2016

The Christmas Season with all the fullness of family and friends is almost over. The last hurrah will come on New Years Day with yet another family food fest! My only hope for  2016 is a kinder, gentler American. One in which we lean on God's truth concerning the foreigners who live with us and those who are living in abject hell elsewhere in the world. A land that returns to her roots of welcoming with open arms all people to her soil as she did to our own families so many years ago. I want us to have empathy for other cultures and realize that it is up to God, not us, to judge. Paul tells us we are only to judge those who claim Christianity as their religion not those who do not.

Maybe it is that time...that time to silence the hatred, prejudice and profiling that is so rampant in so many  Christians today.

God will not be mocked....make no mistake... when we try to play God it comes with His reprisal.

Read the Scriptures and then base your life on His word made flesh, Jesus Christ. And what did Jesus say would fulfill the Gospels? To love God above any person, place or thing and to love others with the same love we give to those closest to us.

Be blessed!

Make room for Him in your heart!

Some of the saddest words on earth are: “We don’t have room for you.” Jesus knew the sound of those words. He was still in Mary’s womb when the innkeeper said, “We don’t have room for you.” And when he was hung on the cross, wasn’t the message one of utter rejection? “We don’t have room for you in this world.”

Even today Jesus is given the same treatment. He goes from heart to heart, asking if he might enter. Every so often, he is welcomed. Someone throws open the door of his or her heart and invites him to stay. And to that person Jesus gives this great promise, “In my Father’s house are many rooms.” What a delightful promises he makes us! We make room for him in our hearts….and he makes room for us in his house!

~Max Lucado

Kamden Nana's little angel

~Max Lucado

I wish I could say it’s forgiven and forgotten—but it isn’t. As much as I’ve tried—all I feel is the anger and the bitterness. 

Without forgiveness, bitterness is all that’s left! Maybe it’s an old wound. A parent abused you. A mate betrayed you. And you are angry. Perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car.  The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name. And you are hurt! There is a fire burning in your heart. It’s the fire of anger. And you are left with a decision. Do I get over it or get even? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate? Proverbs 15:9 says, “The Lord hates what evil people do, but He loves those who do what is right.”

From Grace for the Moment

Our life is filtered through God's love

Isaiah 43:2 says, “when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.” 

In all things, in all situations PRAY!

Our prayers need not be long and showy....they need to come  straight from our heart and placed on the "Throne of Grace and Mercy"   which we receive in Jesus. 

And be thankful, praising God, that through Him we have access to the Father!

 James 5:13 says anyone who’s having troubles should pray. Anyone who’s happy should sing praises!

another from Max Lucado

Christ in you, the hope of glory! Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs.  He will come out in your speech, in your actions, and in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem. And every day you live will be a Christmas. Deliver Christ into the world!

From Grace for the Moment

Stand firm in your faith....

 Jesus urges us to “be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life!” (Revelation 2:10).

Wisdom

Things I have learned through Luke 6:

1.Common sense and doing good are always the right choice. 

2.The wisest decisions are always filtered through prayer. 

3.God chooses whom He wills not us. 

4.Miracles can and do happen when we ask them in His name. 

5.Never call good evil or evil good.

Change will do me good :)

Psalm 139:23-24

"Search me oh God, and know my heart. Test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

In the measure that you believe in Him is the measure that you can receive from God...

As John Wesley was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, heavy winds came up. He was reading in his cabin when he became aware the winds were knocking the ship off course, and he responded in prayer. Adam Clarke, a colleague, wrote it down.

“Almighty and everlasting God. . .Thou holdest the winds in thy fists and sittest upon the water . . .command these winds and these waves that they obey thee, and take us speedily and safely to the haven whither we would go.”

Wesley stood up from his knees, took up his book, and continued to read. Dr. Clarke went on deck where he found calm winds and the ship on course. Wesley made no remark about the answered prayer. Clarke wrote, “So fully did he expect to be heard that he took it for granted that he was heard.”

How bold are your prayers?

From Glory Days

~Max Lucado

It is God’s promise

in Exodus 20:6 to “show love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” 

We need to be thankful for a Christian background. There are blessings beyond our understanding.

We need not remain a prodigal....come home!

Remember the story of the prodigal son? He squandered his inheritance on wild living and bad choices. He lost every penny. His trail dead-ended in a pigpen. One day he was so hungry he leaned over the pig trough, took a sniff, and drooled. He was just about to dig in when something within him awoke. Wait a second. What am I doing wallowing in the mud?Then he made a decision that changed his life forever. “I will arise and go to my father.”

