Miracle Suit

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:14

By far, my least favorite thing about summer is bathing suits.  Around Spring Break, when it again dawns on me that bathing suit season is right around the corner, I make a plan to start slimming down.  But somehow, summer finds me before I lose the pounds.

As I packed up the pool bag today with towels, sunscreen, my bathing suit, and a long cover up, I heard familiar voices of condemnation in my mind.  No cover up could ever cover up all that cellulite.  The people at the pool are going to notice you’re wearing last year’s suit, and they would have to be blind not to notice that it’s tighter now.

I shoved my bathing suit into the side pocket as my mind drifted back to last summer.  I’d ordered this “miracle suit” online after reading how it takes 10 lbs. off your figure (once you squeeze your body into it).  That’s pretty miraculous, I’d say. You might want to hold off on getting one for yourself, though.  I’m still waiting for my miracle.

That wasn’t the case for all the people Jesus touched.  Wherever Jesus went, miracles happened.  I’ve often thought wouldn’t have been easier if Jesus could have walked into a village, lifted his hand to heaven, and prayed for all the sick or lame to be healed in that moment.  Instead Jesus spent His moments with individuals.  One by one Jesus’ touch healed; one dying girl, one demon possessed boy, one paralytic on a mat before Him and one lying by a pool, one leper named Simon, and one desperate woman named Mary.  

One.  When God made you, He made you one of a kind.  There is no duplicate of you anywhere.  He fearfully and wonderfully made you in His image for the good purposes He planned long ago.  Have you ever taken the time to think…God could have placed you anywhere, in any time period, yet he chose your exact birthday and used your parent’s unique DNA to create what He calls a masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

From God’s point of view, you are His beloved, beautiful child.  He overlooks your physical flaws and looks directly into your heart (1Samuel 16:7).  Too often we focus on our cellulite, wrinkles, acne, nose, and thighs, missing the fact that God sees us fully and loves us completely.  

I’ll most likely be at the pool when my 3pm alarm sounds.  I’m pretty sure I’ll need this reminder.  How about you?  

Today’s Wake Up Call from God: You are beautiful inside and out to the One who made you in His image, for His delight. God will never criticize what He created.  He only cheers you on and sees you as a miracle.  

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

Affirmation and Recognition

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. 

– Zephaniah 3:17

Exploring the downtown of Breckenridge, CO, my husband and I wandered into a casual restaurant for dinner. Within seconds of being seated our waitress, Jessica appeared. Smiling and joyful, she took our order and sped away. While we waited, I kept catching Jessica out of the corner of my eye. 

First, I noticed her bounding up two flights of stairs carrying a tray loaded with enough food for a family. Less than a minute later, she was scrubbing down the table in front of us, also making sure that the floor and window around it were sparkling clean. Next, she sped by with a tub full of dirty dishes, heading to the kitchen. Seconds later, she burst back out through the doors with her arms full of clean silverware for an entire section of the restaurant. 

My husband and I marveled at her incredible work ethic and stamina. We thought she must have been a manager, or even an owner to work that hard with such attention to detail. You know me…I had to ask. So when our dinners arrived, I blurted out, “Wow Jessica! You sure are busting your butt here. Are you the manager or an owner?”

Jessica only laughed, “No I’ve worked here for nine years. See that woman at the front door? She’s the manager. She doesn’t recognize all that I do around here.”

How often do you feel the same way? You work your butt off taking care of kids and no one sees how hard it truly is? You clean the kitchen and empty the dishwasher AGAIN and no one thanks you. You complete the same mundane tasks at work but have never received a single compliment. You volunteer faithfully but wonder if it even makes a difference. 

Who recognizes what you do to keep your boat afloat, the family fed, or your house functioning day after day?

I learned the hard way not to look to others for recognition but look to the Lord for affirmation. 

God sees you folding the laundry, cleaning the toilet, working diligently, and loving faithfully. He takes great delight in you and rejoices over you (Zephaniah 3:17). He waits for you to invite Him into every single area of your life. 

You can practice the presence of God by:

• Praying for the people whose clothes you are folding.
• Listening to praise music while cleaning your house.
• Read a Bible passage in the area you’re trying to grow right before leaving the house. (or put it in the car so you see it every time you get in and out)
• Invite God to join you wherever you go or whatever challenge you face.

Before you know it, when your 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call sounds, you’ll realize you’ve spent the entire day with God close by your side. His presence will grant you joy even in mundane tasks and daily routines. 

