Puzzled?

We are on vacation this week and a favorite activity for our family is puting together a puzzle.

I am however, not the most adept at it. Here is what my job looks like. Turn the pieces over, find the flat ones for the edges and then group together simliar colors and patterns. After these items are accomplished I begin to feel a little "puzzled". There are so many different shapes and colors and all of a sudden I just want to stop playing this game. You know what I mean? It is similar to the times that I begin a task that seems way to big for me. A diet, a tough converstion, saying no when I want to say yes, cleaning out the junk drawer, or pushing through the tiredness to finish a workout. It is about this time in the puzzle putting together that my husband Kevin, the master puzzler, hands me a piece and says, "try this one". It almost always does. To every 25 that I have tried he has 10. How does he see where the pieces go? I am too overwhelmed by all of the pieces to see clearly.


God in the midst of this puzzle spoke to me.

"Jann, Jann, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one
thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away
from her."

" fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith,"

I can easily become anxious and worried when I am concerned with the big picture. I think about how difficult it will be and am not sure I will know how to do what is necessary. God used this puzzle to remind me that He is the master at creating our life. He is incharge of all of the puzzle pieces and that He will hand us each piece as we fix our eyes on him. He knows what the picture looks like.

How about you?

  • Are you struggling to keep all of the pieces together?

  • Does the big picture leave you feeling overwhelmed?

  • Are you trying to do everything on your own strength?


  • Are you having a tough time taking the first step?

Stop and ask God to help you fix your eyes on Him. Let him direct your steps.


Father,

Thank you for using the puzzle to teach me more about you. Your words are true and speak directly to my heart. Take my life and hand me the puzzle pieces. I promise to put them where you direct me to. I love that you are directing this crazy life and that you see not only my big picture but the big picture.

Jann

Things are a little fuzzy.

FocusImage by phr3qu3ncy via Flickr

I just put in my new contacts. I have never worn glasses and have always been thankful for good vision. Several years ago I started having trouble reading the bible in church. I blamed it on the lighting. I remember telling my husband that they should turn up the lights. Little did I know that it was the age thing creeping in. Now I am not so vain as to think that this couldn't happen to me, but I thought that I would have more time to adjust to it. Like a thief in the night my reading ability slowly has become more and more fuzzy. For awhile I tried the readers and would use them for my own times at home and at church. Then I realized that I couldn't really see the 12pt font that my notes were printed in when I was teaching and that I needed to increase it to 14pt. While teaching I also will refer to my bible and then would have to pull out the reading glasses if I was to read the bible correctly.

Thus began the dance of putting on and taking off the reading glasses. Sometimes I would tire of it and just try to wing it.

I am sure that I read the wrong words and people were just too kind to tell me. After a year of struggling, I had an eye exam and found out that I do need glasses for reading. My distance is just fine it is the reading that requires adjustment. Today is the first day with contact lenses. These are the ones for people like me who don't want to wear glasses and let's face it are to young for bifocals. :) I am still getting used to them. I hope they work because things were just to out of focus with out them.



Jesus has a way of helping us see things more clearly.

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:22-25


Sometimes we need a readjustment in our spiritual lives to begin to see things like Jesus wants us too.

If things appear blurry and you need an adjustment, let the King of Kings, the Great Physician make the adjustments necessary to give you a clear focus.

Father,

Thank you for helping us see where once there was fog. Thank you for giving us clarity and new vision. May my eyes be open, my sight restored and please lord give me the gift of seeing everything clearly.

Jann



Hidden treasures

Last week on a cleaning kick I attacked my garage. I don't know if you are like this, but I get all worked up sometimes about throwing things out and organizing. There is a rush in seeing an unorganized mess become a thing of beauty. My husband in trying to describe this need of mine said that "I was being anal. After I gave him the (I am not sure that you wanted to call me that look) said that I was focused! Much better in my mind.

In the corner of the garage amidst the unwanted items and treasures that have been accumulating I pulled out a box of shoes. There tucked inside each shoe was several unwrapped bite size candy bars. I was so confused. Who had put them there? Each shoe was filled with these tiny treasures. In the next box I found the wrappers. Apparently, a squirrel had hid away their winter food source in our garage. I am so glad that the little fellow didn't decide to jump out at me. Who knows what kind of look I would have given him!


Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy

and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6



The poor squirrel will never see his prized treasures again. I promptly emptied them into the trash. All of his work and clever hiding are empty successes.


Have you ever felt like this?



Where you



  • Planned and programmed

  • Watered and watched


  • Saved and simplified


  • Worked and waited


  • Treasured and trusted


  • Agonized and argued

Only to realize that what you had hoped for wasn't going to happen?


but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven


What does that mean?


Put your energy into what Jesus says is important.


Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30


Father,


How often am I like the squirrel hiding away my treasures and putting my trust into things that will soon disappear. Change my heart to be focused on what matters. Increase my love for you and you and for your kingdom.


Jann



Advice.....

To-do list book.Image by koalazymonkey via Flickr

A friend asked me yesterday what advice I would give to someone who was 20 years younger. After I was insulted to think that anyone would be 20 years younger I really liked the question.

What are the important things that I would tell someone?

The following are the first things that came to mind. Some have a spiritual reference and others well, they are lessons that I learned along the way.

  • Follow hard after God. Make Him first. "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:26
  • Develop your prayer life. Learn to Abide in Christ. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'"John 15:5
  • Pray without ceasing. Pray for and with others.
  • Do what God tells you to do the first time! "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words." Proverbs 4:20
  • Ask God for Directions. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. " Psalm 32:8
  • Enjoy your health. Take good care of your body. I Corinthians 6:19
  • Develop your gifts. If you don't know what they are, find out and ask God if you can begin to use them. I Corinthians 12
  • Passionately serve in the church and in the community.
  • Remember that ministry is a lifestyle. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11
  • Say you are sorry. Make the decision to not do it again. "Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again." Job 34:32
  • Go on Mission trips. Romans 10:14-15
  • Find a mentor. Someone who will listen and challenge you.
  • Be a mentor. Pass on the the things God has taught you.
  • Commit to a small group. Hebrews 10:24
  • Enjoy your parents. Have fun together. I Timothy 5:4
  • Go to school- Don't wait.
  • Don't worry about the small stuff. Give it to God and move on. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. "Psalm 139:23
  • Learn to read and apply God's word daily. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2Timothy 3:16
  • Watch older Christian couples. How they relate to each other, parent their children and serve.. You can learn alot!
  • Say thank you. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

These challenge me even today. I wonder what I would be like if had started all of these twenty years ago? Still, I praise God that he has taught me the importance of this list and more.

What would be on your list?

Father,

I am humbled by your reminders of trusting you each day. thank you for always teaching, always guiding, always loving. Forgive me for being such a slow learner. I pray that the next 20 years will be spent serving and abiding in you. Help me to reflect you today.

Jann

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Our dog got skunked!

Striped skunkImage via Wikipedia

Spunky our energetic Chow and Australian shepherd mix was sprayed by a skunk last night.
Now before you feel too bad for her know that this has happened before.
The first time,we were unaware of her adventure with a skunk and she came running into the house trying to find some relief from the horrible smell and taste of skunk. As we watched the skunk vapor rise from our walkout basement to the main floor of our home we knew that this was going to be trouble. All Spunky knew was that she needed to rub herself on anything that she could. Furniture, carpet, beds and me. Everything and everyone smelled of this skunk. Even the closets that were undisturbed reeked of skunk for months. We did the typical wash the dog activity and even found a recipe of liquid soap, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide that gave her and us some relief. After this episode we thought that she would leave the little black and white creature alone.

That's what we thought until last night!

At 9:45pm we smelled that defining fragrance and looked out into the backyard to find Spunky rolling in the grass trying desperately to rid herself of Skunk. We having learned from the last time, did not let her in the house and completed the washing cycle outside.

Why didn't she remember the last time? Or did she remember and choose to go after it anyway? Did she know what the consequences could be and take a gamble?

I can be so similar to this. I know what can happen if I give in to a bad habit or sin. Over and over again I repeat the same thing. I don't always think through my actions before I do them or learn from my mistakes. I often have to live with the Skunk smell of my actions.

How about you? Have you been skunked recently? Have your choices resulted in some difficult consequences?

Praise God that he is able to set us free from ourselves!

God's word says that Christ would make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:26-27

All we need to do is to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Father,
Cleanse me from my sin and I shall be clean. Purify me from all of my skunky smells and wash me. Cause me to remember the consequences of my actions so that I don't repeat them. Thank you for loving and forgiving this often forgetful child.
Jann
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Entangled?

I cleaned out my closet and drawers today.

My ClosetImage by kian esquire via Flickr

How in the world did I accumulate so much stuff?
There were seriously things from years ago that I have been holding on to just in case I needed them. When am I gonna wear the nice little Hawaiian dress that I bought at Honolulu Hatties? I found a whole flock of tank tops that had shrunk and were too short for me. Why are they in my drawer? I never wear them. Every time I try to wear them, I quickly take them off because they look like I am trying to wear a 6 year old's shirt. Next I moved onto the sock and underwear drawers. Is there a sock monster that takes just one sock? Enough said.


Drawers and closet are happily completed. I am happy to say that it looks clean and organized. Three garbage bags later! Next I want to tackle the garage!

God always speaks to me through daily life. The lesson that came today is that it is good to get rid of the things that entangle us. Possessions can easily entangle me.

"let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Father, there are many people who only have one shirt and I have many. Teach me to live in this world and yet remember that it is not everything. You alone can fulfill my needs. Fill me with contentment for what you have given me and not to desire more. Lead me into a deeper understanding of this today.

Thank you for all of your provision.

Jann


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belt malfunctionImage by Malingering via Flickr

I was at the mall this weekend waiting for a movie. I did what comes so naturally, and people watched. The first person I saw was a teenage boy. He was carrying a tray of Chinese food with one hand and holding onto his falling pants with the other. I giggled! Out loud! He was waddling, the pants were at his thighs and he just kept on strutting.
Does he think that he looks good?
Who told him that?
Wow!

Now before you judge me too harshly, I too have fallen into the trap of thinking that something looked good when it didn't. Anybody remember the poofy bangs? The permed hair? The leggings with scrunchy socks? Yep I have tried them all!
Why do we do this? Are trying to conform to what is in style? Yes!

Scripture tells us in Romans 12

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Fads will come and go, but God and his perfect will is eternal.

Where do you fall on this scale? 1=Never 10=Always
  • Whatever is popular is what I gravitate towards.
  • I will change my plans based upon what my friends say
  • The media influences what I spend my money on
  • When making decisions I consult the bible
  • When making decisions I consult my friends
  • I pray before I make a decision.

How did you do? Small changes can have a big impact. Ask God to help you focus more on what He wants then on what you want.

Father,

I confess to you that I have many desires for things that I haven't discussed with you. I lay them at your feet. Give me an eternal mindset, one that thinks about what your word says about possessions. Show me what you want me to have, to be to do each day. I choose to follow you today. ReNew my mind. Help me to ReFlect you. Thanks for not giggling at me too much. I love you.

Jann


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