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The Sound of Consecrated Feet

“I’m going to run a marathon one of these days.” My friend had said this to me so many times that I’d lost track of the exact number. She reads oodles of books on fitness, she eats well, and she even teaches an occasional course on diet and exercise. After hearing her mention the marathon for the umpteenth time, I wanted to encourage her with, “That’s awesome!” However, all I could think was, “Stop talking about it and go do it!” So, being the loving, honest, and caring friend that I am, I said, “Stop talking about it and go do it!”

Last night, as I read the quotation in the photo I posted today, I thought of my friend and her annual “one of these days” statements, and I thought, “I am the same annoyance to God that my friend was to me.” She had all the tools, she could quote fact after fact and statistic after statistic, and with carefully planned outlines, she could teach others the principles for proper preparation, correct form, healthful diet, and appropriate attire for running long distances. Yet, she had never run a long distance! No wonder I was often annoyed with her (lovingly so) for being so well equipped and not making her knowledge personal by putting feet behind her words (no pun intended).

Yet, here I am, well equipped with all the tools for serving others, able to sing praises to Him, write blog posts, and teach classes on biblical principles that equip others for service—and personally doing so little. No, I’ve never audibly heard the voice of God, but last night, I heard an inward voice saying, “Stop talking about it and go do it! Put some feet to that praise! Love those that I love…feed my sheep.”

So, I just want you to know that I have begun to prepare for a “spiritual marathon.” I have a plan in place! I plan to stop talking about it and go do it! No, I’m not headed to Africa—though if that’s where God wanted me, that’s where I’d go! No, I’m not selling all that I own (all $1.47 worth of it!) to go feed the poor. But I am taking action steps to be intentional about seeking out the lost and the helpless. I’m eager to share some of these steps with you in the days ahead, and I hope you’ll join me in putting feet—consecrated feet—to our praise!

Suggested reading: John 21: 15-17

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Walkers/Exercisers: Are you putting feet to your intentions to keep moving in the month of February? You’re more than half way there! If you did 30 minutes a day last week, try for 32 minutes a day (or more!) this week! Be intentional about bettering your best!

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Thank you for reading “The Sound of Consecrated Feet.”
Feel free to share what God’s been prompting you to do for Him.

 

By Petals from the Basket | February 18, 2013 | Bible Reading, Contests, Events, God-and-I-Time, Ideas, Life Changes |

Have you noticed…?

Have you noticed that Saturday night is the night your favorite movie comes on tv at 11:oo p.m.?

Have you noticed that Sunday is the easiest day to wake up feeling yucky?

Have you noticed (those of you with children) that Sunday is the day that your children want to take their sweet time, want to argue, and don’t want to eat whatever it is you’re serving for breakfast?

Have you noticed that Sunday morning is the one certain morning when everything about getting ready seems to take longer and that you’re almost guaranteed to have a bad hair day that needs time to do a “do-over?”

Have you noticed that while you sit in the worship service, your fretful heart and mind are anything but worshipful?

Have you ever stopped to think that if “the evil ick” is trying this hard to deter your thoughts from worshiping and honoring God on Sunday morning…

…what must he be doing to your pastor to prevent him from being effective?

But—God is greater!

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Thank you for reading “Have you noticed…?”
So—have you prayed for your pastor today?
 
By Petals from the Basket | February 16, 2013 | Events, Ideas |

Sixty-Two Valentines

My parents have celebrated Valentine’s Day sixty-two times: once as a dating couple and sixty-one times as a married couple! After all those years of marriage, they still celebrate three anniversaries every year: their first date, their engagement, and their wedding. Their very real, God-centered love is secure, long-lasting, and still growing!

On this Valentine’s Day, I celebrate their love and thank them for the two greatest gifts they have given to my siblings and me: their love for God and their love for one another!

 
 
This was their wedding picture from December 8, 1951.
Embedded is a more recent picture from one
of their frequent hand-in-hand walks.

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I Corinthians 13:4-8, NLT

 
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice
but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages
and special knowledge will become useless.
But love will last forever!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Petals from the Basket | February 14, 2013 | Bible Reading, Events, Family |

May I see your license, please?

