Big News and Small Changes

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

Today marks our 255th daily 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call blog post!  

When we started this in early March, I was absolutely certain God was calling me to write every day, since my alarm has been going off a 3 o’clock every day now for more than sixteen years.  I committed to this plan and promised God I’d write every day until He gave me a new assignment.  I didn’t think He’d take 255 days.

Just recently God has started moving me and the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Ministry in a slightly different direction.  It began a few weeks ago after a phone call with a self-publishing representative from the Christian publishing house, Thomas Nelson. I had approached her with the idea of publishing the first 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call Bible study. (The same one I had been pouring over with my mentor and dear friend Alice at her dining room table before she passed away in August of 2015.)  The binder of edits and advice she had given me had been collecting dust on a dark shelf and needed to be shared.

During our discussion, the publisher kept referring to it as a “book,” rather than a Bible study, and a seed was planted in my mind.  Putting the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call into book format has been something Dan and I have thought about for several years.  Life’s busyness and curveballs (… stories for another post) have always derailed our efforts, though.  Until now.

So here are a few small changes and hopes heading forward:

• I will continue to write blogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Using the other days to work on book chapters.

• We will continue to send out text messages and push notifications to phones every day.  If you do not receive them now, you can follow a link to download our free Mobile App for iPhones or Androids by clicking here or simply text 3pm to the number 313131. This will be keeping with our ministry theme of giving God Thanks every single day.

• Lastly, we are asking YOU to pray for us.  We need God’s presence, protection, and provisions to see His plan through.  We know He will provide.  Believe with us.  And, please continue to spread the word about the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call Movement.  The more people already on board when the book is finished, the better it will be in the eyes of a publishing company.

Thank you for being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call!  We love you and believe God has great plans for all of us.  This is the race He has called us to run, and we will do so with perseverance and faith.  We spur you on to do the same!

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Respond Differently

Be careful how you live.  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days…and give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

– Ephesians 5:15, 20

How do you usually respond when someone asks you how you’re doing?  I tend to answer with “I’m fine.  How are you?”  The other day when I gave this response to the cashier who had asked, she didn’t answer me in return.  She had just been making small talk and really didn’t care how I was doing.  It was easier for her to ignore my question then answer me honestly.

This interaction, or lack thereof, got me thinking about the small talk we make everyday with people who don’t know us well but see us often.  Who are the people you bump into often; at the grocery, coffee shop, gym, post office, library, school or at church?   

What if the next time one of them asks you how you are, you answered their question by saying, “I’m thankful!”  Wouldn’t that prompt them to ask the next question, “WHY?”

The Bible tells us to always be ready to give the reason for our hope.  (1 Peter 3:15)

Think for a moment about the act of thanksgiving alive and active in your life.  Answer these quick Powerful “W” questions:

• Who are you thankful for?
• What is one gift you’re thankful for?
• When was the last time you said “Thank you!”
• Where have you experienced great gratitude expressed lately?
• Why do you think God desires for us to give thanks for everything?

I’ll share my answers through a story of what happened to me last week.  

I’m thankful for Tammy, my favorite grocery store employee.  Every time Tammy sees me shopping, she comes over and gives me a big hug.  I guess a long time ago she decided that she could be herself with me because I saw past her disability and genuinely cared about her.  Recently, she was used by God to answer one of my prayers.  

A week earlier, I had been calling around looking for a place to serve on Thanksgiving Day since our family had postponed our celebrations to Saturday.  (I guess the blog post about serving really got to me.) Every center and church I called said “No thanks.  We have enough help.”  But the day before Thanksgiving, there was Tammy in the produce aisle hugging me and excitedly talking about tomorrow’s “feast.”  A local restaurant was holding its yearly dinner for children with disabilities and their families.

I thanked Tammy for what I call a “God wink,” then drove across town to the restaurant hosting the event.  At the hostess’ station, I asked the manager if I could volunteer the next day.  He almost hugged me like Tammy does, and said “Yes, we need more hands to help!”  

What an incredible experience!  When the families with special needs children asked me, their waitress, how I was doing on Thanksgiving Day, I answered them truthfully by saying “I’m so thankful!”  Those three words seemed to give people permission to respond in kind.  It’s as if one “Thank You” unleashed a multitude, reminding me that that is exactly how God desires for all of us to live every day.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Confident in His Control

My heart is confident in You, O God; my heart is confident.  No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake Up, my heart! – Psalm 57:7-8 (NLT)

Happy Cyber Monday!  Are you shopping online?  How many stores did you visit without ever walking through their doors?  Last year on Cyber Monday, Americans spent three billion dollars online in 24 hours.  This was up 12% from the year before, and it’s expected that we’ll spend even more in 2016.  

