God doesn't need us to stress in order to bless.

We do not make God more generous by striving. Ask Him for daily bread, then rest in the knowledge that He fully intends to give it.

“It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Ps.127 Conversations Within ts 10/22/2023

“Forgiveness changes the way we remember.” Henri Nouwen

Forgiveness is a powerful grace, and God works it in us. If we would heal our hurts, take this step of faith and speak the words, “I forgive you!” Repeat them to your heart until they peacefully take root in your soul.

“Forgive and it will be forgiven you.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/22/2023

“I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.” Meme

I read some of the reflections I have written through the years, and realize that I have not yet matured into the person I want to be. My life does not match up to what I have written. Alas, the changes I do enjoy, encourage me to press on.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “ Phil.3.14 Conversations Within ts 10/21/2023

Be happy!

How great to live under the sunshine of our happy God. Yep! God is said to be happy, and it is His kind intention that we follow Him into that happiness. It took me years to realize that God’s glory is His value, and His value lies in His enjoyment, and all He desires to be for us in it.

 “the good news of the glory of the happy God” 1Tim.1.11 Conversations Within ts 10/20/2023

”Take a step back. Clear your mind. Refresh your perspective.” Meme

The ability to think clearly is a wise skill to nurture. It sometimes involves ignoring emotions, and focusing on what needs to be accomplished. It means working your problems without letting them work you.

“Be sober minded…” 1Pet. Conversations Within ts 10/19/2023

Embrace the joy of now.

Bathe in the moment. Dip your soul in its refreshing water. Feel the warmth of the sun, the wind caressing your face. God grants not only our senses to experience these wonders, He invites us to awake and remain in them.

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Conversations Within ts 10/17/2023

Keep at it.

The keep at it nature of love is witnessed every morning when the sun rises on our messed up planet. Everyday people fail to live as we should, but God just keeps on loving us. So should we.

“His mercies are new every morning.” Conversations Within ts 10/16/2023

“I hate it when I mean to buy seedless grapes, but instead I accidentally get…well you know…Oreos.”

 I am consistently inconsistent. I contradict what I aspire to be, and do not follow through on my good intentions. What is there to do but live with myself, and hope in God’s precious mercies. His grace greets me every morning. Keep at it!

“Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom.7 Conversations Within ts 10/17/2023

Forever love!

Ever hear someone say,” I don’t love you anymore.” I suppose this is possible if we are speaking of an emotional love rather than Christian love. It is the very nature of true love to continue. Love always loves, and in a very real sense this means that love is eternal. The love that people fall out of is not Christian love. We never grow out of true love, only deeper into it.

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” Conversations Within ts 10/15/2023

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor. Charles Dickens

I have deep admiration for people who can laugh in the face of pain, injury or danger and enjoy themselves no matter what the circumstances. It is a grace like no other to be able to keep a twinkle in your eye even when you have dust blowing in it.

“A merry heart does good like medicine.” Prov.17.22 Conversations Within ts 10/12/2023

“Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Mother Teresa

Encouragement is a powerful grace. We can give it to others. We can give it to ourselves. Often, we must encourage ourselves before we can offer it to someone else. Learn how to speak truth to your own heart, and its fruit can be an overflowing spring of refreshment to others.

“...encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Conversations Within ts 10/11/2023

“The freedom to make my own mistakes was all I ever wanted.” Mance Rayder

I value my freedom. Evidently God does too. There can be no love between us without it. It is true that I have the freedom not to love Him, but I cannot choose to love Him without His grace. In my fallen state, grace is the only enabling power that sustains any decision to love.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” John Conversations Within ts 10/10/2023

”I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Mahatma Gandhi

I am a Christian, but I think, say and do unchristian things. That is of course why I became a Christian. I need the patient forgiveness that Jesus offers. It is also clear that I need His transforming grace to experience life as He intends.

“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1Jo.2.6 Conversations Within ts 10/9/2023

The movies.

My wife and I often do an internet search on the cast when watching a movie. It is of note what some searches will say. After someone passes, we stop talking about them in the present tense. We say things like he or she was a good actor or they were a good father or mother. But truly, each of them are not a “was,” they are still an “is.” They simply transitioned somewhere else. There is more to this life than just this life.

“I am confident to say that to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” The Apostle Paul. Conversations Within ts 10/6/2023

Camping buddies

I recently traveled to attend a celebration of life service for a buddy who a short time ago left this life's campground. Our families have camped together for several decades. As much as I enjoy camping, I look forward to home and seeing my friend and family again. My hope is their reality.

