lake-travis-united-methodist-church

Practicing the Nudges

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 01:14:23 GMT

Practicing the Nudges

Well, I hope your talking time with God was a little more deep and a little more special this past week.

As we develop our relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, by spending this special time with Him everyday, He will continue to teach us every day if we allow Him to. And one of the big ways He does this is through “nudges.” During our quiet talking time with God, He will teach us sooo much, if we will take the time to let Him. We’ve talked about these “nudges” before, but I hope you’ll make it your goal this next week, to allow God to teach you what these nudges feel like, sound like, look like, might even smell or taste like! And I hope you’ll practice responding to and obeying those nudges.

You may be wondering what these “nudges” during our special time with God look like. So, one day this past week I was in Ezekiel 41. And I had read Ezekiel 40 the previous day. These two chapters have a lot of measurements in them! Cubits, rods, widths and heights! By the time I’d made it through Ezekiel 40 the previous day, and listened for what God was wanting me to know, I started off the next day asking God what it was going to be that He would teach me today from more measurements! To say the least, I was a bit hesitant about what more He could possibly teach me about measurements, not to mention a little bored by all the measurements! I had a great attitude - don’t you think?!

As I read through Ezekiel 41 I asked God to point out what was important for me that day and I ended with three things that I had noticed. I went first to the words that I thought must be the most important because they sounded the most important - “This is the Most Holy Place” (Ezekiel 41:4). And God and I talked about that, but the word that had actually stood out the most to me was “ palm trees” and subsequently “Cherubim.” And so after we had talked about the “Most Holy Place” I felt a nudge that I was not done yet - that I needed to spend some time with “palm trees.” And so, to be honest, a little reluctantly, I went and looked up what “palm trees” represented in the Bible. Well, wow! That was pretty powerful!! And then I had to look up “Cherubim” at that point as well. And then I talked about what I had found with God to see what He wanted me to understand from it all.

Following those nudges brought me so much more learning, and depth of understanding, then I would have had otherwise from that day’s discussion. And I just smiled and talked with God - thanking Him for helping me follow those nudges and not ignore them. And I know, by practicing following His nudges during our special talking time together, that I am better equipped to follow His nudges in my daily life!

So I cheer you on for learning and following nudges this week!

May God bless your time with Him this week. May you look upon the face of Jesus and see Him in all His glory. May the Holy Spirit move in you in ways you’ve never felt before. May the God of hope, and love, and peace, be your full and complete protection throughout your every day. Amen...So be it ��.

@Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022

Getting Down to Business

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:33:11 GMT

Getting Down to Business

Setting aside time every day to spend with God can sometimes feel like kneading bread or running a mile (for us non-runners). I don’t know if you’ve ever kneaded dough for ten minutes, but while that doesn’t seem like very long, at not even halfway through, I took a loud breath, looked at the clock, and thought - “Oh my! It hasn’t even been five minutes! This is hard work!” And I had to resign myself that this was going to be hard work. But while I breathed hard and kept going, and wondered how my arm would feel afterwards, I smiled and laughed with God.

As many of you have probably experienced in life, the things worth doing can be hard at times. But there is so much reward in the end.

Romans 5:3 - We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

As you make this decision to work on your relationship with God, keep in mind that you are committing to do this. You are making a decision to spend time with God. Just like any committed relationship, you have to make time for that important person in your life. And there will be ups and downs, and so there is no shame or guilt if you miss sitting down with God some days…but remember how important that time spent with others in your life is…and think how life changing it could be to spend time with God everyday (or as often as you can).

And sometimes you may sit down, and start praying, reading scripture, or talking with God, and look up at the clock, and think - only five minutes have gone by! I encourage you to complete your time with God that day - to develop that muscle. But also know, God can do wonders with even five minutes!

So, now that you’ve made the decision to do this, and you have your special place all ready to go, you may be wondering - now what?!