I didn’t think Cyber Monday was a big deal until several years ago when I purchased our family’s Spring Break trip at a 60% discount.  Cyber Monday made an otherwise unaffordable trip into one of our favorite family memories.  The kids were old enough to be safe on their own, yet still liked spending time with us.  That wonderful week gave me confidence that we could maneuver the rapidly approaching teen years without much of a problem. 

Boy was I wrong.  As soon as we started hitting the bumps in the road, I lost all my confidence as a mother.  I spent endless hours awake at night worrying that they wouldn’t make it home safely.  I tracked our teens on their phones every time they left the house. 

It had been my job for so many years to keep my kids safe, and now they were driving and making challenging decisions on their own.  Had I taught them well enough?  Would they choose the right path in the face of temptation and peer pressure?  As I paced and worried, fear and anxiety rose to levels I’d never experienced before as a mother.  The enemy had a field day with me, filling my mind with thoughts of destruction and death.  There was one point that I fully expected our son to die.  It wasn’t a matter of “if,” I thought, but “when” would we get that call.  I was trapped in darkness and despair.

Thankfully, my 3 o’clock alarm saved me from fear’s trap.  Every day when my alarm sounded, I started sending God S.O.S (Save Our Son) prayers.  God heard my cries for help and came close.  

His presence gradually displaced the fear with faith.  His powerful Holy Spirit began teaching me to give Him my troubled heart and He’d lead me to trust Him more and more.  God entered our high school story and gave me a renewed confidence.  A little in myself and my parenting, but a lot more in Him.  After all, God loves my teens even more than I do.  He has great plans for them.  My job is to place them in His loving hands so that, day by day, He can guide all of us through the tumultuous times.  

I have learned to give God thanks and praise even when I can’t locate my kids, when it’s past their curfew, or bad news comes our way.  Thanking God for who He is, instead of the circumstance I’m in, eventually developed a comforting level of trust in my heart.  I can now stand confidently in the storms because I know who controls the weather. 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Represent

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. – Colossians 3:17

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to completely change your career, to just quit your job and start all over?

Some of you, like my husband, would jump at the opportunity to open a beachside taco stand in Costa Rica or teach surf lessons in Mexico.  Maybe you’d like to become a full time painter, work in an art museum, teach cooking lessons, or become a travel guide in Europe.

Isn’t it amazing how many choices we have when it comes to our careers?  We spend so much of our lives working, why not glorify God while you do it?

Recently, I asked three people about the best and worst parts of their careers.  One works with Olympic athletes, one in the medical field, and the other runs two high end restaurants in Denver.  Interestingly enough, while all three enjoyed their jobs, they agreed that working with difficult people was the hardest, most challenging part.

How often do you encounter difficult people at work?  What’s your coping strategy?  Do you kill ’em with kindness, stand up and put them in their place, or run and hide?  If you cringe at conflict, you probably run and hide, like I tend to do.  

What if, instead, we follow God’s plan for our lives and represent Him everywhere we go and in everything we do?  Wouldn’t that drastically change our work environments?  What if we saw others the way Jesus sees them?  I believe that gossiping, backstabbing, and arguing would be replaced with compassion, encouragement and patience.

The next time you’re faced with a difficult person; a grouchy grocery worker or a complaining colleague, I challenge you to stop and ask yourself if you’re representing Jesus.  If you are, thank God that His power is a work in you.  If you’re not, thank God instead that He reminded you to turn your heart toward Him in this difficult dilemma.  

Wherever you go and whatever you do, represent Jesus

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Tellin' It Like It Is

Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s command. “You must love and help your neighbors just as much as you love and take care of yourself.” 
– James 2:8 (TLB)

Do you know someone who is blunt?  They say it because it’s true and you need to hear it (even if you’d rather not).

I have a family member whose blunt statements often leave me speechless.  They are not unkind, they’re just so straightforward that I’m too startled to think of a comeback. So I just laugh instead.

