Go Outside!

The official first day of Spring is this week, so hopefully, consistent warmer weather will be here soon. Along with the change in weather, Spring usually brings a sense of new beginnings and growth. There’s just something refreshing about this season.

Like bears hibernating in Winter, Spring presents a wonderful opportunity for us to get out of our “caves.” God created a beautiful, amazing world for us to enjoy. I believe experiencing God’s creation first-hand encourages us to praise God and understand just how magnificent He is. It’s impossible to feel like God’s equal when you see yourself in comparison to His works.

Psalm 104:24 - Oh Lord, how manifold are you works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Being outside also has health benefits, both physical and mental. Just being outside on a sunny day can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and improve sleep. Slowing down to enjoy the sounds and smells of nature is therapeutic to fight anxiety and stress and boost creativity. Best of all, sunshine and fresh air are a free gift from God!

All people, young and old, can benefit from being outside. I’ve listed ten inexpensive or free suggestions for you to try this Spring. Whichever ones you choose, remember to take time to thank God for His stunning creation.

10 Outdoor Activities

1. Picnic in a local park

2. Hike a nature trail

3. Create a flower bed or a vignette with pots

4. Visit a historic battle field or reserve

5. Walk around your neighborhood

6. Read a book on your back porch

7. Enjoy coffee at a cafe with outdoor seating

8. Take a stroll at an outdoor shopping center

9. Check out a local farmer’s market

10. Take a bike ride

So what outdoor activities do you enjoy? Share your favorites in the comments! Let’s encourage each other to go outside!

Kickstart Your Spring Cleaning

Whenever Spring comes, it just feels like it’s time for a refresh! With everything going on in life, it can be difficult to get motivated when it comes to Spring cleaning. But in the end, it’s so helpful to clean up the home and get things in order again.

There are a few ways to kickstart your spring cleaning this year that we think you should know.

Get Motivated

To get motivated about Spring cleaning, you have to think of your why. Why do you want to do Spring cleaning? Is it because you want your household back in order? Is it because you need to get rid of things? Or maybe it’s just been a long time since you’ve done a good cleaning!

Whatever the why is, remind yourself of it and this will motivate you.

Include the Family

There’s no need to take on this task on your own! Be sure to make a good list of what needs to be done for your Spring cleaning and share that list with your family. If they don’t know, they can’t help!

Maybe have each person put their name next to tasks on the list in different colors. Set a date to finish all of the Spring cleaning tasks and then be sure to have a celebration at the end! You deserve to celebrate together after all of your hard work.

Declutter

One of the main ways to get things back in order is to just declutter. Many times our mess isn’t necessarily dirty, it’s just a bunch of stuff. Gather together things like clothes, papers, toys, etc. and put them into categories in each room. Figure out what you need and what you don’t need.

Get Rid of It

After you declutter, you may want to get rid of a bunch of things! When in doubt, you probably don’t need it, so just get rid of it! If you haven’t seen Tidying Up on Netflix yet you won’t fully understand this concept, but the host always says that if the item doesn’t “spark joy” for you, then it’s time to say goodbye!

Did you know that Crossroads has a thrift store? Any items that you’re saying goodbye to can be donated to reNew Thrift!

Organize

AFTER you’ve decluttered and gotten rid of things, it’s time to take what you have left and get organized. What is Spring cleaning without some organization? Everything should have a place. Place your items by category and fit them into stylish boxes to keep out or in storage boxes for the closet or garage.

Papers are probably the most annoying to organize. But did you know that you don’t have to hold on to your receipts forever anymore? Click HERE to find a guide from Dave Ramsey on what papers to keep and what papers to shred.

Deep Clean

Now that you’ve got everything in order, it’s time to do your deep clean. This is when the floors get swept, the kitchen and bathrooms scrubbed, etc. After doing all of your decluttering and organizing, this part should be a breeze!

After you finish your Spring cleaning, your home will feel so refreshed! Breathe easy this Spring and just get it over with. Get your home back in order so that you don’t have to stress about going home to a mess.

Find a Spring cleaning checklist HERE!

Equip Me According to Your Word

The start of a new year brings so many mixed emotions. From excitement and anticipation, to renewed hopes and goals, to relief and renewal. So many of us set out to accomplish new goals; long-term and short-term at the start of the year. We quickly jump on the band-wagon of “New Year, New Me” by setting fitness goals, spiritual renewals, and personal mantras.