We can talk with God in all sorts of different ways, and He talks with us in multiple different ways. A great place to begin though, is with God’s Word - the scripture - the Bible!

I encourage you to allow yourself to follow this layout for a little while before you start making it your own. Get comfortable with it, really do it well and consistently, and God will let you know when it’s time to make it your own. But this is a great place to begin.

To begin, in your journal, only allow yourself to write on one page! Not front and back - only one page! The reason behind this, is as you begin something new like this, if you try and do too much, you may overwhelm yourself and burn out. Kind of like if you’ve never been a big runner, and you decide to go run an entire mile the first time out! Allow yourself to build these muscles. They will carry you very, very far from here one day. But you must allow yourself to simply begin.

Now, this is what your journal page will consist of -

Page #

________ (Title) _______________ Date: ________________

Scripture:

Context:

What does God want me to KNOW from this scripture TODAY?

Prayer:

The Title is not done until the END! But first, go ahead and date it and number your page. (This will all make sense with time ��).

Read your scripture. This all comes from www.lifejournal.cc - I’ve just adapted the journaling slightly to make it a little more understandable. You can follow any scripture plan you would like to though, but this is a great place to begin. The scriptures compliment one another from the old and new testament, and the reading plan helps to bring the complete picture of the Bible together for you.

As you read your scripture, underline, make notes in the margin, but ask God this question - “What verse do you want to point out to me today?” Once you’ve read through the scriptures for the day, go back through them, clear your head, and only allow God into your heart and head in order to point out to you which verse is important for YOU, TODAY.

Then simply write that verse in your journal.

For the CONTEXT portion, you’re just going to write a small paragraph. Here, you can use the scripture you just read, and very possibly a study bible, to help you understand what was happening in history during the time that scripture was written. In my study bible, at the beginning of each book of the Bible, there is an explanation page - this is a great resource for understanding the context surrounding the scripture you are reading. Write just a few sentences to help place this scripture into its context. For example, one day, my scripture verse was Isaiah 11:3. For the context piece I wrote - “Isaiah is telling of the coming of Jesus. His job, as a prophet, was to turn the people from sin and to follow God. He’s telling the people that judgment is coming.” That simple. The point is not to give yourself an in depth history lesson, but just to think about what is actually going on in and around the scripture that God has highlighted for you.

Then ask God - “What do you want me know today from this scripture?” Let God speak!! Don’t try and guess or assume what you’re supposed to know today. God will surprise you, convict you, make you laugh, make you cry, and simply put you in awe of Him! Let Him lay on your heart… and in your mind… and in your thoughts… and on your lips…and with your hand and pencil, what He wants you to know today. Sometimes it will make total sense and sometimes you’ll be amazed at how He will link everything together from your day, or your week, with the scripture He’s highlighted for you, to tell you something so precious and personal.

And finally, end with writing a prayer. A beautiful way to think through your prayer is to follow the ACTS model - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Take time to praise God for this time and what He is doing in your life. Confess any barriers that you feel that are between you and Him. Thank Him for speaking with you today and for what truths He has shared with you. Ask Him for what is on your heart and mind.

Surprisingly, a very sweet thing God does now, is to have you read over what you wrote today, and title this entry - ask God for help here too ��. And then, at the back of your journal, on the first line, write down the date, all the scripture you read, the title of your lesson today, and the page number! And as you do this daily, you will be able to look back and see what God has taught you, and reference those pages! Trust me - God will have you go back and look for something He’s already said to you so you can reread it, and reference it one day down the road. I say this from experience, as today I was writing on page 1,027 and God had me go find something that was in a past journal on page 581 ��. It’s beautiful y’all - I promise ��.

This is truly a journey! I pray you embark on it. And this, my friends, will transform your life, if you’ll commit to doing it every day!

@Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022

Embarking on a Path to Freedom (part ii)

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 16:43:39 GMT

Embarking on a Path to Freedom

So, we started off really big last week, to start to get us to think about what our next steps with God may be…to help to start drawing us in, and to start yearning for more. This week is going to feel more like a baby step…but God’s good at working with baby steps ��. This week I just want you to spend some time in anticipation and preparation; some time in prayer for what God is inviting you into. Remember, prayer is simply a conversation with God ��.

So, when you meet a friend to talk or hang out, what do you do?

Depending on what you’re doing, you probably have at least one thing with you. It might be your water bottle for a long walk or your keys and wallet to meet for coffee or food. And you probably have been thinking about the-get-together prior to the moment that you actually meet up.

Well, it’s truly the same thing with God.

When we set aside time to read our Bible, it’s not about us and the Bible in front of us…or rather, not only about that. It’s about making time to get together with God and getting to know Him better.

We’ll need some basic things with us for this - our Bible, a journal, and a pencil or pen.

And it’s also important to take some time to make it special. I am not a good housekeeper, but before a friend comes over I try to make it look as if I am ��. And it’s not so that I can show off my clean house, but it’s so they feel comfortable. And I usually try to have at least an idea of what we’re going to eat or drink and where we can sit and talk. And I usually try to do something just a little special, because it makes them feel special and it gives me an opportunity to show them how special they are to me. That may be sitting outside with a blanket, or having some tasty hot tea options, or making some homemade cookies. Now, when you do come over though, you have to understand that my “Martha” only works in my preparations and once you come in my “Mary” kicks in and I will totally forget to ever offer you even a drink because all I can think about is spending time with you - so I promise, I have it all ready; just please make yourself at home!

So, what does this mean for our special time with God… because it is special. He is special. He is special to us. And it is a good thing to take it seriously and to look forward to spending time with our Father.

So think about where you’re going to read the Bible and talk with God each day. It can be the same place every day, or you can change it up each time. Where is a place that you will be able to focus and enjoy your time with your Father? Where is a place that you will be comfortable to sit for a while? You can think about having your coffee or tea with Him, and even a yummy snack. And you can be thinking about it before you do it - in anticipation and excitement!

As you might be starting to wonder… from the question - do you have a place that you will be comfortable to sit for a while? We are not preparing for a daily devotional. This is not a quick check in or a line of scripture that you can read quickly and move onto the next thing. This is a journey. This is learning and practicing how to develop a deep, personal, meaningful relationship with our Father. Don’t get me wrong - I have devotional books that I enjoy reading and I get a daily scripture in my email every morning that I enjoy. But I also have practiced how to work in, honestly, about an hour of alone time with God as often as I possibly can, with the goal being every day. I have not always been able to do this. To be totally transparent, it has only been in the last four years that I have been able to do this on a pretty consistent basis. So I understand it’s not an easy thing to figure out. But what keeps this a priority for me, is that I make the time for my family and friends…so why wouldn’t I make it for my Father in heaven, who created me, and loves me unconditionally, and who has shown me that my life truly is beautiful when it revolves around Him, and not me?

So enjoy making a special place to meet with God each day. Grab your coffee (or tea in my case ��), a comfy chair (possibly with a great view), your Bible, a journal, and a pencil - and look forward to your special time with your Father.

So, I encourage you this week to just spend some time with these thoughts - with this preparation. Ask God where He wants to sit and talk with you! Get excited for meeting with your Father - your friend, next week! Maybe even put some flowers at the table where you plan on sitting, or a candle, or a favorite picture! We get excited about a lot of different things here on this earth - let’s make getting together with God and sitting and talking with Him one of our top things we get excited about!

May you open your heart this week to God and let Him fill your heart, mind, and soul with excitement for Him!

Embarking on a Path to Freedom

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:56:23 GMT

Embarking on a Path to Freedom

A shift has begun I believe, and the “Series of Stories” feels to have come to an end. And so we pivot once more.