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – Colossians 3:17

Before leaving the restaurant, we left Jessica a large tip with a thank you note. On our way out, I stopped at the manager’s station and praised Jessica’s hard work and excellent hospitality. Even if the manager doesn’t recognize Jessica as a gift, God certainly does. 

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

Fighting Fear With Friendship

When I am afraid, I will trust in you LORD. – Psalm 56:3

What’s your biggest fear? Is it dying, or the death of someone you love? Is it being left alone or financially broke? How about public speaking, or being attacked in an alleyway? Is it receiving a bad medical report or that life-changing 3am phone call? 

Fear is unwelcome and uninvited, yet it still invades our lives.

Last Thursday afternoon, the unimaginable happened here in Colorado when an angry driver gunned down a mom and her sons right before they walked into a dentist’s. Road rage quickly turned to devastation, leaving the thirteen-year-old son dead and a mother and her young child lying on the ground, fighting for their lives. A family history forever changed by a moment of meaningless unbridled anger.

My heart breaks just imagining what the father felt when he answered his cell phone and heard the news. Grief, loss, anger and fear must have instantly overwhelmed. I hope and pray he doesn’t blame God. 

God is not the author of these moments of rage. He is, instead, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). God’s word tells us to rid ourselves of anger, rage and malice and instead put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:8,12).

On the other hand, it’s our enemy, Satan who is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Just the opposite of Jesus who came to give us an abundant life, full of grace, freedom, love and joy. 

So what do we do when fear invades our lives?

We can do three things:

#1 Thank - We can thank God for each day and every breath. We don’t know the number of our days, each one is a gift from Him. 

#2 Love - We can love our family and friends intentionally with our words and actions. They are gifts from God to us. 

#3 Trust - We can trust God to walk with us through both the good times and the horrific ones. His presence is a gift and is available anytime, anywhere. 

Trusting God is a lifelong process. Each time a new fear arises, our trust in Him is tested. Like working a muscle, when we choose to trust God and walk by faith, not by sight, we are strengthening our ability to trust Him in the future. Yes, you can toughen up every time you trust God through troubled times. 

I have found one secret to trusting God more is to simply see Jesus as your best friend.  

Like a best friend, spend time talking to Jesus throughout your day. Ask Him for His advice, invite Him into your decisions, laugh and cry with Him, and express your love to Him often. Growing closer to Jesus will increase your trust in God and help you fight fear when it shows up uninvited and unwelcomed.  

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

In Pursuit

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

– John 17:3

Last Summer, I read A.W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God for the third time.  It was packed full of profound lessons on the value of spending time alone with God. 

A.W. Tozer (1897–1963) was an uneducated man.  His remarkable spiritual intelligence came from spending numerous hours in the Word of God, listening to the Holy Spirit.  Isn’t that wonderful!?  You don’t need a degree in God to know Him, you just need a seeking mind and a desiring heart.

I know all too well that spending time with God in the middle of our busy days can seem like an impossible demand.  From the moment our feet hit the ground in the morning, we rush from place to place checking items off our list.  We eat food on the go, return calls in the car, and text at stop lights.  No wonder we’re exhausted before dinner.  

I had thought it must have been easier for Tozer seventy years ago.  Wasn’t life so much simpler before cell phones and the internet?  Tozer felt differently, describing much of what we see today: busy, distracted people who are stagnant in their faith. 

“Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.  Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people.  He waits to be wanted.  Too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.” 

(The Pursuit of God, page 17)

As a teacher, I feel compelled to simplify and personalize this quote for us.  I think Tozer is telling each one of us -  When you become “fine” with not growing spiritually, then you miss out on experiencing God’s real presence and power in your everyday life.  God is waiting for you to wake up and know Him more.

The Holy Spirit wants to guide you into a deeper knowledge and intimacy with God your Father and Jesus your Savior.  The Spirit wants to awaken you to God’s desire to be known by you.  The Spirit reminds you of God’s promise; when you seek Him with all your heart, He will be found by you (Jeremiah 29:13).

The first time I read The Pursuit of God was in 2011.  I wanted to know God more, but with three young kids, I didn’t have a lot of time to spend with Him in prayer, reading the Bible.  I did, however, have the habit of my 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call.  So every week, I chose one or two Bible passages that would help me know God more, and loaded them onto my phone.  When my 3pm alarm sounded, these truths about God popped up in the middle of my busy day.  

