Success
The definition of success is the accomplishment of a purpose. It’s crazy because most people think success is a destination, but it’s literally a process. So, everyday you can celebrate a success. Everyday you accomplish something you set out to do….you have succeeded. You are a success. I know baby steps don’t seem like much, but baby steps will get you further along than no steps at all. Celebrate your daily wins. You cleaned the house. You got dressed. You didn’t cry. You wrote that blog post. You had a date night. They are all wins. Perspective is everything. Stop holding yourself to an unrealistic tally. You are a success. Even if you failed along the way…
Solemn
Many people are looking forward to inauguration day. Travel plans are being made to witness the new president take a solemn oath and be sworn into office. Solemn by definition means to be characterized by dignified or serious formality. It's not something that should be taken lightly. Some of us have taken solemn vows and committed ourselves to things. I want you to be reminded of the ideals you've committed to in your life. I know 2020 has taken us all on a detour, but recommit to the goals you set. Allow your mind to be renewed. Allow your heart to be reset. Broken things can be fixed. Deferred dreams can still be pursued. Try again. Believe again. Love again. Promise yourself to do better. Give yourself permission to heal. Take a solemn oath.
Sovereign
noun
a supreme ruler, especially a monarch.
adjective
possessing supreme or ultimate power
I know the election has taken up most of our time. We have been checking sites to see who the projected winner will be. Some of us have been stressed and even worried about the outcome and the expected fallout. I want to remind you that God is sovereign. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. It doesn't matter how the nation responds. God is in control. I want to remind you that even if campaign promises aren't kept, God is a keeper. I wanted to remind you that if no cure is found, and no vaccine is manufactured…God is a healer. When our life and times seem to be on shaky ground, we have a firm foundation in Christ. Our God is sovereign.
Hear my Cry
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
When was the last time you cried out to God in prayer? I can admit it’s been a while for me…Maybe because I felt like God wasn’t listening. Maybe because I’ve been a little numb. Maybe because I'm waiting on the other shoe to drop. Maybe because 2020 has been the worst. Maybe because I wasn’t ready to learn this lesson or be tested this much. Maybe because I just want it to be over. Maybe because it didn’t go my way and I keep getting blindsided and disappointed. Sound familiar. 2020 is the recipe for disaster that has the potential to finally bring us to our knees. Maybe now we will humble ourselves, pray and turn from our ways. Maybe now we will cry out to God and he will hear our cry.
Have your way
Truthfully, we never had a dog in this fight. We were just choosing the lesser of two evils. Most politicians make promises they never intended to keep. I’ve always held to the belief that I have a civic responsibility to vote to honor my ancestors, but God is in control. Always was. Always has been. Always will be. My prayer has been Lord….have your way…in my life, in my city, my county, my state, and my country. You are still God. You are still a way maker. You are still a keeper. And if we can be perfectly honest, we have been kept under every administration. Have your way Lord….in the Senate, in the House of Representatives, in the Supreme Court, in the White House and my house. Not my will, but yours. Have your way, Lord!
Harvest
I recently visited Fausett Farms in Dawsonville, GA. It's a small sunflower farm tucked behind a creek. There were two sections. One field that was dying and one that was thriving. Sunflowers naturally face the direction of the sun.
It was a gloomy day. So, I expected some of the flowers to not to face the sky. Imagine my surprise when these seven to eight foot flowers were facing the sky as if to say, “I might not see you, but I know you're there.”
How many of us are like that first field? We can’t see God. So, we doubt God. We hang our heads as if we can’t still feel his presence or his rays of sunshine. Same seeds. Same soil. Same sun. Different harvest. What's your harvest look like?
Fall Back
It’s that time of year again. We will set our clocks back and get an extra hour of sleep. As I think back on this year, we've all had to fall back. Things just didn’t go as planned. Life was interrupted. It was like God himself said, “fall back!” All the things that just had to happen, didn’t. Your to do list could wait. Assignments were postponed. Things were delayed. The world had to come to a screeching halt. And guess what? We survived. It wasn't that bad. We spent time at home. We refocused. We get what really matters. So, when you set your clocks back…remind yourself to fall back too.