For years, when I would run into struggles, stress, any sort of hard times, I would search for the answers to my questions. I would search for information in books, websites, from friends and family that would help me reason through, or figure out, my problems. Every time I did this, I would search for days, even months, and then finally remember to go read my Bible. And every single time, God met me where I was. And the peace finally came.

I finally hit a point in my life, where God finally got through to me, and I began to start with the Bible - everyday (mostly ��). And from that journey that God took me on, I now have received freedom, and know how to go to Him when further freedom from sin and the things that hold us back in this world are troubling me.

Freedom. What does God tell us about Freedom? (For we learn to always begin and end with God ��).

Day 1: James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

This week, begin to explore what “prayer” means to you, and what God wants it to mean to you!

Day 2: Revelation 7:10 Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

Salvation is Christ’s alone! The only path to salvation and freedom is Christ!
Do you believe this? Do you feel this truth in the deepest part of your heart and soul? Do you feel this truth in every part of your being? Ask God to help you explore and fully grasp this truth! Ask God to explain this truth to you!

Day 3: Revelation 7:14 & 7:17 Those who are in “ great tribulation,” Jesus “ will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes .”

Ask God to show you what He means by this for you! Ask Him what tears He wants to wipe away for you! Let Him lead you through that healing. Ask Him questions. Wait for His answers. Keep up that pattern until God lets you know He’s shared what He wants to with you! It might take 15 minutes, it might take an hour! Be ready to sit and talk with your beloved Father and hear what He wants to tell you!

Day 4: Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

Ask God to show you when He has protected you from the enemy. If you feel that you’re currently in a situation where the enemy is attacking, ask God for His protection. Ask Him to show you how He will protect you.

Day 5: John 14:12-14 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Can you think of the great things that Jesus did while He walked on this earth? He promises that those who believe in Him will do even greater things! What feelings does that bring? What questions perhaps may that bring? Ask your Father and Jesus your friend. Listen for their answer.

Day 6: Psalm 111 Shout hallelujah to Yahweh! May every one of his devoted lovers hear my passionate praise to him, even among the council of the holy ones. For God’s mighty miracles astound me! His wonders are so delightfully mysterious that they leave all who seek them astonished. Everything he does is full of splendor and beauty! Each miracle demonstrates his eternal perfection. His unforgettable works of surpassing wonder reveal his grace and tender mercy. He satisfies all who love and trust him, and he keeps every promise he makes. He reveals mighty power and marvels to his people by handing them nations as a gift. All God accomplishes is flawless, faithful, and fair, and his every word proves trustworthy and true. They are steadfast forever and ever, formed from truth and righteousness. His forever-love paid a full ransom for his people so that now we’re free to come before Yahweh to worship his holy and awesome name! Where can wisdom be found? It is born in the fear of God. Everyone who follows his ways will never lack his living-understanding. And the adoration of God will abide throughout eternity!

Allow these truths to wash over you and flow through you. Let them settle in your heart and fill your being. Ask God to highlight for you what He wants you to hold onto from this scripture today.

Day 7: Psalm 34:4 I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Do you believe this in your entire being? Can you draw close to Him and feel His presence with you? Can you ask Him to free you from your fears today? Name them out loud. Write them down. Picture yourself handing them over to Him. Ask Him to show you what He does with your fears once you give them to Him. Ask Him to show you what He replaces your fears with. Hold onto these truths forevermore!

God is powerful, and therefore His healing and freedom is powerful. As you embark on this journey, please make sure that you have someone you can talk to about these things - a loved one, a friend, even a counselor. Sometimes as we have these sorts of conversations with God, we can feel overwhelmed, question what we’ve heard, or feel isolated with our feelings. Please know that God gives this freedom and healing freely, and there are many in this community that can share these experiences along with you. Always reach out and share what God is doing in your life - for your own comfort and for what it can offer to others.

I invite you to go on a journey towards Freedom with God. He can heal us and free us in ways we never felt imaginable. I hope you will join me, as weekly we will allow God to lead us on a path to freedom, not only for ourselves, but so that we can share His promises and freedom with others.

