Dumpster Diving

“Things are not always as they seem.”

More often than I care to admit, I find myself in embarrassing situations where the best I can hope for is to laugh alongside the people who are laughing at me. 

Like the day I stopped at the gas station on my way home from getting duplicate keys made at The Home Depot.  Per our usual gas station “pit stop drill,” the kids and I rifled through the car and throw all the trash into the bin near the pump.  (My teenage daughter had been driving that car lately, so today was quite a haul).

When we got home, and I couldn’t find the key duplicates, my mind flashed back to the gas station.  They had been in a small, lightweight paper bag, so someone must have accidentally thrown them out.  We quickly got back in the car and zipped to the station.  

I nonchalantly walked over to the trash can and peered inside. Since everyone seemed to be busy filling up their cars, I quickly rifled through the trash on the top.  No luck.  I’d have to dig deeper. Since my arms were too short to reach the bottom of the canister, I pulled off its plastic covering and hauled the bag out on to the concrete.  Throwing stealth to the wind, and gagging a little, I opened the bag, and started sorting through soda cans, chewed gum, half-filled coffee cups, and used napkins. No keys. 

As I stood up to put everything back, my eyes met those of a couple sitting in a big Ford pickup on the other side of the gas pump.  Their faces showed compassion, or maybe pity, as they talked to each other behind rolled-up windows. I knew they were talking about me.  

Hoping to explain myself, I walked over and motioned for the man to roll down his window. “We were talking about how we might help you,” he said.  I explained the mystery of the lost keys and we laughed out loud together.  They were thankful I wasn’t dumpster diving to feed my kids and I was thankful for laughter to replace my stress.

Driving away, I was reminded of how quickly I sometimes judge others.  Like the single mom on her phone at the playground.  Shouldn’t she be playing with her toddler?  Or the homeless man on the corner holding a cardboard sign.  Couldn’t he work at McDonald’s?  

The Bible teaches us in Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

Who have you judged lately?  Could their circumstances be different than what you see?  What if we replaced judgment with compassion, and criticism with kindness?   

We just might be surprised what we discover… like the missing keys, which had been at the bottom of my purse the whole time. 

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

Ten Finger Strength

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21

In my dream vacation, every day would be filled with relaxation and fun exploration. My husband, Dan would agree. The only problem is that we define these things differently. 

Relaxation for me means laying on the beach, drifting in and out of sleep while the

waves wash up on shore. Dan gets restless after ten minutes of this, and I'll wake up to find him either surfing or swimming laps in the ocean. My agenda for “fun exploration” is snorkeling with colorful fish, stand up paddle boarding, or leisurely biking to lunch. Dan is happy to join me, but I can tell that he's itching to go a little faster or farther. 

Last summer I let Dan plan our vacation. Big mistake. He chose mountain biking... and not just leisurely rides to lunch. I found myself on trails far beyond my strength and ability. Through it all, though, he encouraged me, saying that I was stronger and braver than I perceived myself to be, and that I could keep going when every muscle in my body was screaming to STOP.

God does the very same thing with us. He promises that His power alive and active in

us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. It’s through His strength that we

can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

While gripping tight to the bike’s handlebars, I was reminded of the" ten finger

promise" I have taught so many children to say over the years. (I smiled in being reminded that all God’s children, no matter their age, need to be reminded of this truth at times.) 

Here's how it works: As you say the following sentence, count each word off with a different finger. 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

High Ten you did it!

Remember that the next time you’re pushed beyond your limits, way out of your comfort zone. Throw your hands up and give God a High Ten. Stop striving in your own strength, and tap into a power that never gets exhausted or quits.

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

Culture's Current

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You’ll be changed from the inside out.  Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. – Romans 12:2 (MSG)

How many times have you followed the crowd, only to wake up and find yourself in trouble, in debt, or involved with someone who should have been off limits.  Our culture tells us if we want to do something, Go For It!  If you want it now, charge it.  Flirt first and ask questions later.

I obtained my first department store charge card right out of college.  I fell for the sales clerk’s pitch: “If you sign up today, you’ll save 20% off your entire purchase.”  20% off and I didn’t have to pay for them today?… I not only signed up for the credit card, but I also added two more sweaters to my heaping pile of new clothes.  