However, somewhere in between we tend to lose them, the excitement of a fresh start quickly turns into survival mode or worse, disappointment… We start to miss the day-in and day-out excitement that we first had at the beginning of the year.

I noticed this a few years back in my own life so I started approach the New Year differently. What if I chose a word for the year? What if this word could help me accomplish all of those fitness goals, spiritual renewals, and personal mantras I had made? What if this word helped me regain my perspective and helped me refocus?

This past year I chose the word “Equipped: to be supplied with all the necessary equipment.” Setting out at the beginning of 2018, I was not sure what kind of meaning this word would take. You see there have been times in my life where I have not felt prepared, especially in this stage of my life as a twenty-something… As I have read, prayed, and pressed into this word, I now believe that when the Apostle Paul went on to say that may the people be EQUIPPED he meant a resounding blessing not just for them, but for you and me.

I don’t know what kind of load you are carrying. I don’t know what kind of year lies ahead for you or what year you’ve had, but I do know that with whatever happens you can walk into the New year with confidence knowing that you are EQUIPPED to walk through it, that you have been supplied with ALL the necessary equipment to face a new day, to face this new year. Time and time again throughout 2018 this was proven to be true, this word has shown me its meaning in more ways than one.

The words we speak to others and the words we speak to ourselves hold immense power. Throughout scripture we are reminded of the power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. James 3:5 tells us that although our tongues may seem small, our words can speak big things. 

I have not yet settled on a word for 2019, but I am excited and expectant to see how God will use that chosen word to renew my thoughts and revive my spirit. I encourage you to choose a word for the year and see just how it takes on its meaning.

Praying that you would be equipped according to HIS word and would enter 2019 with great joy and a sense of refreshment... Happy New Year, my friends!

5 Ways to Practice Spiritual Disciplines

As we learn what it means to follow Jesus and how to be more like Him, it can be difficult to know how to put it into practice. It’s usually said that we should read our Bible and pray, but what are some more practical ways to connect with God? 

There are effective spiritual disciplines that we can practice that will help us to become the person God has called us to be. The more ways that we connect with Him, the more that we can understand where He is leading us. Sometimes, it can be difficult to hear from God and know how to pursue Him. 

Richard Foster gives a great guide on spiritual disciplines in his book, Celebration of Discipline. Let’s take a look at some of the disciplines that he suggests. These help me so much when I feel like I’m in a “spiritual rut.”

Prayer

We know that we are supposed to pray, but how can we practice prayer? A great way to start is to dedicate a time each day to pray. Grab a journal or turn on some worship music to get focused. If I pray without writing it out, I get distracted, so I usually use a journal to help.

If it’s difficult for you to remember to stop and set aside 30 minutes or so to prayer, set a reminder on your phone and schedule it into your daily activities! It’s okay to schedule prayer. It’s a discipline!

If you need help knowing what to pray about each day, maybe just choose a topic: friends, family, your community, your church, your country, your world…There are so many things that we can pray about! I personally like to start with just telling God about my day and processing life with Him. He speaks so much when we dedicate that time to Him.

Fasting

These days, fasting sounds old school. Fasting seems like something that was done in the Bible and that shouldn’t be a priority today. But fasting is another discipline that we can learn. Again, we are dedicating our time and needs to God. When we dedicate important parts of our lives to Him, it draws us closer to Him, and He speaks in crazy ways!

Fasting may include many different things. Some people fast from foods, others from social media, and even from certain music. For me, I can’t fast from all foods all day because my blood sugar will get all messed up, but I can fast from some foods or other things that I feel may be keeping me from connecting to God more.

What is something that may be keeping YOU from connecting with God? Think about how you could fast from it. 

Solitude

One of the best experiences that I ever had was a particular time when I was assigned to practice solitude. I was attending a Christian leadership program, and every student was asked to spend five hours of solitude in the middle of the woods. We were on a hiking trip, and each one of us got dropped off at a different place, left in the silence of the woods by ourselves. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was honestly not very excited about it! I couldn’t imagine being confined to a certain spot with one book and one journal for five hours. 

Today, I am so happy that I had the opportunity to do that! It was difficult to figure out what to do at first, but as time went on during those five hours, I learned so much about myself and my relationship with God. When you dedicate your time and your focus to God, He doesn’t let that return void.

You may be thinking, “When in the world am I going to find time to have five hours of solitude?” But you don’t have to do five hours! You can do 30 minutes. Give whatever amount you can to dedicate your time and all of your focus to Him. There are always going to be reasons for us to avoid practicing this spiritual discipline, but we should really be carving out time for it regularly.

