60 SECOND LAINE-TACKLE MONSTER

My desk is a mess. My thoughts kind of scrambled. The decorations from Christmas beckoning to be put away.

It's a monster of a decision. Tackle monster-determined effort to deal with difficult task/tasks.

I know what I will start my day with.

Jesus.
Waiting patiently for my soul to awaken and my mind to be quieted.

My friend before bed last night texted me. She has cancer. Her body is aching.
Oh Lord, you promise you are with my friend, she loves you. She is your child. Lord I ask now that you take the pain. 
I stumbled on this, "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up a shield and armor; arise and come to my aid."
Lord, does this count for cancer, the enemy of the body?
Lord, contend, with that cancer for my friend; fight against the cancer and pain that wages war against my friend. Take up a shield and armor; arise and come to her aid." 
Lord help. Thank you for contending. Thank you for your word. Blessed be your name.

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. The Psalmist always ends with thanksgiving and praising. (Pray for someone, inserting their name above).

A cardinal just appeared in front of my face in the window. It is going to be okay. Amen 

Go tackle the monster/monsters!

60 SECOND LAINE-DOWN TIME

"Let Down"

Feeling disappointed.

Disappointed the days we were looking so forward to; is done.

The day after Christmas it begins.

Friends, family return to their homes.

Underneath the tree is empty. The stockings are down. Actually it is time to take the decorations all down. It's a down time. Down time does not have to be sad time. 

"Down Time"

Rest.

Peace.

Mindfulness.

Self-care.

Self-love.

Gratefulness.

Dr. Suess had a great saying, "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."

The Psalmist wrote, "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God-soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God (Ps. 42:11).

Look closely. Think about the gifts each day brings. 

This white board and the words are a gift from my husband.

My warm house is a gift.

Sitting having a cup of coffee is a gift. 

Make your list each day. Being grateful will help the blues disappear.

One day at time.

Can you hold out your hands and give the "Let Down" to God and ask Him to help you see this time is "Down Time". 

Prayer:  Help me to make a list of things to be grateful for. Help me see them as gifts from you. Help me to find value in this down time. Amen.

Down time is not sad time at all. It is time practice gratefulness.

60 SECOND LAINE-NATURE NUTURES

LORD I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. I wrote that in my journal. It was my prayer.

I was sitting on the second floor at a desk right at the window.

I heard a chirp out my window and I looked up to see 10 very bright cardinals flying in and out of the tree. They flew in my backyard. It went on for sometime. Enough time that my daughter and husband joined me for the glorious view.

I wish I could have captured the whole thing for you. There were so many male and female cardinals.

Lord what does it mean?

I can't explain it, but I can say that it the moment I felt warm and fuzzy. Like this wasn't just a normal thing that happens. I felt loved!
It went on for minutes. Cardinal flying back and forth between two trees. I just could not believe it.

It popped in my head.
God feeds and takes care of the birds. Then I heard "I got your back, how more valuable you are to me." I am valuable to God. We all need to hear that. I hope you have enough courage to want to be valued by God. His value is amazing, unlike any you would get from anyone.

This is the kind of nurturing we were created to receive.

In the song Great is Thy Faithfulness the lyrics state "Join with all nature in manifold witness." We are part of Gods plan to be loved and love others. When we feel loved and we understand His love, we can extend love. It's part of greater plan.

Paul wrote "Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see."

What are we able to see. God designed us to be nurtured and He nurtures us be revealing himself to us.

In the moment "Nature Nurtures." How amazing!

Prayer:  Help me to see and hear. Amen.

I don't know how He will do it for you, but His divine nature wants to nurture you.

Connect.
Expect.

60 SECOND LAINE- NEXT STEPS

Unsettled, trepidation is how the adult students felt in the classroom. They were asking themselves how they were going to go back to school at this point in their lives. What will these next years look like? They all felt like running back to the known.

Isn't that how the shepherds felt, Joseph the one betrothed to Mary, and the wise men.

Sometimes in life we want the change but when it's really happening we think, wait, maybe the known is better.

If we stop and let the truth seep in. Let the truth be first in our mind. Give it permission to speak. Push every other thought away and just say NO! Stop!

What would we hear?