“I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am, you will be also.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/5/2023

"Prayer is how we press our hands into the invisible and find the hand of Christ reaching back." James K. A. Smith

 We are told a number of times in the Scriptures that Jesus prays for us. That is a big wow when I think about it. He encourages me to pray, but there are times when I do not know what to say to Him. I am OK with that, because He knows even when I can’t find the words.

“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. “ Conversations Within ts 10/4/2023

”If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” Meme

I realize that I am the cause of most of my struggles. But, my foolhardiness is not greater than God’s watchful care. I find comfort knowing that if I hold the hand of children who need guidance and protection, how much more will my Father in Heaven hold my hand when I cross a dangerous intersection.

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” Ps.72 Conversations Within ts 10/3/2023

“Pet peeves should be kept on a leash.” Daniel Thompson

We all have those irritable irritables that tempt us to spill our beans. It is better for everyone if we keep them to ourselves. If we want to promote peace in ourselves and others we need to heel our pet peeves.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” Jesus Conversations Within ts 10/2/2023

“You can tell a lot about a person’s character by what they laugh about.” Unknown

I come up short. I want to be like Jesus, but I’m not. I think about some of the things I have thought about and come face to face with how desperately I need the grace of Jesus. The poem written by C.S. Lewis says it well.

“Lord, hear my voice, my present voice I mean,

Not that which may be speaking an hour hence

(For I am Legion) in an opposite sense

And not by show of hands decide between

The multiple factions which my state has seen

Or will see. Condescend to the pretense

That what speaks now is I; in its defense,

Dissolve my parliament and intervene.”

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within ts 10/1/2023

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.” John Lennon

I remind myself most days to see life as it is, and to be practical in my approach to it. Because I am a believer, I also remind myself of the spiritual realities under it all. My life is far more than just the physical. I would go so far as to say that the spiritual dynamic doesn’t just transcend but supersedes our physical reality. This is why someone can be physically poor but spiritually rich.

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” 1Cor.2.13 Conversations Within ts 9/30/2023

“Live your life and forget your age.”

There are a number of sayings about age: “Act your age.” “Age is just a number.” “A ripe old age.” I have certainly made adjustments as I get older, not just how and what I do, but in my attitude about it all. What is the passage of time to one who will live forever. This day touches eternity. I will be there, so let me be here.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2Cor.4.16 Conversations Within ts 9/28/2023

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Donna Roberts

As age began to take my dad, he asked me one day, and with concern, what would happen if He forgot the Lord. Mental decline stalks us all. I assured him as I assure myself from time to time, that God will never forget his children.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.” 2Tim.2.13 Conversations Within ts 9/28/2023

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar

 The true benefit of doing certain things is only realized when they are performed every day. I call them the daily dailies. Reading, writing, reflecting, and praying bring so much value to my life. Choosing to aggressively love others, to live wholeheartedly and practice giving thanks have all enriched my life.

“Keep in step with the Spirit.” Conversations Within ts 9/27/2023

“At the end of each day, you should play back the tapes of your performance. The results should either applaud you or prod you.” Jim Rohn

I am learning the value of playing back some of the things I have said and done. Listening to myself does not always paint a picture of the kind of person I want to be. I woke up the other day in review, and realized that I could have chosen a better response to something that happened the day before.

“Be quick to hear and slow to speak.” James Conversations Within ts 9/25/2023

A grateful heart creates its own sunshine.

We sing about “Rainy days and Mondays.” Dark days come to all who share life in this place, but darkness matters little if you carry your own light. Give thanks for the spiritual realities that greets us every day. 

“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.” Ps. 89.15 Conversations Within ts 9/25/2023

Love Doesn’t Keep Score

Love is committed to crossing the finish line with someone, rather than ahead of them.

“Love keeps no record of wrongs.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within ts 9/24/2023

“Stars become visible at night and God becomes visible with faith.” Henry Longfellow

I cannot see my soul, just its reflections appearing behind my cursor. I cannot see the air, just the rising and falling of my chest. I cannot see the wind, just its passage through forest trees. I cannot see God, just His love and goodness in answer to my prayers. All that is invisible certainly spills over into the visible.

“We walk by faith, not by sight.” Paul the Apostle Conversations Within ts 9/23/2023