I didn’t realize it then, but tucking truths about God deep within your heart combats complacency and increases intimacy.  

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

Get in the Boat

He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. – Proverbs 28:26

Have you ever committed to do something you thought would be wonderful, but when the time came to pack up and go, you wondered what in the world you were thinking?  

Last summer, my family of five set off to Buena Vista, CO for a whitewater rafting trip. Due to Colorado’s heavy late spring snowfall, the Arkansas River was flowing fast, furious, and freezing cold.  The rafting trip my husband booked describes itself on the web as: 

“Continuous paddling through mostly uninterrupted whitewater, with highly technical maneuvering around many obstacles and through complex channels.  Excellent physical fitness is required.” 

It was a trip for the brave and fit.  Our guide was going to take one look at me and know I’m neither.  

I was making a mental list of excuses for staying out of the boat and just taking pictures from the shore when my youngest daughter, seeming to read my mind, reminded me how I’d faced my fear of heights in Costa Rica by plunging off the side of a mountain and zip-lining through the jungle. (I screamed all the way.)  She’s right.  It’s time again to step way out of my comfort zone and trust God to protect us as we twist and turn our way through outrageous whitewater rapids. 

What adventurous dreams fill your heart with fear when you picture yourself stepping out of your comfort zone to go after them?  If we’re going to fulfill God’s plans for our lives, we’ll have to wrestle with and conquer fear.  The enemy knows that fear has the power to stop us in our tracks.

God does not promise to take away our fears, but He does promise to remain beside us as we walk (or paddle) through them.  Tomorrow on the river, I will no doubt remind myself of that.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. – Psalm 46:1-3

Whatever fears you face this summer, remind yourselves of the truths in this Psalm.  Hold tight to God because He is your ever-present strength.  Trust Him, and step out of your comfort zone into any “boat” or plan He has for you.

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

Clear Communication

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” – John 14:15-17

I’m not sure how they did it, but our phone company now clearly communicates when a telemarketer is calling my home. Instead of the caller ID labeling an incoming call as being from an “Unknown Caller,” it now reads either “Illegal Scam” or “Probable Fraud.” Our particular answering machine, with a voice like Siri, warns us aloud, “Call from illegal scam.”

How amazing is that? I no longer have to gamble that picking up the phone might obligate me to minutes wasted trying to politely wiggle my way off the call with a salesperson or, less politely, tell the person posing as an IRS agent that everybody already knows about her scam and that, if she wants to put me in jail and seize my house, she can go right ahead. What a relief! Thank you phone company.

Don’t you wish the same was true with people in the real world? How great would it be if, while being told your car needs significant repairs, a cartoon bubble would pop up next to the mechanic that read “I’m really ripping you off by $500.” 

Or, as your teenager is trying to convince you a party is going to be safe, you could read the words above her telling you to “Say no. The parents are at the liquor store right now, shopping for the party.”

I want that kind of truth and warning.

Jesus gave it to us when He promised the Holy Spirit.

“If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” – John 14:15-17

Jesus asks us to love Him and follow His ways. When we do, He asks God the Father to give us a 24/7 every-day-available “advocate” to guide us in truth. Amazingly, we don’t have to ask over and over again, because once you believe Jesus is your Savior, the Holy Spirit is deposited in you. From then on, you travel together. (Ephesians 1:14) 

Here are several names given to the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible:

• Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2)
• Spirit of Wisdom (Isaiah 11:2)
• The Comforter (John 14:26)
• A Guide (John 16:13)
• Your Teacher (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Like the phone company communicating with me not to answer the call, God gave you His Spirit to lead you with power and purpose. Are you listening to the Holy Spirit every day?

If you desire to know the Holy Spirit more deeply and hear His guidance more clearly, start your day with a simple prayer such as: 

Dear God,

Let Your Spirit be my guide today. You are my _________ (insert one of the names of the Holy Spirit). Speak to me Holy Spirit. I’m listening.

In Jesus’ Name I Pray,

Amen

When your 3:00pm alarm sounds, be reminded that the Holy Spirit is alive and active inside you. Tap into it with thanksgiving and call out to God to continue to be your guide. Ask for more awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. 

Jesus teaches us to, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 

Jesus’ half-brother, James reminds us, “If anyone lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given.” – James 1:5

So what are you waiting for? You have the Spirit of truth in you, so live confidently with great faith believing God can clearly communicate with you today.