I find that highly effective pastors can be blunt as well.  They shoot straight, speaking God’s word with authority and conviction.  There’s no wiggle room around the truth.  If God said it, then believe it.  If Jesus did it, then do it. 

Andy Stanley, the pastor of North Point Church, is gifted with just such a communication style.  His captivating talks resonate with diverse audiences, from a huge church on Sunday mornings in Atlanta to, with his Your Move series, late night bars full of people watching TV after Saturday Night Live.

In Andy’s recent sermon series, Be Rich, he called his church to donate their money, time, and love.  He confessed that love might be the hardest of the three to give away.  He challenged everyone to follow Jesus’ number one command, ”love God and others,” with this very blunt question:

“What does love require of you?”

Ouch.  As soon as you read that question, you knew the answer, right?  You knew who it is you need to forgive, to call, to invite over, or spend time with.  You just might not want to.v  

Thousands of people in our nation are taking Andy’s challenge to love someone difficult to love or someone who God has put on “your radar.”  We are called to love them in tangible ways.  So make a plan.

Thank God He is never finished with us.  He continues to change us from the inside out to become more and more like His perfect son, Jesus.  Jesus said it straight up – Our highest priority is to LOVE God and others.  They will know you are a Jesus follower when you LOVE.

  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Black Friday Fighting

Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels… instead be kind to everyone. 
– 2 Timothy 2:23-24

Ok, be honest, what time did you get up to go shopping today on “Black Friday”?

My daughters have big plans to hit the sales; first Target, then Barnes & Noble, then the Mall… all day long.  Maybe you think this is a great plan of action.  Or maybe, like me, you’d rather stay home and avoid the chaos.

I’m still a little traumatized by my recent visit to Whole Foods, two days before Thanksgiving.  When I pulled into the parking lot, it was filled with police officers, on foot and sitting in their cars.  They were also walking back and forth in front of the store. My first thought was “world’s biggest tofu heist.”  

I didn’t want to disturb the busy officers so once inside the grocery, I asked an employee what was happening.  He shook his head and said, “Nothing yet. The police are here because they don’t want people fighting over parking spots.”

No joke!  I burst out laughing.  You have got to be kidding me.  The Whole Foods had employed a fleet of police officers to manage Thanksgiving anger.  What has this world come to?

At first, I thought it was a bit of overkill, until I went to the back of the store to pick out a turkey.  There, I discovered a long line of unhappy people waiting to get their individualized Thanksgiving orders.  

One woman was arguing with a sales clerk.  She claimed her order was WRONG! Another man, arms crossed over his puffed out chest, was losing his patience by the second. The police probably should have been inside as well because he looked like a ticking time bomb.  I escaped the crowd as quickly as I could.  It wasn’t until I got to the parking lot that I realized I’d fled without my turkey.  

God’s word is timeless.  Thousands of years ago, Paul shared with Timothy a warning about foolish arguing.  Paul is still right today, quarreling and fighting over such things as parking spots and catering orders is stupid.  (Don’t you love that the Bible uses the word stupid, how appropriate?)

Let’s heed Paul’s warning.  When holiday tensions soar, let’s stay grounded in kindness and humility.  In any heated situation, we can take a deep breath and give thanks to God for our simple blessings: breath in our lungs, a family to feed, friends to shop with, and money to purchase presents.  All these are gifts given to you from God. (James 1:17) 

Let thanksgiving reduce tension and faith replace fighting.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Happy Thanksgiving

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. – Psalm 100:4

As I searched for a Thanksgiving Bible passage to share with you, Psalm 100 appeared as the #1 recommendation from Bible Gateway.  I find that fascinating because that is the Psalm we read at our wedding almost twenty-three years ago.  

In one of our pre-marital meetings, our pastor Mary unintentionally put me on the spot by asking me what Psalm we would like to have read during the wedding ceremony. I didn’t know any Psalms.  It was all I could do to recall a bookmark my grandparents had given me years before with Psalm 100 on it.  I couldn’t have told you what it said to save my life, but if Mama and Papa liked that Psalm, we would go with it.

After the meeting, when I unearthed a Bible and read the Psalm’s verses, I laughed out loud when I came to verse three, “We are the sheep of His pasture.” Basically we were calling ourselves sheep right before we took our vows.  If sheep are known to be one of the dumbest animals, what did that say about us? 