The one who calls us, who loves us, who wants us to have peace could finally speak. He can have a word with you. 

We look for peace, yet, when it knocks at the door of our heart we don't open the door. We shut it out. We close the voice out. We distract ourselves. We run. 

"For I know the plans I have for you."says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. 

Let me in...I love you...I created you..I have your back...I  have your best interest. -Jesus-

Prayer:  Lord help me to trust you with my life. Amen.

60 SECOND LAINE-WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

Wonderful Counselor


Have you ever had a someone give you bad advice. I am pretty sure you would all answer, YES!
This Christmas think on this.

Unwrap this gift:

WONDERFUL.
Amazing
Delighful
Pleasing
Great
Brilliant
Perfect
COUNSELOR!

Seek Him first! If you seek Him like you seek silver and gold, then you will have the wisdom and understanding of God.

Pray: Father come into my life. Humbly I come to you for understanding.

Trust in the Lord.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him.
For He will make your path.

60 SECOND LAINE-DISTRESS SIGNAL

As she lay there in her hospital bed wondering what just happened.

She was having a great family day and then it happened.

Their van full of family, they were struck by a drunk driver.

In that moment, my friend didn't know what we know now. 

Surgery and rehab would continue for 6 months.

Distress!

He had a stroke! Next day, he leaves this earth!

Distress!

Jesus said to His disciples we will go up to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover meal, one of you will betray me and I will suffer a criminals death, I will be crucified.

Distress!

I was having a serenity day. Everything seemed perfect. Drive to the beach, nice long walk. Lunch in a southern shanty. Bamm! A car raced out of a parking lot, right into my car.

Distress!

The woman in the crowd was just wondering, if only I can touch His cloak and then I will be healed. The suffering has continued 12 years.

Distress!

Send out the signal. We are hurting! It is everywhere. Pain, illness, lack of funds, lack of work!

Why, Lord why? You know everything Lord. Yet there at times is no warning!

Drop the why. Send out a signal. Summon some aid.

Jesus said in the garden (that fateful day) PRAY. HE said it three times. Pray. He warned the disciples yet their human reaction was what appears to be depression. They kept falling asleep. Curl up in bed, give into fear and distress. We feel as if we can't go on. We don't get it. 

Jesus...Remember. Remember what I have built within you. You will have pain. But I am here to help you. I warned the Faith Fathers, this side of heaven there will be no perfection. 

But be warned He said I am here, I remain in you if you remain with me. Trust me. 

Death did not hold me down.

I am bigger even than death.

I will shake up the earth.

You will survive.

You will find rest.

You will find peace.

I will walk with you.

I will never let go.

Amen and Amen again.

DO NOT BE DISTRESSED. I have given you all you need. Walk. Walk and learn from me.

PRAY:  Father I don't see this distress leaving but I will trust you. Teach me Oh Father, do what you can do. Only what you can do. Power from with on high.Amen.

60 SECOND LAINE- DODGEBALL

Is your desk cluttered, therefore, it's hard to concentrate?
Sometimes thoughts are cluttered and it's hard to concentrate.

I discovered that if you clear your desk and work one thing out at a time it is much easier. List people say one thing at a time marked off the list feels good.

Our mind operates the same, if we have a lot going on (Christmas prep) it's best to keep a constant list going. Talking out loud to myself, right now! It's suppose to reduce stress.

Some days it feels as if there is a dodgeball game going on around me. Picture each ball having a title of what you should be doing next and they are all hitting you at once. Dodgeball, can be brutal. It's hard to get out of the way and avoid the balls hitting you all at once.

I am reminded today that God takes our cares, if we are willing to give them to him. Are we willing?

Pray:  God help me fight the temptation that everything urgently needs to be done. Can you help me prioritize my to-do list. Help me to focus on you first. Amen.

What helps you to focus on Him first? Music, repeating a hope filled verse. Talking to a friend.

The reason I bring this up is because if we don't take care of the stress it surely will take care of us and I mean that in a bad way.

Finding a socially intelligent way of coping is better. We live in a world where we are being given so many helpful hints to cope and reduce stress.

Praying constantly for help for strategies is the answer, it causes the awareness needed and the result is a calming effect.

Try it, you will like it! Your family, co-workers, friends will really like it.