Simple Reminders

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 160: Today, I am grateful for simple reminders. 

I love reminders. I do not see them as nagging. I set many alarms throughout the week so that I remember important things from appointments to plugging in devices to recharge that I only use once a month. Reminders help us avoid embarrassment and negative outcomes. I have documents that are nothing but reminders. 

Post-it notes offer visual reminders. I put them on my phone, on my computer monitors, and in my lunch bag. There are days I hang my lunch bag on my door handle as a simple reminder to take it home. 

The kids gave me a jar of color-coded scriptures that are simple reminders from His Word when I need it most. I keep that little jar close at hand. It is full of simple reminders. 

A simple reminder can be a game changer. 

My daily verse is a simple reminder about a big picture. This was today's:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." -Matthew 7:13-14

It reminds me that we do not serve Santa Claus. We serve a mighty, just, and holy God. His ways are not always easy, but they are good. The world is full of illness, loss, and seasons that are discouraging and hard. On occasion, an old familiar passage hits me in a new way. Today is one of those days. 

"For the gate is narrow"  ... narrow but not "too" narrow. Narrow enough to give clear guidance, but not too wide so we get lost. 

"and the way is hard" ... hard, but not "too hard." We can do it. The Holy Spirit guides us. Jesus is our advocate before the Father. The Father longs to comfort, shield, and protect the ones He loves. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. We need simple reminders. 

Today, I am grateful for simple reminders. 

Sure Footing

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 159: Today, I am grateful for sure footing. 

To stumble is not only embarrassing, it can lead to falls. What is humbling in youth can be dangerous to us as we age. 

Sure footing allows us to be confident at any age, from toddlers learning to walk to those who rely on a cane. The terrain does not have to be perfect to be "safe" if we have the right shoes or support. 

Falls happen when precautions are neglected or forgotten. Wise shoe choices make a difference, too. 

"God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." -Habakkuk 3:19

When our steps are unsteady or unsure, we can lean into His strength. In fact, we do not have to wait until we are in trouble. It is preferable to let Him lead and not wait until we find ourselves in trouble or losing our balance. Our human nature is prone to fight for control of things that are truly out of our hands. We can choose the right shoes. 

His strength. His lead. His path. We can not be sure of the future, but we can be sure of His faithfulness on the journey. 

Today, I am grateful for sure footing. 

His Majesty

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 158: Today, I am grateful for reminders of His majesty. 

The miracle and wonder of creation are recognized in this passage:

"Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God." -Psalm 90:2

We are so easily caught up in the chaos of our busy days that it is easy to forget the miracle of it all. God's design is perfect. The placement of the Earth in her orbit around the sun is perfect. Just the right distance to sustain life as we know it. 

Our air was designed for our lungs... and our lungs for this air. We breathe in and breathe out effortlessly without giving it a second thought on most days. There are abundant blessings on the most ordinary days. 

The nests are bursting with new life. The squirrels are chattering up a storm. Bees are buzzing. Seedlings are sprouting. My zinnias are getting a little bigger. We have one green tomato on the vine. We had a little bit of rain and possibly more to come. His majestic design is good.  

Take it in. Take a picture. Savor the small delights. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders of His majesty. 

Tips On Loving Well

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 157: Today, I am grateful for tips on loving well. 

June is a popular month for weddings. After Memorial Day weekend is history, June provides popular wedding date options. 

I saw this image on Pinterest and thought it was a beautiful capture of ways to love well. The fact that they are rooted in scripture is perfect. 

Love has moments that sparkle and shine, but it endures in the daily decisions that say, "I choose you." on repeat... every single day. 

When I opened my "Scripture of the Day" it was the  perfect scripture to sum it all up. When we allow Christ to make His home in our hearts, it changes everything. 

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." -Ephesians 3:17-19

Let your love be deeply rooted. 

Today, I am grateful for tips on loving well. 

The Power of Encouragement

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 155: Today, I am grateful for the power of encouragement. 

"Encouragement is oxygen for the soul." -John C. Maxwell

What a great quote. It holds a simple but deep truth about the power of encouragement. When someone wants to give up or quit, encouragement can recharge someone's emotional battery so they can press on and into the challenge.  

Encouragement must be sincere to make an impact. A good friend often says, "Muscle only grows in the presence of resistance." It can be exhausting and painful, but it is true. The push back can lead to re-evaluation and the "how might I do that better?" It is a good way to grow. 

The gardener evaluates the soil, the fertilizer, and the amount of watering when looking for the best harvest. Not every a plant has the same needs. My Sister-in-Love, Jennifer, always jokes about being plant hospice. There is only one to go but up in that scenario. The best success starts small and builds. 

The world is full of books on "self-talk." The problem with self-talk is that it is easy to lie to ourselves. An encouraging word from someone else is a game changer. We do not go from failure to success in a heartbeat. There is work in-between. Encouragers point out the growth in progress and celebrate the increments. It is honest.

Coaches do it when building winning teams. Talent is great, but growing together is where the magic happens. Seeing ways to build each other up instead of looking for a "superstar" makes a deep bench. 

 "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Be honest. Be real. Don't miss an opportunity to build each other up. It will, in return, be oxygen for your own soul. 

Today, I am grateful for the power of encouragement. 

Summer Festivals

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 155: Today, I am grateful for summer festivals. 

There is one nearly every weekend. The Tremont Turkey Festival (June 11th -14th) is only a week away.

 Tremont, IL, reminds me of the community I grew up in. Small but mighty. Families are deeply rooted in the community. People come and stay. They festival is known for the turkey and the strawberry shortcake.  We always see friends working at the event. It has a craft/vendor fair, bed races, lemon shake-ups, and music. 

One of the best things is seeking the rich sense of community that abounds. In small towns, many are related. Others have generations of roots and memories. The summer festivals are a part of the heartbeat of the communities who come together every year to embrace summer. 

Turkeys, Strawberries (Elmwood this weekend), Hot Air Balloons (new in Pekin this year), and Washington, IL,  has already celebrated Good Neighbor Days. There is something for everyone. 

It is not a "festival" but Friday Night kicks off the "Groove in the Garden" Concert series at our Morton Public Library. One of our favorite bands is first up this year, "Cousin Eddie." It feels like a party every Friday at 6:30 P.M.. There is usually dancing and food trucks for dinner. 

The need to pause and celebrate is a part of being human. It is good for the soul. 

"So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them." -Nehemiah 8:12

Love the place where you live. Love your neighbors. Experience the joys of summer festivals. 

Today, I am grateful for community festivals. 

Summer Potato Salads

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 154: Today, I am grateful for summer potato salads. 

Summer picnics, church, and family gatherings are a showcase for potato salads. Everyone has a twist to the family recipe. Potatoes are inexpensive and a big batch does not break the grocery budget. Leftovers are welcome, but rare. (These recipes were posted on Pinterest.) The Spicy Potato Salad looks good to me. 

The recipe I long for is the one from the landmark Hofbrau House in Peoria, which is now closed. It was an authentic warm German Potato Salad. It was likely a recipe handed down through the generations. It was somehow light with vinegar, bacon, and green onion.

There is a special delight that comes from setting a table with ample choices, a variety of flavors and plenty to share. It is a rich part of our USA summer celebrations. Feeding our families, neighbors, and friends builds community. 

There was much hunger in the early days of this country. The land provided new challenges. Weather has always been a challenge to those who need to grow food. Any season of abundance was a blessing, but many times there was barely enough. Hunger was not a stranger. Learning to make a little into much was a challenge in many kitchens, but there was joy when it was accomplished. 

"Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor." -Proverbs 22:9

 Today, I am grateful for summer potato salads.