All these years later, I now understand why Psalm 100 was a perfect choice.  Following God faithfully and relying on His provisions has been the cornerstone of our marriage.  Out of that has grown the thankfulness that has become the mission of our 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call ministry.  We truly believe the power of thanksgiving can ignite your faith and change your life as it has for us.

This Thanksgiving, I wrote a Psalm 100 Prayer for all of us.  Please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father,

We shout for joy to You our LORD.

May all the earth worship You today with gladness.

You LORD are our God and we are Your people.

Like sheep we often wander off and go astray, 

but You are steadfast and faithful.

You bring us back, close to Your side.

We come into Your presence with thanksgiving and 

we praise Your Holy name. 

You LORD are always good to us and 

Your love endures forever.

Your faithfulness continues through all generations.

We give You thanks and praise today and every day! 

Amen

As you celebrate Thanksgiving today with family and/or friends, be reminded that you are passing on a legacy of thanksgiving to the next generation.  Then take a moment to remember all your beloved family members already in heaven. They, like God must be so thankful for your strong faith and steadfast love. 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Parade of Thanks

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

Just this week, I saw a poster advertising the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  The colorful float pictured took me back to a time when I wasn’t the one preparing the Thanksgiving feast.  I was just a child showing up at the “kid table” to enjoy the fruits of everyone else’s labors.  Oh… how wonderful.

How many of you grew up watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?  I remember starting to watch it at home, getting in the car for the long drive to my grandparents’ house, then walking in their front door to watch the final hour or so. I knew back then that this parade was super long and elaborate. 

Did you know the parade was started in 1924 by first-generation European immigrants working at Macy’s department store in New York City?  They desired to celebrate Thanksgiving in America with a similar festive flare that they had learned in Europe. 

Today, 3.5 million people line the 2.65 mile parade route to watch the marching bands, festive floats, and big balloons with cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat.  Of course Santa Claus is always the last in line, waving to screaming children as he has for ninety-two years.  

Like the millions of Americans standing in awe of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, we too can stand in awe of what God has done and will continue to do in our nation.  We are a blessed country!  

We enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  We have clean water, electricity, city parks, good schools, paved roads, and police officers, firefighters, and EMTs securing our safety day and night.  Regardless of our differences, we all benefit immensely from living in this great nation.  

Be proud to be an American this Thanksgiving.  Stand unified as God’s children rejoicing today in one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL! 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

The Least of These

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. – Psalm 107:8-9

On Thanksgiving Day, homeless shelters, churches, and community centers will feed thousands of people who have little to eat and nobody to share it with.  Countless volunteer hours will go into making them traditional turkey meals, and hearts will overflow with joy as people do the work Jesus called all of us to do.  It seems that God has wired our hearts to sense His powerful presence when we serve His people in need. When we do, Jesus is right there with us reminding us of how blessed we truly are.

Here are a couple of my most joyous memories of service at Thanksgiving:

Many years ago, while traveling in San Diego for a holiday soccer tournament, the team and accompanying parents spent an afternoon sorting food in a large distribution center.  This food would be delivered on Thanksgiving Day to poor families in the area.  The enthusiasm, sense of purpose, and joy felt by both the soccer players and their parents was incredible.

When our kids were little, we served Thanksgiving meals at our church to several hundred homeless people a year.   The kids who could read and write took meal orders.  The older kids delivered the plates of home-made food, addressing each person by name and wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving. Even the little kids passed out desserts.  It was a fantastic way to begin our own family celebration.

Before Jesus sent His disciples into a town to share the good news of God’s saving grace, He reminded them to take care of the “least of these:"  the widows, orphans, and the poor who have always been close to His’ heart.

Think about the people living in your community.  Who would Jesus serve if he arrived in your hometown?  Here in Boulder, Colorado, I think Jesus would hang out along the bike path.  He would look intensely into the eyes of the homeless, call them each by name, tell them He loved them, and ask how He could help.

Count your blessings today.  Then think of some way you can serve those in need during this Thanksgiving season. "The least of these" are always in sight and never out of reach.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Trials on the Trail

Fight the good fight of faith.

 – 1 Timothy 6:12

As I shared with you yesterday, I’m chaperoning my daughter’s soccer team this weekend.  It’s sunny and warm in Phoenix, but this is no vacation.  I’m in charge of fifteen middle school girls.  Several times a day I feed them, water them, remind them to wear the right uniform and hound (? encourage) them to clean up, be on time, and play strong. 