Boy was I ever confident wearing those new outfits to my first “real job” as a teacher in Baltimore, Maryland.  But weeks later when I held the department store bill in my hands, my confidence bubble burst and flu-like symptoms washed over me. How could this be?  The bill was bigger than my entire paycheck.  My eyes scanned the bill from top to bottom, looking for an escape.  Then I saw it…Minimum payment due: $25.  

Yes!  I could pay that.  I thought I’d been rescued from the nightmare, until I saw the double digit interest rate.  So much for the 20% savings.

I’m embarrassed to say, that debt followed me for over a year.  It even followed me into marriage.  It wasn’t a fun day when I had to explain to my new husband how one out of control shopping spree negatively impacted our ability to sign a lease on our first apartment.  

God’s Word warns us against falling into the cultural trap of debt.  Proverbs 22:7 proclaims, “the borrower is slave to the lender.”  That’s the truth!  God desires for us to break free from the any kind of bondage that holds us back from living on the path He has planned for us.  

What are the cultural pulls upon your life today?  Are you following the world or God’s Word?  It might feel like we’re constantly fighting cultural currents and swimming upstream, but God’s ways are truly best for us.  David, a man after God’s own heart, wrote a wonderful prayer we can pray when we want to follow God instead of the world.

Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5

Know that when you ask God to show you and teach you His paths, He does.  When you ask God to guide you in His truths, He will.  And when you wonder if the Savior of the world is leading you, He is.  

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

Love Listens

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19

If I ask my son how his new job is going, I’ll receive a short, two word response: “It’s good.” If I ask more questions, I might unearth one of two more details before he gets annoyed and loses interest in our conversation. I have to be thoughtful and choose my words carefully. As we sit in silence, I remember when he was four years old and never stopped talking. What happened?

If I ask my daughter how her day at school was, I’ll learn which teachers she likes best, who she ate lunch with, what she has to do for homework, and her fears about the upcoming school dance. She’s fifteen years old and talks non-stop. 

Why are my daughter’s descriptions so detailed, while her brother’s words are so few? 

Since you can Google just about anything, I looked it up and found that, on average, women speak 20,000 words per day, while men utter only about 7,000. 

That explains why my husband asks me to “get to the point” while I’m processing something out loud. It’s why my girlfriends call just to chat, but getting details out of my son is like pulling teeth. 

When God tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19) He’s telling some of us, like my husband, to be a little more patient as listeners. He’s telling others of us… like me, I’ll confess… to restrain our tongues and do a little less talking.

Where would you rank yourself as a listener on the scale below?

____________________________________________________________________

1                         5 10

Hurry up, 

I’ve got something to say.       I’ll share the talking time.           I love to listen!

If you’re not sure, try these questions:

• As you’re listening, do you lean in and patiently wait for your turn to speak, or are you fidgeting, just waiting for the opportunity to add your two cents? 

• Do you make eye contact, ignore your phone, and face the person you’re with? Do you ever lose track of time because you care deeply for the person talking?

• As they’re talking, are you thinking of your to-do list, hoping the conversation ends soon so you can get started on it?

Tough questions, but so important to think about, because listening grows loving relationships. Building and maintaining loving relationships is incredibly important to God. 

Jesus taught us God’s greatest command - Love the Lord your God with all our heart, mind and soul and love others (Mark 12:30-31). Think about the countless times Jesus stopped what He was doing to listen to someone’s desires or physical needs. He listened as a father grieved his dying daughter, as a woman at a well explained her marriage status, and as a paralyzed man shared how long he’d been hoping for a miracle. Each one of them could tell that Jesus loved them and cared about their situation, because He listened. 

Jesus was an amazing and loving listener. He wants us to follow His lead. 

Let’s actively show our love this week by listening on purpose, one person, one idea, one response at a time, even if she has a lot to say or his words are few and far between. 

Love Listens.

