ENCOURAGE - EQUIP - EMPOWER
IT STARTS HERE.
This week I was called to task about an admittedly thoughtless comment I made about a year ago. It was not difficult for me to see how insensitive my comment was. I completely owned my offensive words and made no excuses. The person rejected my apology and chose to hold onto the hurt. Of course, I was disappointed by their response and wanted to beat myself up over it -- after all, I had been wrong!
My quarantine baby is about to be 1!! Born at the start of shut down, his arrival was very exciting, but not necessarily in all the usual good ways. I can hardly believe it’s been a whole year! First birthdays in our family are fun, big, celebratory parties that include our large family as well as friends.
I have been fortunate enough to witness and experience various formats of prayer, each unique and beautiful in their own right. All entered into for the same purpose, communication with God, and to achieve a personal relationship with Jesus. When we understand this foundation, prayer becomes a powerful and sacred gift.
Have you ever sat around a bonfire with friends late into the night? Every once in a while someone adds an extra log or pokes the pile with a stick to keep the blaze alive, but inevitably there comes a point when it’s time to let the fire die. The flames slowly shrink until there’s nothing left but the red glow of embers, and your fingers and toes quickly begin to feel the difference. If you stay out for too long, even the blanket you’re wrapped in won’t do you much good.
The first thing that was destroyed when sin entered into the world was man’s relationship with God. Genesis 3 talks about the Great Fall -- “…I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid” (Genesis 3:10). Despite the disobedience in the Garden of Eden, God still loved Adam and Eve but did not hesitate to call out their sin.
Do you ever feel like you’re running on fumes…or perhaps completely empty?
I imagine we have all experienced seasons where the reserves are running dry and we have nothing left in the tank.
Just over a year ago, I was in one of these seasons. A period of feeling like I was driving in circles, stuck in a perpetual NASCAR race wondering, “what’s the purpose...what’s my purpose?” I was discontent and burning out fast. That’s when my crew chief (Heavenly Father) called for a pit stop. Did I make it into the pit in time? Not quite... God had a literal pit stop in mind.
Embracing a new year means something different to each of us. Many will be racing out of 2020 in full sprint. It was a hard year for so many. Job loss. Deaths to family and friends. Isolation. Changes in routine. Missing the normal way of life. Some look back to see how 2020 changed perspective and provided opportunities: More time for what matters most. Keeping their job. Their people were not impacted by coronavirus. No matter what camp you fall under, one thing we can all cling to is that God was faithful all year long, He has been and will always be.
I don’t know about you but I am puttering into December tired, running on empty … weary. I’m exhausted by all the decisions that need to be made, ranging from how we will celebrate the holidays this year to the safest way to grocery shop. I crave connection with friends I have not been able to see in person. I wonder if I have done enough to help those less fortunate than my family, those suffering from injustice. There’s more, but you get the gist!
Growing up I always knew that Santa Claus was not real. (Sorry. Probably should have prefaced with a “spoiler alert” before dropping that truth.) But I liked to pretend and had a great imagination, so I would put out my play food by our fireplace with a little note embracing the magic of the season.
It’s Thanksgiving -- that time of the year when families come together to share meals and express gratitude. With the pandemic still hanging around, this year’s holiday will be different for all of us. Not for once did I believe a time would come when we will truly show love by staying away from those we love dearly.