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

Summertime Giving

Compassion for the poor – what a blessing! – Proverbs 14:21 (MSG)

As a little girl, I remember my mom always buying extra Thanksgiving turkeys.  We’d load them into the family van and deliver them around downtown Indianapolis.   At each apartment building, we’d carry the turkey up to the front door and knock.  As I anxiously waited for a complete stranger to answer, my childish eyes would dart from side to side, and up and down. 

I’d often see missing floorboards, busted up bikes, peeling paint, cracked plastic chairs, and piles of discarded cardboard.  I wondered why we lived so differently.  But then the front door would swing wide open and I’d lock eyes with a thankful mother or father.  Smiles of gratitude, and sometimes even hugs of joy, were shared in celebration of the gift.  I’d walk back to the van with a heart overflowing with joy.

Those acts of compassion and giving to the poor left imprints upon my soul.  I am forever thankful that my mom had the courage to drive into the run-down parts of the city and deliver joy to families we’d never see again.  

I didn’t know it then, but when we act on our compassion for the poor and give with a generous heart, we are the ones blessed beyond measure.  

• Proverbs 14:31 tells us that, whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  

• 1 John 3:17 states that if anyone has material possession and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  So let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

It’s more common for people to think of giving generously around Thanksgiving.  But in the summer, our lives take on a different pace and the weather calls us to vacation and relax.  God reminds us in Proverbs 14 that the poor are still in need.

What if you spent a moment with God asking Him who you could give to or serve this summer?  God will surely bring someone to mind.  Could you:

• Fill a small cooler in your car with water bottles to pass out to homeless people you see on a street corner in the heat of the day?

• Sign up to volunteer for a non-profit organization to help with the summer lull in staffing?

• Shop for a cause by skipping a dinner out and buying canned goods for a food shelf instead?

Ask God to move your heart for the poor, then step out in faith.  When you sense a nudge to give, give.  When you see someone in need, give.  When you do, you will be honoring God and will be blessed beyond measure with love and joy. 

If you take this giving challenge, write to me and let me know how you were moved and how God met you in your giving.  laura@3oclockwakeup.com

I’d love to hear your stories!

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

What's Enough?

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

– Matthew 19:26

Imagine… you’ve just read to preschoolers the Bible story about Jesus multiplying 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread into enough food to feed a huge crowd of people. You close the Bible and hand each child a lunch bag, asking them to open it up and discover what’s inside. Every child eagerly removes the contents and counts their treasures… 1, 2 fish and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 loaves of bread. Giggles erupt and joy exudes. 

You smile at their child-like faith, asking yourself, “How can these children be so happy with so little?” As far as they’re concerned, they have exactly what the little boy in the Bible had. , which is all they need. 

Preparing for the lesson that all things are possible with Jesus, I’ll be honest, my mind resonated with Jesus’ disciples, who saw the problem as too big to be solved. 

Like Philip, I get the math. Eight months of wages wouldn’t buy enough food to feed the hungry people, so I understand why they told Jesus to just send everyone home.

Like Andrew, I know that two small fish and five loaves of bread is too tiny to satisfy even one grown man, let alone 5,000. I understand his hopeless feelings. 

Philip focused on their lack of provisions, and Andrew focused on the massiveness of the problem. Don’t we do the very same thing with our own problems? 

We think we’ll never have enough money saved to buy a house, or pay of all the debt. We focus on the lack of income… if we only had a little more, than we’d be happier. Or we focus on how huge a problem is and convince ourselves that it’s impossible… the marriage is failing, the teenager will never come to his senses, she’ll never say she’s sorry. 

Like the disciples, we forget we have Jesus right by our side. He showed us exactly how to respond to big problems that appear impossible to solve. 

• First, Jesus had everyone SIT DOWN.
• Second, Jesus GAVE THANKS to God.
• Lastly, He BELIEVED GOD could do the impossible.

The next time you face a huge challenge, follow Jesus’ lead. Instead of running around crazy, trying to solve it in your own strength, sit down with God and pray. He already knows what you need, but when you tell Him, you’re expressing your reliance in Him. Like a good father, God wants to take care of you. 

Then while you’re praying focus on what you do have, no matter how little, and give God thanks. As you list of all you’re thankful for, gratitude to God shifts our minds from lack to abundance.

Finally, believe nothing (NO THING) is impossible for God. If He can multiply a few fish and loaves to feed the masses, He can multiply your resources or move mountains in your path. And when He does, you’ll have even more reasons to sit with Him and give Him thanks and praise. 

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