Simplicity

Practicing the discipline of simplicity means to first focus on the purity of your heart and then live out a lifestyle of simplicity. Without a change of heart and without knowing your identity in Christ, you will really struggle to live the simple lifestyle. Living in simplicity means living without fear and obsession of status. 

In our culture, everything revolves around living a certain lifestyle and upholding that lifestyle. Without the certain looks and the certain nice things, we are frowned upon. Jesus asked us to give things up for Him. It’s easy to try to live up to the standards of our culture and forget about the standards of the Bible.

Celebration

One of the spiritual disciplines that I think we forget about the most is the discipline of celebration. Celebration basically means joy, according to Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline. Don’t the words “celebration” and “joy” make you smile when you think about them and the things in life associated with them? That’s the kind of feeling in your heart that makes you stronger and energized! Why would we not want to feel this way all of the time? That’s why it’s so important to practice thoughts of joy. 

What are some things that you can celebrate right now? A great way to keep track and remind yourself is to write them down. Look at them daily and come back to them when you’re in need of some celebration. In her book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp was dedicated to writing out even the tiniest of things that bring her joy, making a list of 1,000.

Ultimately, when it feels like there’s nothing else to celebrate, as Christians, we always have the celebration of what Jesus has done for us and that God is actively present in our lives! If you’re having trouble seeing that, spend time in one of the other spiritual disciplines to give opportunity for God to speak to you in new ways.

To find all of the spiritual disciplines that Richard Foster talks about, check out his book, Celebration of Discipline! I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is looking to grow spiritually. It is very helpful and gives a great path on how to connect with God in practical ways.

Do You Need to Unplug?

Have you ever planned a trip to get away, relax, refuel and spend time with family only to find yourself and those you have pulled away to spend time with totally immersed in your devices? Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Netflix…the list goes on and on. It’s crazy to look around and see how drawn to our devices we can be. We are “connecting” with everyone except for the people we intentionally brought together to connect with. This is the case far too many times in our lives. 

Don’t get me wrong. It is not bad to check in on friends to see what is going on in their lives. The question is not about good or bad, but is it the best thing we could be doing?  That is the real question. It happens innocently enough. You pop on social while you are waiting for everyone for a quick check. One post leads to another, and you have to watch that video. The next thing you know, it's an hour later when you look up and see your family has arrived, and everyone is looking at their phones. 

Wow. How did we get here? When did these phones become such an important part of our lives? If you don’t think you're attached to your phone, try leaving it at home while you go to work or just out to dinner. Is it just me? The last time I left mine at home, I felt lost without it. I recently ran across some stats that indicate our culture has developed an unhealthy attachment to our phones.

Did you know?

• 84% of cell phone users claim they could not go a single day without their device.
• 67% of cell phone owners check their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.
• Studies indicate some mobile device owners check their devices every 6.5 minutes.
• 88% of U.S. consumers use mobile devices as a second screen even while watching television.
• Almost half of cell owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls.
• Some researchers have begun labeling “cell phone checking” as the new yawn because of its contagious nature." [SOURCE]

Time to Unplug

Recently Tim, my husband, and I decided it was time for a getaway…just the two of us to relax, refuel and spend time together. We were celebrating a milestone in our marriage and wanted to hit the pause button to focus on us. As we started to plan our trip we wanted to get rid of the usual distractions, so we opted for a trip where internet and phone service were scarce. Can I just say that was probably the best decision we made about our trip.  Seriously, more important than where we were going or what we were going to be doing was the decision to completely unplug. We spent five days with no phone. No Facebook, no texts, no emails, no phone calls, no nothing. It was incredible!

Unplug to Reconnect

At first, I would grab my phone to check the weather or google a random question only to find we had no service. Thankfully it didn’t take long to catch on. No one else could demand our attention through a text, phone call or other notification. We were able to focus on our relationship…no interruptions…no distractions…we could simply reconnect, relax and truly unplug. Our relationship is stronger for it.

Even more important than my relationship with Tim is my relationship with God. I need time with God daily that is focused and distraction free. Time when I can read the Bible, pray and reflect. It is a time for God to renew my mind, refocus my priorities, and refuel me spiritually for the day ahead. Our relationship is stronger for it. When is the last time you truly unplugged?

Peace Be Still

“Peace! Be Still!” Read those words again and say them out loud as you do. “Peace! Be Still!”