Seeking

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:36:23 GMT

A Series of Stories... Seeking

A lot of people I know right now are searching. They’re searching for love, purpose, strength, health, peace, community, jobs, security, a place to belong…

As I thought about this… a song came to mind. It’s called “Praise You in the Storm” by Casting Crowns. There’s a part of the song though that sings - “I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord - the maker of heaven and earth.”

These words come from Psalm 121. I encourage you to read the entire Psalm (it’s one of the short ones ��). Let the words wash over you and may you hear what God would like you to know today.

In Ezekiel 37:26, God speaks to Ezekiel saying, “Moreover I will make a covenant of PEACE with them, and it shall be an EVERLASTING PROMISE with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set MY SANCTUARY in THEIR MIDST forevermore.”

When we find ourselves searching for whatever it may be, first, God wants us to know that He is helping us through it all. Second, He wants us to know that He is with us. His sanctuary - His place of unquestionable safety and peace is with us!! And we are invited to find that same feeling of safety and peace with Him!!

Revelations 3:20 - “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

We don’t need to search. God is right here. What we need to do is to surrender, relinquish control, and realize we’re already right where we’re supposed to be - in His presence, His safety, and His love. And when we rest in our sanctuary with our Father and Savior, His words and help can settle easily into our hearts.

May God bless your time with Him this week. May you look upon the face of Jesus and see Him in all His glory. May the Holy Spirit move in you in ways you’ve never felt before. Amen...So be it ��

Adapting

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 22:40:15 GMT

Adapting

Once again, I was out in the garden. It’s garden season…I guess we get a long garden season here in Texas, don’t we? One of the many reasons I love it here ��.

Last year we had a bumper crop of zinnias and I harvested the seeds. (This year I’m letting them drop where they may.) So early spring we planted them, and as seeds have a tendency to do – some blew into places where I didn’t plant them. But you can’t have too many zinnias ��. One in particular though came up in a precarious place where it got trampled quite a bit by our dog who loves to try and eat the tomatoes off the near-by plant. So this one zinnia ended up lying down, but it was still hanging on so I kept watering it. Well, the other night I got a good look at it – it now looks like a half a dozen new plants! Yet, it’s the same one zinnia stalk, but it’s grown about six shoots straight up that have now filled the space beautifully! The original stalk is lying on the ground, as a runner of sorts, and the limbs have grown up tall and beautiful.

It’s that idea of when things are hard, don’t go as expected, or make us feel totally upside down…do we lie down and give up? Or do we get creative and see what comes from it?

We just spent a week at my parent’s VBS where we focused on Paul’s journeys. As many times as I’ve thought about Paul and all the writings we have from him, it was something to imagine Paul and all he went through and all he did, and how many people he impacted. And then to think of how he began – as a persecutor of the Christians – but accepted Jesus’ love and allowed his life to be reimagined and totally changed.

To the church at Phillipi he wrote – “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Philippians 4:11-12

And to the Romans he wrote – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

So if you find yourself in a place that seems to have changed, isn’t working out as you thought it would, or doesn’t feel good – try something new! Don’t be afraid to mess up! Prayerfully seek God’s next steps for your life, so that you can discover God’s will – what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

May God bless your time with Him this week. May you look upon the face of Jesus and see Him in all His glory.

May the Holy Spirit move in you in ways you’ve never felt before. Amen…So be it ��

Change

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 17:50:10 GMT

Change

Well, there’s a bit of change happening at our church. My daughter was sharing her feelings about it with me tonight. For our family, it’s really the first time for us not to be the ones leaving and for my daughter to experience being the one left behind. Change.

As I watered the garden today, by hand due to the drought we find ourselves in, I had a lot of time to think. There’s been a lot of change over the last almost 2 ½ years. But even more simply than that, life is always changing. God shows us that through the seasons. And we have the old adage – “seasons of life,” but it’s one thing to say it, and another thing to feel it in your own life.