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

Walking Through the Valleys

The Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

– 2 Corinthians 12:9 

As a Bible Study teacher of women, ranging from 22 to 85 years old, it is both a blessing and a hardship to witness their lives change, often unexpectedly overnight. I’ve had the privilege and experienced the pain of sitting with a young mother as she grasps the knowledge that her unborn child has a life threatening brain dysfunction. I’ve visited women in the hospital with heart trouble and others who are fighting for their lives against an invading cancer that chemo no longer kills. 

Every time I leave the hospital or the home of a hurting woman, I tell God I didn’t sign up for this part of the ministry. I signed up for what I love to do, teaching and spurring women on to grow in their faith. All my energy is zapped when God calls me to walk with them through dark valleys or to Heaven’s door. I’ve told Him many times that being a chaplain or a hospice nurse is not in my wheelhouse. I don’t think He’s listening.

Last week, I visited the memorial sight of my dear friend and mentor Alice. It’s been three years now since she gave me my last writing assignment and soared to heaven. I imagine her there writing psalms with David or encouraging God’s choirs to sing Bethel Church worship music. 

I sure hope we get to continue our passions in heaven. I won’t know until I’m there, but one thing I know for sure, is that I keep Alice’s passions alive on earth by putting what she taught me into practice and by worshipping God every day of my life, just as she did for 57 years. 

I am forever thankful God gave me Alice for a season of my life. Her encouraging words often ring in my ears. I’ll never forget the day when she said, “Laura, God has given you a gift. You need to share The 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call far beyond our church. You need to share it with the whole world.” I hope I am making her proud. 

While listening to one of Alice’s favorite Bethel songs, It Is Well With My Soul, God reminded me that His strength is all I need to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Why? Because His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He gets all the credit and honor when I finally get through the valley because, in my own strength, I couldn’t take another step or endure another visit without His power at work in me. 

What has entered your life that you would never have signed up for? A challenging marriage? A wayward teenager? A sick and elderly parent? A crabby co-worker who tries to tear you down every day? Whatever or whoever is causing you to walk through a valley, remember you are not alone. Jesus is your faithful friend who walks with you. His strength is limitless and His power is made perfect in your weakness. 

Imagine as you walk through today’s valley, Jesus is right there with you saying “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid (terrified); do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) As we acknowledge we couldn’t make it through without Him, He gets all the glory and we get a story we can share with others.

Do that this week! Share with a friend or family member a time when you know you couldn’t have made it through a dark valley without God’s presence or power. Your story could be just what they need to hear.

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

Thank you for joining The 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call Movement

Back to School Prayer

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. – Philippians 1:9-11

This is the time of year for joyous new beginnings and tough good-byes.  Stores like Target and Walmart are packed with students and parents shopping for school supplies, teachers are cleaning, labelling, and organizing, while parents of first-year college students are bracing themselves for a roller coaster ride of emotions. 

I thought the first day of kindergarten was tough.  When I dropped my little five year olds off, I wondered if they’d remember to say, “please” and “thank you.”  I hoped they’d make friends with nice kids, and I prayed they’d like learning and their teacher.  

Now with three teenagers, my prayers are quite a bit different.  Instead of praying for their manners, I pray for their morals.  Instead of praying for fun friends, I pray for protection from the bad influences.  Instead of praying just for their learning, I cry out to God to speed up their adolescent brain development, so they choose wisely what is healthy and holy.  

When I stumbled upon Philippians 1:9-11, it struck a chord of agreement in my heart for my kids.  I’ve made it my back-to-school prayer. Think of a student you know; a child, grandchild, neighbor, or friend.  Prayer is such a powerful act of love we can offer God.  Please join me.  Insert your student everywhere you see (name).  

Heavenly Father,

It is my prayer that this student, (name) grow in love and faith this school year.  

Give (name) a heart overflowing with love for You and others.  

Increase Your presence and power in (name).   

Help him/her know what is excellent and true, pure and blameless.  

Protect him/her from danger, bad influences, and evil schemes.  

Fill (name) with godly wisdom, knowledge, and discernment to know right from wrong. Thank You that through faith in Jesus (name) is made right in Your sight.  

If he/she hasn’t been saved, Lord I trust you to do this because You are mighty to save. Help (name) stand under temptation, stand firm in the faith and flourish this school year. 

I know you have great plans for (name). 

Thank you for your guidance, love, and goodness.