I finally got a break today while they were warming up before a game.  I decided to take a quick jog to burn off some of the calories we’ve been consuming.  Within minutes, I discovered a sandy trail leading away from the soccer complex into the desert.  

At the entrance, I noticed a thick silver chain lying on the ground with two big orange cones kicked to the side.  Maybe the trail was once off limits, but not today.  I took off down the sandy strip and was soon mesmerized by the fascinating landscape.  A lizard scurried off to the right, prickly cactus grew in clumps, and dry scrub brush stretched as far as the eye could see.

I plodded along enjoying the sunshine and dry eighty-degree air until, I heard a rattle.  Not a cricket, not a bird, but the unmistakable rattle of a snake’s tail.  My first response was to jump straight up as if it was under my feet.  Thankfully, it wasn’t.  My head whipped from side to side trying to locate it.  I couldn’t, so my normal turtle-slow pace quickly accelerated to a jack rabbit sprint and I high-tailed it back to the concrete.

Out of breath and sweating profusely, I thanked God that I was safe. I imagined what it must feel like to be bitten by a rattle snake.  Terrified, yet relieved to be safe, I scanned the scenery to see how far I was from the soccer fields.  That’s when I saw the sign: 

DANGER

Native Habitat

Entry Restricted

It occurred to me then that my encounter was a reflection of how most of us live day to day.  We’re out exploring the world, jogging along in life, yet the enemy is always present.  We mighty not see him but he sees us.  He plans traps, temptations, and trials.  As the Bible explains, “Satan roams throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). The enemy is always there ready to strike. Wake up! Don’t give him a chance.

We must decide every day that we are going to fight the good fight of faith and stand up to the enemy’s schemes.  Sometimes it is good to flee, but the most effective strategy is to stand on God’s truth (Eph. 6:14).

This Thanksgiving season, remember that the enemy prowls around you looking to take you out (1 Peter 5:8). He will use your busyness to get you off balance or bite you.  But you can stand strong in your faith, knowing that God is bigger than your enemy and He has greater plans for you; plans to prosper you and give you a hope and good future (Jer. 29:11).  

Fight the good fight of faith!  And remember you are on the winning team.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Choose Peace, Overcome the Crazy

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7

I am traveling with my youngest daughter’s soccer team to an out of state tournament.  Already, the airports are filled with Thanksgiving travelers.  My natural inclination is to get to the airport “just in time,” so I’m glad that I heeded my husband’s advice to allow for even more time than usual to park, go through security, and get to the gate.  It’s brought me peace instead of panic. (Yes, dear.  You were right.)

While reading Joyce Meyer’s devotional, The Power of Being Thankful she also gives several important suggestions that will help us this Thanksgiving.  Especially if you’re going to be spending time with family you don’t see that often might not necessarily get along with so well.  Don’t feel bad, almost every family has at least one person drives the others crazy.  How you deal with “crazy” will determine whether you keep your peace or lose it this Thanksgiving week.

Here’s her advice.  I added an “Action Step” afterwards to help you put it into practice. 

        1.  Develop and maintain peace with God and peace with yourself.  Then and only                  then will you begin to develop a mind-set that allows you to live in peace with others. 

Action – First thing in the morning, before you begin to tackle all the Thanksgiving tasks, spend ten minutes alone with God.  Thank Him for all that is good in your life then invite Him into your day.  Ask God to guard your heart and mind and fill you with His supernatural peace.

2. Don’t expect people to be perfect, because they aren’t.  This is an unrealistic expectation that will damage your relationships.

Action – Pray for the people you are going to be spending time with that day.  Pray for God’s blessings to shower those people with His goodness, mercy, and love.  (It’s hard to stay angry at people you’re praying for.)

3. Don’t expect everyone to be like you, because they aren’t.  Discovering that we are all uniquely different solves many relationship conflicts.

Action – Thank everyone for their part they are playing in this holiday celebration.  A heart of gratitude crowds out bitterness, criticism, and anger.

4. Be an encourager, not a discourager.  Everyone loves to be with people who celebrate and notice strengths and choose to ignore weaknesses.  

Action – Decide ahead of time, while you’re alone with God, to use only uplifting and encouraging words.  Ask God to stop you in your tracks if you are about to speak critically or judgmentally.  Remember the power of Jesus is in you to control your tongue.  Tap into His awesome power and talk like Him today.  