My family has gone through a lot of change. Almost to the point that I feel more comfortable with change than things staying the same. But it doesn’t mean change isn’t still met with lots of emotions – sometimes happy, but many times sad.

I wonder what that is? Why we try to make things stay the same, when actually, they’re always changing?

In “The Sabbath” book by Heschel, he talks about at the very end, how God is always creating. This notion that is sometimes communicated – that God has said all He’s going to say or done all that He’s going to do – isn’t actually what we see in the Bible. What we learn is that God is always creating – He is always creating something new through His children. And look at His creation of what is on this earth! (We just got back from two weeks in Montana where we hiked all over Glacier National Park. Think of what you’ve seen over the years!) Nature is always changing as well.

God shows us through His creation that change is meant to be a part of life. So how do we learn to embrace it? What does God teach us to do with change?

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

If you go and read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, this scripture will probably ring a bell. But what I want to highlight is verse 11.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” As I’ve grown to say, and shared with someone just the other day who is searching for truth in their life…living a life with God does not mean that it will be easy, but I truly believe that it is beautiful.

“He has also set eternity in the human heart.” What a gift is that?!!! The promise of eternity; the hope of eternity; the knowledge of eternity is such an incredibly special gift that God gives to us! When we come to that place in our lives that we truly accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and all the truths that He imparts to us, the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6) floods in, and floods into that place of eternity. We just had a conversation with someone the other day about what comes after death. And for this person, they weren’t sure about God. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). I know that these words from scripture speak straight to my heart, humble me, and make me ever so thankful.

“Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Isn’t that amazing to think about?!! We can’t fathom what God has done. Many times in our daily lives, we try to take control of things and put things in order. Yet that is God’s job as He has shown us from the beginning of time. For me there’s peace in knowing that only God knows everything from the beginning to the end, and that He did not create me to be incharge. He created me to love Him, to love myself, and to love others (Mark 12:30-31).

God wouldn’t let this scripture escape me either. Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

I believe, that wherever you may find yourself in a season of change, that God asks us to stop the turmoil, to stop the wondering and trying to control what seems to be spinning out of control, and rather to meditate on His love and His Word. And when we do, I think we’ll find that God is in control. And that brings us peace.

May God bless your time with Him this week. May you look upon the face of Jesus and see Him in all His glory. May the Holy Spirit move in you in ways you’ve never felt before. Amen…So be it ��

@Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022

This is Home

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 17:40:13 GMT

This is Home

We had some good family friends staying with us for a few days. The children are best friends and grew up together. So when they get to see each other, they do everything together – play, coordinate showers, brush teeth, read books, sleep in the bunk beds! They’re never apart.

But on the second night, our daughter came into our room, with a few tears, asking to sleep with us. There were a number of factors, but underlying them all was that she was missing some time with us. We said of course, and she cuddled in. As she laid down she took a deep breath and said – “This is home.”

Those three words really hit me. She’s been at her house this entire time, but as she laid there with us, she was with the two people where she knows she can always find comfort and love. And she could relax and breathe.

Psalm 90:1 “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!”

I believe that’s what God hopes and wants for each of us – that when we are with Him, our Father, Papa God, that we feel at home, surrounded by the comfort and love that we so desperately need and search for.

But how does one come to feel that way with God? You would have to spend a lot of time with God. You would have to get to know Him, talk with Him, listen to Him, ask Him for help, and be willing to receive His love. And just like a child, we have to be willing to receive the love of hugs and kisses but also the love of helping us learn from our mistakes and bettering ourselves – the tough love. As a child, you receive that tough love from your parents on a daily basis, but hopefully you receive the comforting love of hugs and kisses and time as well. And when a child receives both those things, they know where home is. Likewise, we have to be willing to receive both those kinds of love from God so that we know where home is.

Jeremiah 2:32 “Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.”

