, encourage, drop nuggets of His fresh Word, opened my eyes to see the beauty in each day and to savor the moments when I would get an “aha” lightning bolt revelation to share with you. Most of all, I am so thankful for those who commented or “secretly” sent me private messages about how one of my posts was “right-on” for what you needed for that day. Thank you to those who privately asked me for counsel and advice and to pray for you. The praise all goes to God! 🙏🙏

On April 26, 2010, I wrote my first-ever blog. It was the beginning of the faith journey of our lives and I knew God wanted me to live our journey out-loud to document the abiding and constant love that we knew that the Father would pour out on us. We wanted our light to brighten the way for others who may have been facing similar situations. We were embarking on travels that were not without God's oversight and provision. While we had always considered our walk with Christ to be an amazing faith journey, with its many twists and turns and ups and downs, we were always secure in knowing He was on board with us, come what may. But, this new road we were on, was one that came out of the clear blue, unexpected and we needed to put on our combat boots and gear to handle this one. We were so full of faith, determination and great expectancy. Here is that first blog, just in case you’re interested in reading it:
https://mypeacezone.com/our-great-faith-adventure-begins/

If you read it, I know you might think "Bless her heart, with all that faith, their prayers weren't answered.” Oh, contraire! They were answered when he survived the first surgery which the medical industry says is the most life-threatening surgery there is. They were answered when God gave us a first-class medical team -- second to none. They were answered when we laughed and celebrated in the midst of the pain. They were answered when God supplied our needs during the loss of income times. They were answered when friends and family co-partnered with us in prayer, providing meals, and support. They were answered when doctors, nurses, other patients and visitors were touched by the strong courage we maintained. They were answered when the most incredible peace that passed all understanding kept our hearts and minds throughout the journey. And they were answered as this widow still maintains that wholehearted trust in God's faithfulness.

At that time, I was randomly blogging about our faith journey and then in January of 2011, after he passed away, I asked God what my new mission would be for that year. It was as clear as any message I would hear from someone who was face-to-face with me. God nudged me to continue my blogging in my new season of widowhood – to keep letting His light shine in my every day musings. It was still random blogging until 2014 when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was to make blogging a life mission DAILY, posting before 6 am each day. Not just aimless blogging but mind-of-Christ blogging. Being a social media missionary. Consistently being a light in the darkness. Every day. To start the day. For those who needed some gas-in-their-tank, a fresh word of hope, a breath of fresh air, a reason to live, and the knowing – nothing is impossible with God.

Often, it's all about ME because I need those reasons to start my own day. I know I need to get out of bed on the RIGHT side of being a determined, strong, fearless and powerful woman who believes we were ALL created to make a difference in this world, in our workplaces, in our communities, our schools, our churches and our homes!

Here’s the deal. Aimless, selfish, my four-and-no-more thinking isn’t why God created us. He created us to be the ones to step up and out of our comfort zones and our comfortable homes and comfortable mindsets. Our world needs "behind the scenes prayer warriors", social media missionaries, powerful living-out-loud faith-filled, devil-chasing, armor-bearing believers who light up their corners, workplaces, homes, churches, schools, and even the marketplaces with God’s presence and light.

Maybe you are being nudged by God today – to begin blogging, or volunteering for your church or community center. Pay close attention. If God nudges, we best get after it! And, as we go, I'm quite sure when we open our mouths, it will be filled with God's wisdom, and the teaching of kindness will open doors to bring healing and wholeness to our world -- being peace-makers, joy-givers, hope-bringers, lovers, and compassionate healers!
See you tomorrow, for blog 2,001!