My first year out of college, I followed a music teacher who had been at the school for fourteen years. In fact, it may have been sixteen; I don’t recall. Things were going well. I loved teaching general music to elementary students. I loved finding fresh ways to motivate junior high students to sing and to set aside their musical inhibitions. I loved the challenge of high school students who were in choir for “an easy ‘A’ in class.”

However, about two months into the school year—when the novelty of a fresh-out-of-college teacher was wearing off—the high school students began to say, “But Miss N. (the former teacher) didn’t do it that way.” I had finally heard that enough times that I decided to make it a teaching tool. Knowing it would probably come up again, I took my driver’s license to class with me. Sure enough, someone said, “Miss N. used to let us….” Aha! I was prepared!

I handed the student my driver’s license and said, “Would you please read the name on that license.” He read my name. I handed it to two or three more students, repeating the process each time. After each had successfully read my name, I said, “So, let me get this straight: the name on that license is Brenda Strohbehn—not Miss N., right?” They agreed. “So why are you expecting me to act like Miss N.?” It never came up again.

Many times I find myself comparing people to other people or situations to other situations. Yet God created each of us in specific ways, with specific abilities, and for specific reasons. My dad often shared with me the familiar quotation, “If both of us were the same, one of us wouldn’t be necessary.” It’s true!

As I look around at the varied members of my community, my church family, or even my physical family, I am reminded that each person will not react, reply, or respond in the same way I will, and that doesn’t make them wrong and me right—or vice versa. Just as I accept that God knows everything about me, I must accept that He knows (and created) everything about others. As I humbly view others through this filter, I see the beautiful shapes, colors, character qualities, skills, weaknesses, and talents that make each of us precisely the right person God chooses to use at a given time for a given purpose!

Suggested reading: Psalm 139:13-17

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Letter-writing crew: In your e-mail or card to someone today, thank the recipient for using his or her unique skills and abilities in a way that makes that individual an extra-special blessing to you.

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Thank you for reading, “May I see your license, please?”
Feel free to leave a comment.
 
By Petals from the Basket | February 13, 2013 | Bible Reading, Contests, Events, Family, Friends, Ideas |

Evening Reflections

Today was a day filled with good intentions. Generally, as soon as we hear “good intentions,” we think we know what’s coming next: “but….” However, today I saw that expression through a different filter—a positive one!

I intentionally chose to start my day with God. I intentionally wrote a list of things to accomplish. I was intentional about limiting myself to fifteen minutes of the morning news. I intentionally completed a task I had put off far too long. I chose to be intentional about reading the blogs I follow and learning from the “bite-sized wisdom” found in the “tweets” of a few great leaders I follow on Twitter. With great intention, I completed my Bible Study homework early in the day so that I could meditate on it before tomorrow—as opposed to hoping that if I run into the building fast enough, the ink will dry before I sit down! I was intentional about completing a full day of work on a lengthy book I’m editing. And I intentionally waited until this evening to write a blog post.

My church had a huge Celebration Sunday yesterday, and this morning, it was easy to think that it’s all downhill from here—that it can’t get any better than yesterday’s day of rejoicing. You see, I woke up with a “blessings hangover,” and oddly enough, I felt too “blessings depleted” to write an encouraging blog post.

So I determined in my heart—made an intentional decision—to make choices that would allow me to look back at the end of the day and realize that the rejoicing can continue! God didn’t run out of blessings! God’s mercies were brand new this morning! His strength did not falter overnight! There’s more than enough for today and for every tomorrow He gives me!

Maybe that’s why tonight, I intentionally chose to pray the following words:

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Be intentional about continuing to move forward with your goals for walking, reading, and writing! Take one minute tonight to set an intentional goal for tomorrow’s efforts.

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Thank you for taking time to read “Evening Reflections.”
Are you being intentional in your choices?
Feel free to leave a comment sharing
one “intentional goal” for tomorrow.

By Petals from the Basket | February 12, 2013 | Contests, Events, God-and-I-Time, Ideas |