Lastly, let your 3 o’clock Wake Up Call be a much needed reminder during this busy week to stop, look up to God, give Him thanks, and invite Him into your heart, mind, thoughts, and actions.  Then, God’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind.  Pursue peace and allow God’s power to flow out of you as you love on all your family… even the crazy ones. 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Wonder

Praise be to the LORD, for He showed me the wonders of His love. – Psalm 31:21

While teaching a large group of elementary aged children at church, I gave them the same real life dilemma the rich young ruler faced in Mark 10:17-22. 

The rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Seeing how important his wealth was to him, Jesus instructed the young man to sell all his possessions and follow Him.  Without telling the children how he answered, I asked them what they would do in that situation.

The children first discussed the pros and cons of following Jesus with their small group leaders.  When we gathered back together as a class, one of the leaders, dressed like the rich man, walked past them on to the stage.  Wearing a purple robe, gold jewelry, and carrying a big money bag with cash spilling out of it, he looked out over the captivated audience and asked very seriously, “What do you think I should do, follow Jesus or go back to my palace?”

Without hesitation, the kids yelled in unison, “FOLLOW JESUS!”

The rich, young ruler looked shocked. His mouth gapped open as he squeaked out, “Really?”

One eight-year-old boy shouted, “Yes!  Following Jesus will be the most exciting adventure ever!”

Every adult in the room stood silently in awe.  I’ll confess that tears welled up as I thought to myself, this is what Jesus meant when He told us to have faith like a child.  

Bethel Music has a beautiful song named, Wonder. As I listened to it this week, I was reminded that God wants us to marvel at His grace, mercy, and love daily.  God desires for us to follow Jesus with a heart full of wonder like an innocent, fully believing child.  

The song begins with these lyrics:

May we never lose our wonder

May we never lose our wonder

Wide eyed and mystified

May we be just like a child

Staring at the beauty of our King

As the busyness of the coming Thanksgiving holiday fast approaches, take a few moments to stand wide eyed and mystified in wonder of God’s goodness upon your life.

When have you experienced God’s powerful presence lately?  Where have you recently seen God’s beauty?  In nature?  In a young child’s eyes? Let’s praise Jesus today, the Kings of Kings who holds our lives in His loving hands. Let’s follow Him and all the exciting, wonderful adventures He has planned for us.  

May we never lose our wonder.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Traditional Recipes

I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High. – Psalm 7:17

No pressure here, but have you already started shopping for Thanksgiving dinner?  Aside from the usual fixings, do you have a few unique, traditional family recipes that remind you of growing up?  As I single handedly deplete Safeway’s supply of Strawberry Jell-O, I smile as I remember one of mine: Mama’s Pretzel Jell-O salad.

In typical Midwest fashion, this “salad” had no vegetables, just lots of good stuff suspended in Jell-O. When my family moved from Indiana to New England, people thought we were nuts to serve this on Thanksgiving (or at all).  Cranberry is the undisputed side dish of choice there.  My kids, however, wouldn’t consider it a Thanksgiving dinner without it. 

By the way, we are not nuts, we just know what’s good.  I’ve been making Mama’s recipe for over twenty-five years now.  Every year, I walk through the same steps to make sure each delicious layer will solidify properly on top of the other.  

Crushed pretzels and melted butter make up the foundation.  Once that’s cooled, I add a sour cream (yes, sour cream) and sugar combination.  Then comes a layer of Cool Whip.  Finally, I add the strawberry and Jell-O mixture.  It then “rests” in the refrigerator overnight.  The next day, its jiggly “just right” combination of sweet-saltiness makes the perfect side dish for the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  Even the New Englanders admit that it’s much better than their bitter dollops of cranberry sauce. 

Eating Pretzel Jell-O has opened the door for me to share so many Mama and Papa stories with my kids.  They know about our road trips to the cabin in North Carolina, swimming pool stunts with Mama, card tournaments, and visits to the farm to see Papa’s horse and make homemade ice cream (another recipe with family stories).  

My children don’t remember my Mama and Papa but they feel close to them through this tradition of food and stories.

What Thanksgiving recipes on your table this year could tell a family story? Who or what comes to your mind when you make a particular recipe or enjoy a traditional dish?  Who can be honored and remembered this year by telling their story?  

In the next few days, share a special Thanksgiving recipe with us. Email it to us. Tell us why this particular dish is special to you.  Does it tell a family story or remind you of someone you love?  We’ll compile the recipes, look for common themes, and share them with you before Thanksgiving. 

