Be Still and Know....

The knowing isn’t the hard part. It’s the “be still” part that gets me every time. I’ve got things to do on my “to-do” list. There is a mound of laundry. The kitchen needs a once over. The bathroom needs to be cleaned. The kids need something. My mother needs something. I’m being pulled in multiple directions. How can I possibly “ be still.” In order to “be still,” you have to make a deliberate effort to give God time. You have to give God time to be acknowledged, to be praised, and to speak. When we are still, we can hear God. We can acknowledge the small still voice that says, “rest in me.” We can cry out because we can’t do everything in our own strength. When we are still, we can have peace with things being undone. We can know that God will never put more on us than we can bear. Most of know that we can cast our cares on God, but we aren’t still enough to hear the encouragement. We miss the peace of God when we aren’t still. Mute the distractions around you and focus. Be still and know….I am God.

Righteous

The government has been partially shut down for thirty- four days and counting. The effects of this shutdown will have residual shockwaves for years to come. People are being forced into free labor. Hard decisions are being made while bills continue to mount up. There are glimmers of hope and humanity popping up through sponsored meals and food drives, but our government has to do better. My faith says, “ God is in control.” My heart says, “Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Sometimes, we have to remind ourselves that no matter what it looks like, we are not forsaken.

The Issue of How

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this special announcement. "It's already done." You don't have to worry about the how or even the when. Trust that nothing has taken God by surprise. We spend time worrying about how this is going to get done or how we are going to get the money for this or when is this going to happen. We spend time majoring in the minors. God never said he would disclose the plan. He said he knows the plan. I'm not saying stop working towards something. I'm saying trust that when you get to the end of yourself know that God is there to fill in the gap. I'm saying that when you get to the end of your resources and connects know that God is a provider. We never have to worry about the issue of how. We have to have faith and know, "it is already done." God never gives a vision without provision. God gives seed to the sower. If he can clothe a flower, clearly he can clothe you and supply all of your needs. Be mindful that you are created in the image of God. He said, "let there be" not "how can there be?" Trust God and don't worry about how. 

Love Works

I facilitated a Lunch and Learn series at my old job based on the book, "Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leadership" by Joel Manby. The principles in this book are based on the biblical principles of love discussed in 1 Corinthians: patience, kindness, trust, unselfishness, truth, forgiveness, and dedication. For eight weeks, we discussed and brainstormed strategies on how to improve the workplace and implement the principles of Love Works. Each week, it became clearer that I worked in a toxic environment with ineffective leadership that had no desire to let love work. How many of us work and live in toxic environments? How many of us refuse to let love work because of fear? I learned that Love Works when you let it. Love Works when you are willing to do the work. Love Works when you let go of fear and doubt and insecurity. Love works when you trust. Love works when you believe that love truly does cover a multitude of sins. Love works when you let love conquer all.