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

And what’s beautiful about it all, is that as the parent, as my daughter wraps her sweet little hands around my neck to hold me as close as she can, it fills my entire being with a love that surpasses all understanding (Ephesians 3:19). And I can tell when I give my own parents that special long, tight hug, that they take a deep breath and hold on tighter too. So, not only does the child know “this is home,” but the parent receives the blessing of love as well. I can’t help but think that God’s heart swells in a similar way, when we draw close to Him and call Him home.

I challenge you this week to be willing to receive the love of comfort and the tough love from God, so that you can come to learn where home truly is.

@Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022

What Fruit Do You Produce

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 17:36:52 GMT

What Fruit Do You Produce?

For our family, summer means eating lots of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit! It’s funny how good that makes us feel. Isn’t it interesting how food can make you feel different ways? And then, that God relates our lives to fruit?! I just love how God weaves everything in our lives together.

This past week, our family found ourselves talking about what fruit our spirit produces…what fruit do people see from us and receive from us? What fruit are we sharing with those around us?

Galatians 5:22-23 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

On Sunday, at the second service, Scott shared with the men and fathers beautiful words from the Spirit. With his blessing, I’ve included those words here for you to ponder on, to ask God about, and to sit into with the Spirit within you.

“You are extraordinary,

And strong,

And capable,

And needed.

Your strength and capacity are uniquely important in this world.

Your willingness to live sacrificial lives on behalf of your families,

To work hard and often quietly,

Is an extraordinarily important, central gift to this world.

You are not a sum of your mistakes,

Nor of your fathers,

Nor of his.

You have the capacity of the King!

You are a co-heir with Christ!

You are now and will always be deeply loved,

Completely forgiven,

Wildly reconciled,

And free!

Our work is to know it

And when we try to give ourself excuses to not rise to our true identity as free, noble, hopeful, strong, courageous, capable, kind, humble men,

When we don’t do that,

We are only self limiting,

Or worse, allowing the world around us that we often find ourselves entangled with

To win.

That is unacceptable.

It is unacceptable as men, as fathers, and it is biblically unacceptable,

Because the Father actually says –

This is your calling!

This is your life!

I have made you this way

And I will empower you to do so!

When we rise with that “everybody has a place” fight in us;

When we rise with love and forgiveness;

When we rise with strength and clarity and biblical hope,

The world rises with us.

You are free, and so am I.

Let’s live like it.”

@Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022

Manna and Maggots

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:50:08 GMT

Manna and Maggots

I figured we’d take the scripture that we had Sunday and the children are learning this week at VBS – Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

That’s one of the oldies right?! We know it by heart! We say it every Sunday at church. But here’s our check-in with it…do we let those words sink in? Do we let God speak to our hearts through those words? Do we actually live by those words?

The children today sang songs about manna. They heard the story of how God provided the Israelites with manna in the desert, but how they were then greedy and the maggots ate what they had hoarded! They ate dirt (oreos) and worms (gummy worms) for snack, and talked about the story two more times! Many seeds were planted today for the children, surrounding the idea that when the Israelites didn’t trust God and tried to take more than they needed for the day, that gross maggots were crawling all over and eating their stored up food.

What seeds does that plant in your heart?

While I strive to live in the present moment, and enjoy each day, I still have a calendar and I still plan ahead (and I still have toilet paper leftover from Covid!!!).

As hard as it is to wrap my head and heart around at times, I live a life where I know God is providing for me each day. But do I truly trust Him to continue to provide for me? We know that things could change. For me, when I get really honest, it’s fear that holds me back from being able to fully live into a life where I live for what God provides for me each day.

It’s about looking at those fears, recognizing them, naming them, and truly giving them into Jesus’ hands. For He will set us free!

This is a hard one… yet given the fact that it’s so common in our lives, it must be an important one?!

My prayer for you this week is that God will help you to come to Him, help you to be vulnerable and honest with Him and yourself, so that you can start to chip away at the fear in order to find freedom!

@ Lake Travis United Methodist Church 2022