Let’s thank God today for family members who have enriched our lives with generous love and great memories.  Let’s give God praise for Thanksgiving traditions that keep family love truly alive.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Your Heart's Desires

Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

Yesterday we were dreaming big.  Today, we’ll trust in one of God’s amazing promises.

God is certainly not a genie in a bottle, but think for a moment…. If God could grant you one wish, what would it be?  

This actually happened to Solomon, David’s son, soon after he was crowned King of Israel.  Just imagine what you would have said and done if you were in Solomon’s shoes.

When David passed his kingdom (and all its responsibilities) to Solomon, Solomon was more than a little overwhelmed.  But God knowing Solomon’s concerns before he spoke them aloud, appeared to Solomon in a dream and said “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon, understanding full well the importance and power of his new position, asked for wisdom.  

God made Solomon the wisest man who has ever lived.  God also looked into Solomon’s heart and bestowed upon him many more unasked for blessings such as wealth, honor, and a long life.  

Years before, David had written in Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Solomon must have stood in awe of God’s amazing gifts.  We can too.

In just one week, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  God has given us so much to be thankful for.  Think of all the past prayers that God has answered.  Remember how God has comforted you during crisis, loved you even when you lost it, and reached out a hand when you thought you might drown.  

Hasn’t God also given you many of the things you were too afraid, or even embarrassed, to ask Him for?  Let’s thank Him and take great delight that He knows us even better than we know ourselves.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Dream Big

Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

– Matthew 19:26

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to dream enormous dreams for your life?  

Sometimes dreams pop into our minds without permission.  Recently, I caught myself dreaming such a huge dream that I had to laugh out loud. Here I am, a middle-aged mother of three, still dreaming like an invincible teenager with my whole life ahead of me.

All too quickly, though, practicality took over.  I don’t have enough of the ingredients necessary to make the dream a reality; not enough knowledge, experience, connections, etc.

But dreaming is still fun!  So, I brushed away these negative thoughts and gave myself permission to dream big.  As soon as I did, I remembered the book Chicken Soup for the Soul.  

The authors, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, were turned down by every single large publishing house in the U.S.  Finally, a small health and wellness publisher in Florida took a chance on them.  Today, the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series has over 250 titles and has sold more than 110 million copies in the U.S. and Canada. Chicken Soup for the Soul books have been translated into 43 languages, have been published in over 100 countries, and have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.

Dream with me today.  What’s an outrageous dream of yours?  Do you dream of singing on Broadway, dancing with the stars, creating a You Tube video that goes viral, curing cancer, traveling the globe on an important mission, inventing something every household needs…?  The sky’s the limit, what’s your huge dream?

Remember that Jesus teaches us that “With man what is impossible, is possible with God.”  Share your dreams with God.  He won’t laugh at you.  He’ll hear from heaven and start moving in ways you can’t even imagine.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Rejoice Always

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

– Philippians 4:4

How could a man chained in prison remind us to rejoice in the Lord always?  

Isn’t it much easier to rejoice and express your gratitude to God when life is blissful and beautiful?  But what happens when hardships hit?  I’ll confess that for me, complaining is often my first response.  Paul is encouraging us to be better than that and rejoice in the Lord at all times, in all circumstances. 

While on vacation, I’ve observed young children throwing temper tantrums in paradise. It’s been common place to see preschoolers screaming on the beach, siblings throwing sand at each others’ heads, and toddlers totally losing it at the resort pool. I giggle because it reminds me of what God must be thinking of us when we whine and complain in our paradises.

God, like the parents pushing the strollers, must want to shout out, “Have you looked around lately?  You are surrounded by so much beauty, why in the world are you complaining?”

Paul had endured every kind of hardship you can imagine.  He’d been knocked down, blinded, beaten, shipwrecked (three times), and imprisoned.  You name the pain, Paul endured it.  How could he still rejoice?  

I believe Paul could rejoice because of his close relationship with Jesus.  It was Jesus’ strength, not his own, that Paul relied on during his hardships.  In knowing that he was Jesus’ servant, spreading the good news, Paul could find joy, contentment, peace, and hope in all circumstances, from a packed church to a solitary prison cell.