You can do that. You can’t undo all the damage you’ve done. But you can arise and go to your Father. Even the apostle Paul had to make this choice. He said, “I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, I go straight for the goal” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Landing in a pigpen stinks. But staying there…is just plain stupid.

From Glory Days

~Max Lucado

God’s grace is greater than your failures. ~Max Lucado

Thank you Father for Your mercy, for Your grace,

It has been a crazy hectic October! With my couple of days residing over the Moloney house while Mom and Dad were in the Bahamas for some much needed R&R and then coming home to get ready for the Haunted Quarry...can you say cray cray?

The Fulton girls along with friend, Sarah, spent the night with Nana and Pooh to help ? with the PARTY! It rained all day Saturday and all of us were soaked (funny how the girls did not seem to mind) but everything got cleaned, decorated and cooked. We had a wonderful time even in the rain.

Lots of new people from the Wellston area came with Kristyl and I managed to keep Maci's appearance a secret...heheh. She is one of the family!!

Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

No one....

I am having lunch with fellow retired co-workers from FMC where I worked for many years. I have been gone for about 11 years but I love hearing what everyone is up to in these golden years of ours!

Have a wonderful, blessed day!

165th Fairfield County Fair....Oh my!

Last night we took my 88 and 83 year old parents to the Lancaster Fair.  My youngest daughters boyfriend is a bull rider in his free time! Yikes. He and his son rode last night and we have never watched them so off we went with parents in tow. There is only reserved seating so I never dreamed that our reserved seats would be at the top of the Grandstand. Getting Mom up there let's just say...it took awhile! Thank goodness, as the rain fell, my daughter's car was parked closely enough that she could ride us to FIND our car since hubby could not remember where he parked it... such doings will probably not be repeated with them.

I am thankful for the memories!

Have a wonderful day and appreciate the moments of your life.

Max Lucado

Jericho’s shady lady found God—or better worded, God found Rahab the harlot. He spotted a tender heart in the hard city of Jericho and reached out to save her. He would have saved the entire city, but no one else made the request. Then again, Rahab the harlot had an advantage. She had nothing to lose. She was at the bottom of the rung. She had already lost her reputation. She was at the bottom of the pit.

Perhaps that’s where you are as well. You may or may not sell your body, but you’ve sold your allegiance, affection, attention, and talents. You’ve sold out. Glory days? Perhaps for him or for her. But not for me. I’m too soiled, dirty. I’ve sinned too much. No Glory Days for me!

God’s one-word reply for such doubt? Rahab! God has a place for the Rahabs of the world! He has a place for you!

From Glory Days

John 8:32 Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus is the only way to the Father. He is the truth of God revealed to man.  He is the only light in a world with way too much darkness!

Let the light of Christ shine through you so that in your little sphere, where you reside, others will see that light and be drawn to God's love given to the world in Him!

Have a blessed day!

Grandchildren....God's precious gifts!

God is good..

and  mercy and goodness will follow me all the days of my life!

What a comfort we have in Him!

Have a blessed day.

Claim your inheritance...

John 1:12.“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

God loves us so!!

The baby was staring intently at other people, and as soon as he recognized a human face, no matter whose it was, he would respond with absolute delight. I realized that this is how God looks at us, staring into our face in order to be delighted, I suspect that only God, and well-loved infants, can see this way. Even when we try to run away from our troubles, as Jacob did, God will find us, and bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure if we'll survive the night. God will find a way to let us know that [God] is with us in this place, wherever we are, however far we think we've run.  Kathleen Norris 

God said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Blessings :)

Yesterday was "Grandparents Day" at STS Peter & Paul in Wellston and it was grand. I sometimes wonder if the girls realize how thankful I am to be a part of their lives. I hope so. The food that the school cook, Pam, fixed was really GOOD and plentiful! It always seems a little strange to attend events at the school where your daughter is Principal...isn't she still Mommy's little girl?

Have a blessed day!

AppleFest @the Quarry

We really had a fun time Labor Day at the Quarry with the girls families and the G's. The little tractor and cart and the hike to the non existent water fall were huge hits! We sent everyone home with a couple of jars of our homemade apple butter and a gallon of apple cider and a loaf of Amish bread from the Amish Market. I cannot forget the Apple Crisp made with the apples at our house they were gone in a heartbeat with whipped cream! We are so thankful for our little family!

We overcome adversity by the Blood of the Lamb!

Paul describes it as a life in which “Christ’s love has the first and last word in everything we do” (2 Corinthians 5:14).  A life in which Paul says, “we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16). A life defined by grace, refined by challenge, and aligned with a heavenly call. In God’s plan, in God’s land…God’s promises outweigh personal problems. Victory becomes a way of life! Your glory days await you!

From Glory Days ~Max Lucado

Joshua 21:43 says, “So the Lord gave Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give. . .and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.”

and it is good!

Making apple butter from the apples at the Quarry...watch out girls!

~Max Lucado

You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees. So while theologians consulted their commentaries, and the elite were looking around to see who was watching, the successful checking their calendars, the meek were kneeling. They were kneeling in front of Jesus. May God find you doing the same.

From The Applause of Heaven

Be grateful!!!

“I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all God has given me. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is to acknowledge who God is and what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him.” Romans 12:3

~Max Lucado

My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure. I’m not a hero. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps. As a father, I can tell you those moments are the sweetest in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.

If I know that one of the privileges of a father is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me? Do I think he was just being poetic when he asked if the birds of the air and the grass of the field have a worry? And if they don’t, do I think God will? Why don’t I let my Father do for me what I’m more than willing to do for my children? Good question.

From The Applause of Heaven

To be you is enough!

As I sat on the deck this morning I was reminded of how useless it is to worry about earthly things. So many times I let worldly concerns override the beauty that God created for us to enjoy. How many wasted moments are spent in fear when the only thing that I need is Him and the only thing I need to be is me.....His creation. 

On this day in 1972 I gave birth to my firstborn, my first love, Happy Birthday Marla! Mommy loves you bunches...

Sts Peter and Paul Honor Choir at Markay Grand Opening

Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases Him.”

He is able to bring us safely through all of the ups and downs of our life.

“You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt. Shouldn’t you have mercy just as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32).

How wonderful it would be if the people who call on His name could dwell in peace with each other. We do not have to agree on everything we just need to be tolerant and grateful for all we have been forgiven by showing others that same forgiveness.

Be blessed in His holy name!

Imagine Dragons - On Top Of The World (Official Music Video)

~Max Lucado

Some years ago a Rottweiler attacked our golden retriever puppy at a kennel. The animal climbed out of its run and into Molly’s and nearly killed her. I wrote a letter to the dog’s owner, urging him to put the dog to sleep. But when I showed the letter to the kennel owner, she begged me to reconsider. “What the dog did was horrible, but I’m still training him. I’m not finished with him yet.”

God would say the same about the Rottweiler who attacked you. “What he did was unacceptable, inexcusable, but I’m not finished yet.” Your enemies still figure into God’s plan. Their pulse is proof. God hasn’t given up on them. They may be out of His will, but not out of His reach. You honor God when you see them, not as His failures, but as His projects!

Let God handle the messy things of life....let go and let God!

“Be merciful to me, O God!
For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I make my refuge.” (Psalm 57:1)

Lord help me to always remember Your goodness and Your righteousness!

Wander daily through the gallery of God’s goodness. Catalog His kindnesses. Look at what you have. ~Max Lucado

Be blessed!

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “. . .man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

What a fun but hectic week! It started Monday with the 3 Fulton grand babies spending a few days with us while Mom & Dad went to a business meeting. On Thursday I did a small painting job for the Church and then my sister and her hubby came to spend a couple of days...can you spell F.O.O.D. we had out a lot! Sunday after Church the Moloney family came over and we celebrated my Grandson's 3rd Birthday how the heck did that pass so quickly?

I love my life and my family

Love this!!!

Houzz Tour: A New Conservatory Brightens a Converted Carriage House

Love one another as Christ loves you!

What a wonderful time we had going and returning from Newtown, CT for my nephews wedding on the 4th of July. The Rehearsal Dinner, the Ceremony, the Reception...all about combining two families into one cohesive whole. It was beautiful to experience and to be a part of!

The Bride and her Mother are from India but have lived in the states for most of her life. Her Godmother and her family were here from India and she and I gave readings. We represented the blending of the families and the new beginning of this precious couple. My parents, his grandparents, are 82 and 87 and they traveled with us to CT...can you say comical? That is what we are as a group.

I am so very thankful to God for giving me my family...He knew exactly what He was doing!

“Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Every thing, every little thing, comes from above!

Be thankful for the good and the lessons learned from the bad. Knowing that all things will work out for your eternal good.

Be blessed and be a blessing :-)

All things work out for our good if we love God....

Nothing in the Bible would cause us to call a famine good or a heart attack good or a terrorist attack good. These are terrible calamities, born out of a fallen earth. Yet every message in the Bible compels us to believe that God will mix them with other ingredients, and bring good out of them.

~Max Lucado

We can learn the easy way or the hard way

but because God loves us... we will learn

James 1:3-4 says, “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

Sometimes it is very hard to understand God's love for us but rest assured we are changed because of that love.

Have a wonderful day and be a blessing!

Jeremiah 30:24 reminds us, “The Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind.”

Everything, every thing, that happens in your life God uses for your eternal good. Good or bad He has the power and exceeding love for you that can change the course of  your life to bring Him the glory.  You are not here by accident. You are here because He created you for just a time like this.

Be blessed my friends!

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Gen. 28:15).

Yesterday I joined some siblings and my parents for lunch. We went to a local restaurant to wish my niece, Bailey, a very Happy Birthday!

God is good and He is invited to every contact that I have with others...I am so very thankful!

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

How comforting is this passage!

It allows us to cry out in praise or in need "My Lord and my God"

Be Blessed! We are His family...

Tuesday I spent the night in UA with four of my grandchildren...OMGoodness what fun! Ballgame in the evening, swim lessons in the morning and in between my daughter [who is a fantastic cook] fixed BBQ chicken, roasted brussell sprouts and mashed potatoes! She treats Nana well :0) 

My obsession the last couple of weeks has been once again, Lightroom and PhotoShop...I just cannot get enough of designing digital scrapbook pages. I LOVE text and and graphics and it shows by the amount of hard drive space they occupy.

Summertime in all her glory competes heavily with my obsessions and I write now looking out of my front window. Our house sits high and we overlook a tiny Lake Colfax, which is supplied by the Raccoon Run River  and is surrounded by rows of trees and fields. I love the view and it is here in this little room that I do my Bible Studies each morning. It has become for me my spiritual oasis.  

Life is sometimes elusive and romantic and sometimes reality creeps in but as I age it happens less often...I prefer to live in God's reality and not my own.

Be blessed and enjoy the day that He has given you!

1 Peter 1:19 says He bought you, “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

You are precious to God. He knew the whole of your life before you ever came to earth. He knew your triumphs and your defeats and chose you still. He cares for you!

Be blessed in His holy name, Jesus!

God is a restorer of lives seemingly lost...

Several years ago the state was rebuilding an overpass near my house. Three lanes reduced to one, transforming a morning commute into a daily stew. The project, like human history, had been in development since before time began.  My next-door neighbors at the time were highway engineers, consultants to the department of transportation. “It’ll take time,” they responded to my grumbles, “but it will all get finished.” They had seen the plans.
In the Old Testament story of Joseph, God allows us to study His plans. Brothers dumping brother. But watch the Master Builder at work. He cleared debris, stabilized the structure. And the chaos of Genesis 37:24…They cast him into the pit..became the triumph of Genesis 50:20— life for many people. God redeemed the story of Joseph. Can’t He redeem your story as well?
From You’ll Get Through This

One mind and body in Christ Jesus

Last night I had dinner with some of the ladies of our Church who have found themselves needing to settle into the life of widowhood. We tossed about names for our newly formed group and settled upon "Waiting Widows"..... they are all awaiting being reunited with their hubby's in the life to come.

What an amazing gift eternal life is....we will get to spend it with those we love forever! Beyond our comprehension but not  God's!

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 4:32 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. . .”

We are not alone! He loves us and cares for us....what a blessed assurance.

Have a wonderful day and bless others with His love for then.

Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

Fun day planned for today the girls and I are going to have a Tea Party. Marla's treat, in Upper Arlington. I am so very thankful for my daughters and I pray that they realize that!

blessed by God's goodness and His mercy!

Morning Rituals

I always get up early...like sometimes at the crack of dawn even in summer! Most of the things that I take comfort in are the little things that make up my day. That first cup of coffee | the morning news and weather | watering and trimming my flowers | Bible Study in my special place where I can look out over the wonder of nature that belongs to God alone | updating blogs | another cup of coffee......and then the day has a wonderful start!

Be blessed and enjoy the wonders of God!

Psalm 147:3 promises God “heals the brokenhearted.”

What a busy month this has been....busy in a good way, full to the brim, with family! We need to take the time to spend with those we love... it is God's way. He commanded us to care for those He places in our life.

In the loving arms of my Savior I find rest!

He makes me. . .

He leads me. . .
He restores my soul. . .
You are with me. . .
Your rod and staff comfort me. . .
You prepare a table. . .
You anoint my head. . .

 the shepherd leads his sheep, not for our names’ sake, but for “His name’s sake!”

~Max Lucado

Have a blessed day

It is not about us...it is ALL about Jesus!

God’s way is a narrow winding path up a steep hill. At the top of the hill is a Cross!
~Max Lucado

I am now home from an overnight with my Columbus grand babies...always fun, always exhausting. They have way more energy than I :)

One of the highlights was a trip to Reed Roadd Park to watch Ciarnan play baseball and he was so good (even if I am a little, OK a lot, prejudice) I love that I am included in the lives of my grandchildren it is truly my biggest blessing :)

Have a blessed day as for me... my evening meeting was cancelled...so I am recuperating!

Matthew 6:27, “You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.”

Remain calm and call on Jesus!

Psalm 23:2, “He leads me beside the still waters.” 

Have a blessed day :)

I have had a crazy good kind of week!

With siblings in from out of state it has been a whirlwind of activity.....and since my Mom is not a cook it has involved eating out at least once a day! Can you say fun?

Last night Tim and I stole away to go to Wellston and see 2 of the granddaughters in their school play  "Go Fish"...what a hoot!

Have a wonderful day and be blessed! I will think of you as I visit yet another restaurant!!

Life is good....enjoy it :)

Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; leads me beside the still waters.” Note the two pronouns preceding the two verbs. He makes me. . .He leads me. Who is the active one? Who is in charge? The Shepherd!

We see the waves of the water rather than the Savior walking through them. We focus on our paltry provisions rather than on the One who can feed five thousand hungry people. Change your focus—and relax! While you’re at it, change your schedule and rest! Life can get so loud we forget to shut it down. When David says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” he is saying my shepherd makes me lie down in his finished work. His pasture is his gift to us. This is not the pasture you’ve made. It is a gift from God, and your Shepherd invites you there!
From Traveling Light

~Max Lucado

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

 In Him I have all I need for He knows our needs and He cares for us.

This will be a busy week. Yesterday Tim and I picked up my sister from TX and tomorrow my sister from NC flys in.....woot woot! I am providing the house for a wedding shower tomorrow that my nieceis hosting for my nephew and his finance...so happy that I can do this! I am having a Mother's Day dinner here on Sunday with siblings, my girls and whoever else wants to come!

The sisters will be here until the 14th so that means ?........lots of eating out.

Be blessed and enjoy your family it is one of God's biggest blessings!

It is a softly raining day in central Ohio the kind that makes you want to curl up with a good book and  a warm blanket. Even though there is so much to be done outside it is good to get an unexpected retrieve. I am thankful for these days! OK now I am going to the sewing room to pick out colors for my color blind hubby for a new quilt that he is starting.

This is a pic that I shot at the Museum of Appalachia arresting isn't it?

Be blessed...

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.”

Think of God's love for mankind it covers a multitude of sins!

Thank you Jesus..









































Have a joyful day because joy in the Lord is our strength :)

We are His witness....

A woman stands before judge and jury, one hand on the Bible, the other in the air, and makes a pledge: to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. She’s a witness. Her job is to tell the truth.

The Christian, too, is a witness. We, too, make a pledge to tell the truth. The bench may be absent, the judge unseen, but the Bible is present, the watching world the jury, and we’re the primary witnesses—subpoenaed by no less than Jesus himself in Acts 1:8. “You will be my witnesses, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”

The witness in court eventually steps down from the witness chair, but the witness for Christ never does. The claims of Christ are always on trial, and we remain under oath!

From Just Like Jesus

Love the people that God has given you they are your biggest blessings!

Want to bring focus to your life? Do what Jesus did. Go home, love your family, and take care of business! Your first mission field is under your roof. What makes you think they’ll believe you overseas if they don’t believe you across the hall?

But Max, I’m ready to do great things for God. Good, do them at work. Be a good employee. Show up on time with a good attitude. Don’t complain or grumble. Do as Colossians 3:23 says, “Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.”

~Max Lucado

No greater gift than Him who gave His life in exchange for ours!

Luke 19:10 says, “The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”

 “He did not come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many people.” Mark 10:45

Timmy

We had a wonderful test result yesterday from Timmy's cancer Doctor his PSA is really low from 6.5 about 18 months ago to .04 today!

God is good!

Today I am having a lunch meeting with Mary Boyer to set up our Widows Ministry at Church and I am looking forward to it with her help and expertise :)

Be blessed in His love!

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

 Live in His peace which He willingly gives to ALL who call on His name!

Be blessed and be a blessing to others..

~Mac Lucado

How long has it been since you let God have you? I mean really have you? How long since you gave him a portion of undiluted, uninterrupted time listening for his voice?

Apparently, Jesus did. He made a deliberate effort to spend time with God. Spend much time reading about the listening life of Jesus and a distinct pattern emerges. He spent regular time with God, praying and listening. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Luke tells us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Let me ask the obvious. If Jesus, the Son of God, the sinless Savior of humankind, thought it worthwhile to clear his calendar to pray, wouldn’t we be wise to do the same?

From Just Like Jesus