You may know the story from where these words come, but in case you don’t, Jesus spoke these words when He was trying to calm the nerves of His disciples. The story is found in Mark 4:35-41. The simple version goes like this. Jesus was crossing the sea with his disciples in a boat, and He decided to take a nap. While He was sleeping, a storm came up, and the wind and waves made the disciples fearful and worried. They woke Jesus because they thought they were going to die. Then Jesus stood up and said, “Peace! Be Still!” to the wind and waves! Then all was quiet and calm, and the disciples were amazed that the wind and waves obeyed Him.

As I read this passage recently during my quiet time, the thing that jumped out to me wasn’t Jesus' amazing power over the wind and waves. The thing that jumped out to me was that Jesus could sleep through a storm! I find that impressive. I’m a very light sleeper. I don’t think I could have rested well enough to take a nap in a storm that is bad enough to make you think you’re not going to survive!  

Here is an interesting and worthy observation: the passage says a “windstorm arose and the waves were breaking over the boat,” and the disciples were “amazed because wind and waves obeyed Him”…hmmmmm, I'm thinking…not a coincidence! Jesus was in full command the whole time! There was purpose in the storm!

Isaiah 9:6 tells us that one of the names of Jesus is “Prince of Peace.” Clearly we see the name and character of Jesus on display in this story. In the midst of the storm, He is able to be asleep because He is the Prince of Peace! He commands the wind and waves, not once, but twice, to be silent! He is commanding peace because He is Peace! (Eph. 2:14).

What wind and waves are you currently experiencing that make you wonder if Jesus cares or if He is asleep somewhere?

This summer as you ‘get away’ on vacation, remember that peace is not the absence of conflict or tension. Peace is not your presence under an umbrella on a beach, as nice and relaxing as that is. Peace is the presence of Jesus resting ‘in the boat’ of your heart and mind!  

Say it again slowly…“Peace! Be Still!”

Where Are We Going?

I don’t like driving behind big trucks or really any vehicle that is bigger than mine! I don’t have a complex, I just like to be able to see what’s up ahead, what’s coming my way, and where I’m going. 

Most of the time I just want to know the big picture! If only the Lord would give me a download of the master plan, right?! Truth is, I just want to know if I’m going in the right direction and if I’m doing things right!

I usually take some time off between Christmas and the New Year. This time of year is perfect for spending some time reflecting on the past 365 days to see if “I’ve been doing it right,” and anticipating the next 365 days, so hopefully, I can go in the right direction!

Two healthy spiritual disciplines are looking back and “remembering” (Ps. 78, 105:5) the happenings of the previous year and spending time looking forward (Proverbs 4:25-27). There is a reason why the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror…just sayin'!  

To determine where we are going, we have to know where we are, and where we are is largely determined by where we’ve been! I encourage you to engage in this discipline this week and as you do, here are a few suggestions to help you:

1. “Remember” ‘the works of the Lord’ from the past 365 days.

Write down as many things as you can recall that God did in your life, lessons learned, challenges, and most importantly, blessings!

2. Set some “F.R.E.S.H.” goals.

Write down two or three “where I would like to be” goals in each of the following areas: Family, Relationships; Emotions; Spiritual life, and Health. These will help keep you FRESH as opposed to living tired, stressed, and by pressure vs. priority.

Truth is, most of us wish the Lord would just tell us what His plans are. I have found He doesn't usually work that way nor would it require faith or dependence from me. We are on a journey, and we get to walk with the Lord. He tells us in His Word that He has a plan for our lives, and He will be the one who brings it to pass. He is a good Father, and He knows where we are going! Along the journey, we just have to show wisdom and be good stewards of each day (Psalm 90:12). In so doing, we end up being right where He wants us!! 

Related : "Fogged In" by Robbie Roberts

 

Hungry for God's Word

Do you have a certain food that you absolutely hate? We all have that one thing that it doesn’t matter who brings it to us or what the circumstances are, we are not touching that food. For me, it's most things green. I know what you are thinking, but yes, just about anything green is the worst food ever to me. But no matter how much I hate green foods, once I reach a certain hunger level I'm grabbing whatever I can find. We have all experienced this; the moment when you never would have eaten at that restaurant because of its reputation, or the food you swore you wouldn’t eat because you're trying to be healthier, but because you were hungry, you settled.

The same principal is true for your spiritual life. When you are hungry, you will settle for almost anything. Think about it. When we look back at past regrets, most of them were not made over night. No one wakes up one day and decides to make a decision that will ruin their lives. No, it starts small. Small compromises to go to that place but not partake. Small steps towards settling to just go on a date with that guy, despite his reputation, because after all, it's just a date.