What if you saw yourself as a modern day apostle?  When asked where your joy comes from, you quickly point to Jesus.  When hardships hit and you walk through them with a smile and good attitude, you give Jesus the credit.  At all times, in all circumstances JOY is a choice.  As Paul encourages, choose wisely and live a life of rejoicing.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Faithful Still

If we are faithless, He will remain faithful.

 – 2 Timothy 2:13

Wouldn’t you agree that so much of our time is spent working to earn something?  

When we’re young, we practice long, hard hours to earn a place on the team or seat in the orchestra.  We study through the night to earn good grades.  We take classes to acquire knowledge to earn the degree.  We work diligently to earn our boss’ approval or time off.  We earn money to support a lifestyle. It never stops, we are constantly on the wheel of earning something.

Maybe that’s why grace and faith are so hard for us to fully grasp.  We DO nothing to earn our salvation through Jesus except believe He is who God says He is.  When we trust in Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we immediately win God’s grace, mercy, and favor. It’s like winning the lottery by just believing we can win… no ticket necessary! 

The first time I read 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful,” I was profoundly perplexed.  How can God remain faithful when we are not?  

I’ve watched too many marriages crash and burn after infidelity.  Once one spouse is unfaithful, the cards are stacked against the couple.  It seems all impossible to remain together after trust is trampled.  But this is not the case in our relationship with Jesus.  Once we believe in His saving grace, we are His forever.  

Even when our faith dwindles or fades away, Jesus does not leave us or forsake us.  It’s truly a relationship like no other.

We can fall asleep in our faith and walk around like zombies for years.  God still loves us all the same.  Like the father of the prodigal son, God is patiently waiting for us to come to our senses and come home to Him.  When we do, He’ll passionately run to us and lavishly love us as if we’ve done nothing wrong in the past.  (Luke 15:11-31)

Today, I’m thinking of all my friends and family members who are far from God.  Some have walked away on purpose, others unintentionally.  Many are just busy earning:  position, power, prestige, etc… I pray that God will wake them up to His presence, power, and the plans that He has for them.  These gifts from God are free.

Who comes to your mind when you think of someone who is far from their faith?  Place your hope in the One who is always faithful and trust that God can wake anyone up.  No one is ever too far from His loving reach.    

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Toilet Bowl Thinking

Come near to God and He will come near to you. – James 4:8

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and remembered something important you forgot to do?  One moment you’re sleeping soundly, then you’re awake and your mind is racing a hundred miles a minute.  Peace is displaced by distress.  

Our peace can be stolen during the day as well.  You’ve planned out the day’s events.  With “To Do” List in hand, you’re off and running… only to bump into a traffic jam, a headache, or a missed call that sends you reeling and puts your whole day behind schedule.  You show up to the meeting late, forget your notes in the car, and your child’s school is calling.  Good-bye planned peace, hello real life stress.

Even on vacation, where peace should be “a sure thing,” our minds somehow remember a task we forgot to do before leaving, sending our thoughts spiraling out of control. I call this Toilet Bowl Thinking.

Here’s an example: I remember a bill I forgot to pay.  I think, “is it now 30 days late?  What if I ruined our credit score?  How could I forget that, it was on my list?  Why am I always dropping details?  I must be doing too much.  No, you’re just unorganized.  You have no systems in place to keep track of things.  You are so unreliable and forgetful.  You are pathetic Laura!  You deserve the drop in your credit score.”  

Like water flushing down a toilet, negative thinking spirals downward, becoming harsher and meaner.  It’s made even worse when the enemy jumps in and employs his own tactics like name calling and trash talking lies. What we think about has a direct impact on our attitudes, actions, and the outcome of our days.  

But we don’t have to put up with this Toilet Bowl “stinking thinking”.  We have a spiritual practice that can replace spiraling criticism with God’s truth that restores our peace.

When you find yourself trapped in negative thought patterns, stop like we do at 3pm every day, and invite God into the mess or madness.  He promises to always be available, anytime, anywhere.  Simply stop and pray, “God, please get involved in my crazy day.  I need your help here.”  Then thank Him for jumping in.

God will draw near to you when you call on Him.  He longs to be close to you on good days and bad, when you’re running late, stuck in traffic, or beating yourself up for a mistake you made.  God will calm your nerves, give you patience, restore peace and remind you who you are to Him.  

The next time your thoughts are in the toilet, look up to God and invite Him in.  He has an amazing way of taking the broken, messed up parts of our lives and using them for His good. 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement