Are You Ready to Look to the Hills with Me?

Lately I have felt pretty disoriented and discouraged. There is a lot going on in my life that brings me down, if I let it. The fight is real. I have to work hard to keep my mind thinking on good things and focused on what I should be doing.

Today I deleted the Facebook App from my phone… again. I have turned to it too many times to fill in the gaps of the day – those times when I am switching from one activity to the next… those times when my emotions are feeling a bit raw and somehow think that a visit to FB will remedy it (and I am soon to be disappointed)… those times when I just want to escape reality for a moment and keep in touch with the people in my life.

So, the Facebook App is gone from my phone again, for a season, until I can get my habits under control, because frankly, it does very little good for my days and well-being.

As I’ve ridden through another emotional day today, faced with various dramas, I also started thinking, “I need a mentor”. Don’t we, all, love mentors?! I’ve written about it. I believe in it. It’s one reason I have this blog – with the hopes that I can mentor and encourage women.

However, this thought of mine to pursue a mentor got me off on another rabbit trail… “I’ll just do a quick search for a life coach. That’s what I need.” $600 for six sessions. Hmm…I can’t really do that right now. There are too many other things vying for our monies.

In the middle of this big distraction, I felt a tug.

I will lift my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

Forgive me, Lord.

It’s You that I need.
It’s You whom I need to direct my steps.
It’s You whom I need to guide me and help me order my life right now.

I’m not saying that we don’t need mentors or other natural helps in our lives, but how many times do we turn to natural solutions and look for earthly things to fill us when God is calling to our hearts, “Come to me.”

Are you ready to look to the hills with me?

This week when you are down and out, discouraged, and feeling like you need a good fill of wisdom and grace, look to the Lord!

Let’s do it together!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

Don’t Compare. Just Live the Life God Has for You.

It sure is easy to compare ourselves to other people these days; isn’t it?

With a barrage of amazing stories and images on social media, picture-perfect homes and people in books and magazines, and a gallery of decisions put before us every day, we are faced with a myriad of options to which we can compare ourselves.

My advice to you:

Don’t do it!

Will temptation come?
Yep!

Will people appear to have a better life than you?
Yep!

And when these temptations come, we need to set them aside and throw them out, like a moldy piece of fruit, and fill our minds with the purposes that God has for us!

Don’t compare your personality.
Don’t compare your husband.
Don’t compare your children.
Don’t compare your ministry.
Don’t compare how you school your children.
Don’t compare your looks.
Don’t compare your abilities and gifts.
Don’t compare your friends.
Don’t compare how you use your time.
Don’t compare how you spend your money.
Don’t compare your vacation…

Just stop!

Do you know what comparison does?

It robs.

Let me say that again:

Comparison robs!

Comparison steals our joy and prevents us from focusing on the good lives God has given us,
what He has called us to do,
and what His purpose is for us right now.

Have you been busy comparing yourself to other people?

It’s a big waste of time.

Instead, with God’s grace, let’s focus on what God has for us in our lives and run the race that is set before us!

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us”
Hebrews 12:1

Have You Planned Your Summer Yet?

Each year summer seems to fly by so quickly. It arrives, and I’m already thinking about what is filling the calendar for the next few months. Finishing school, prepping for next year’s school, VBS, string camp, soccer tryouts, soccer practice, grad parties, weddings, church camp, etc.!

A third of June has already passed, and I realized that I better get my summer ideas down on paper so they become realities rather than just dreams.

Have you planned your summer yet?

Think about the following:

• Which projects would you like to tackle? Cleaning a closet? Improving your landscape?
• Whom would you like to see more often?
• Which places would you like to visit? Local attractions? Parks? Beaches? Campgrounds? Other states?
• What activities would you like to do? Biking? Canoeing? Running? Swimming?

Just today my mind was swirling with some ideas:

• Go canoeing.
• Plan a picnic.
• Ride our bikes to the local ice cream store.
• Visit one of the Great Lakes.
• Go geocaching.
• Plan times for my kids’ friends to come over.
• Have friends over for an ice cream social.

And that’s just the fun stuff!

The possibilities are endless, but time isn’t!

Get busy thinking about what you would like to do this summer and make a plan!

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”