How can we tell though when these moments are coming? Because if it starts small, that means we need to be able to see the small things heading our way. I believe it all begins and ends with God’s word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

This means that when we are focused on what God has to say, it's easier to see when our thoughts and the words from others don’t line up with His truth. All of God’s word is here for us. Not to be a book on our shelf, but a word that we store in our hearts. It helps us realize what is wrong, and it teaches us to do what is right. This isn’t condemnation; this is loving correction from a loving Father who wants us to have a John 10:10 life.

John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

That rich and satisfying life that we are all searching for, and that we so easily fill with other things, is available. We just have to stay full on God’s word.

Return to Your Rest

Return To Your Rest

I had the opportunity to do something this past weekend that I haven’t done in a long time…too long! I went hunting with a friend! Please don't be offended if you don't have the same opinion about hunting. I was reminded how something so simple can be so filling and beneficial to my soul!

I read a book once by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro that had a huge impact on the way I lead my life. The book was Leading on Empty. In this book, Cordeiro gives a great principle to help us live a balanced life and to take care of our souls. He says to identify the top three to five things that “drain your tank,” and that “fill your tank". The idea is to limit the things that drain you and pursue the things that fill you. Only when we balance these things are we able to properly care for our souls.

Slowing down enough to do the things you love allows rest to do what it does best!

I love being outside, and I love the outdoors. Whether it’s hunting, camping, fishing, golf, working in the yard, or some project around the house, walking with my wife, you name it…if it has to do with the outdoors, I love it, especially hunting! I remember the first time I ever went hunting, I had no idea what I was doing, but I absolutely loved it. Hunting fills my tank! Slowing down enough to do the things you love allows rest to do what it does best!

It will allow you to see and notice things that your day-to-day velocity makes you miss. When I was in the woods this past weekend, I noticed things I don’t normally see. I saw nature living its day right in front of me without even knowing I was there. I noticed the distant sounds of vehicles on a busy road that didn’t seem to phase the life of the woods.

I saw leaves falling! One leaf fell on me. I started to flick it off, but I picked it up and looked at it and studied it. I. noticed. the. leaf. It was surreal! There was no stress, no busyness, no deadlines, no meetings! I was not “on;” I was disconnected. My soul was resting!

David the Psalmist spoke to his soul when he wrote, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” – (Psalms 116:7). Returning to something that I love to do provided so much rest for my soul. I feel rejuvenated, refreshed, refueled. My mind is clearer, my outlook more positive, overall healthier. Rest has amazing spiritual benefit.

What do you love to do? What fills your tank? How’s your soul? Maybe it's time for you to say, “Return to your rest…my soul…”

What Does God Say About Us?

Have you ever put thought bubbles on someone else’s head?

Maybe you were talking to someone, and you hear what they are saying, but the whole time you are thinking, "Is that really what they are saying?"

The pressure to want to please everyone around us is real and natural.

I hope that everyone I meet likes me. But the reality is when you spend your life focused on making sure everyone you meet is impressed by you, you can easily become a slave to what they think. Eventually it can progress so much that you are no longer a slave to what they think, but what you think they think. Often we are consumed not by what others actually say out loud, but what we think they are saying in their heads. When we get to that point, we are our own worst enemy.

No longer are we controlled by their thoughts, which is bad enough, but we are now controlled by our own false thoughts in our heads that have no ground to them. And all this starts with the innocent and natural thought of caring what people think about you.

If any of the above has ever happened to you, then you know what it's like to spend nights wondering what so and so really meant when they said what they said. How do we break free from this? Because if it's not stopped, we can easily trap ourselves in a place where we no longer do anything because of fear of what we actually don't know.

I believe to beat this we have to remember what God says about us.

I want to leave you with a few statements, that if you can remember and believe, have the power to set take your focus off what others may be thinking and back on what God has been thinking about you all along.

I am the Creator and you are my creation. I breathed into your nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). I created you in my own image (Genesis 1:27). My eyes saw your unformed substance (Psalm 139:16). I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I know the number of hairs on your head, and before a word is on your tongue I know it (Matthew 10:30; Psalm 139:4). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

In My great love, I gave My unique Son, that all those who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). While you were still sinners, Christ died for you. While you were still hostile toward Me, you were reconciled to Me by the death of My Son (Romans 5:8, 10). Sin doesn’t have the last word. Grace does (Romans 5:20).

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