I trust you God.

In Jesus’ Powerful Name I Pray, 

Amen

Prayer is our powerful weapon.  Prayer can never be completely taken out of our schools because God designed us to be spirit-filled.  Teachers and parents can pray in and around the buildings.  Students can be in constant communication with God; on the bus, in the lunch line, in Social Studies class.  

So let’s encourage the students we know to talk to God throughout their day.  I know several students who are a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call.  Their alarms or push notifications remind them to look up to God, give Him thanks, and live out their faith in Jesus.  It’s a quick self-check – Am I on track with my faith right now? 

Let’s be on the offense, and pray every day for the youth in our country.  Remember that in the end, we’re on the winning team.  But in the meantime, let’s: 

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions

with all kinds of prayers and requests. – Ephesians 6:18

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

Small Goals to Reach Big Dreams

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 

– 2 Chronicles 15:7

Reading Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, I found myself identifying with one  finding of his research. Pink discovered that people who are in the last year of a decade, such as 29, 39, 49, 59, or 69 years of age, have an increased rate of attempting challenging goals, such as running their first marathon. 

Today, I turn one of those 9’s, and strangely enough, I feel the pressure to set a gigantic goal for the next 365 days. I promise you I won’t be running a marathon. Been there, done that, and happy to have thrown in the towel many years ago. But from running The New York City and Vermont City Marathons (in my 20’s and 30’s), I better understand how we achieve a goal that at first appears impossible: set smaller goals that eventually lead to a bigger end result. 

I’ll never forget the day I ran 10 miles for the first time. As I rounded the final corner to home, I heard my husband holler a joyous congratulations. Beaming, I remember thinking to myself, “If I can run 10 miles, then I can definitely finish a half marathon. I’m halfway there!”

No matter your age, I believe God wants you to press on in your faith and set small spiritual goals that eventually lead to huge change in your life. Here are two examples of people who set small goals that led to significant change.

• Mary set her alarm to go off 30 minutes before the kids woke up. She chose to spend her first moments of the day with God in prayer. At lunchtime when her kids are fighting, her first response is to pray to God for guidance and peace. The kids wonder why moms not yelling at them like she usually does.

• Dave decides to listen to praise music instead of talk radio in the morning on his way to work. A familiar homeless man catches Dave’s eye. Instead of being annoyed by the man’s interruption, Dave rolls down his window and offers his banana. To Dave’s surprise, the homeless man looks intently into his eyes and says, “What you do for the least of these, you do for Jesus.” How could the man have known those lyrics had just been sung?

So what small goal can you set for yourself this week? Think about one step of faith God might be prompting you to take. Write it down so you remember. This simple act increases your chances of accomplishing it. Then grab your calendar and carve out time to work on your goal. Tell someone who cares about you what you’ve set your mind to complete. Ask God to strengthen you and help you reach your goal. When you achieve it, celebrate and stretch towards the next one. In a short time, you’ll start to see big differences in your life. All by taking small steps of faith. 

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

Step Into Esther's Shoes

Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up. – Esther 2:20

Step into Esther’s shoes for just a moment. Imagine what it would be like to be an orphan after both your parents die. Not long after that, you’re adopted by your uncle Mordecai who raises you in the Jewish faith. Later as a young woman, you’re taken to the King’s palace because your beauty and virginity are noticed by the King’s officials. You find yourself undergoing an entire year of “beauty treatments” before being called to spend one night with the king. That night changes your life forever when the King places the queen’s crown upon your head. As the new Queen of Persia, a banquet is thrown in your honor but your faith and true identity still remain a secret. 

When should we keep a secret? When should we tell our secrets to others? Are some secrets “good,” and others “bad”? Could secrets really be lies in disguise?

Years ago, a close friend shared a painful family secret with me. This secret had left several generations of women scarred and broken. It’s a secret unfortunately far too familiar to many girls growing up in America. One man; a grandfather, father, uncle or brother, inappropriately touches the girls in his family. But for some reason none of them talk about it with each other, so the secrecy lives on and more girls are abused. 

Why is that? Could it be that the enemy works hard to convince us that shameful secrets are better kept hidden than shared? 

In the Bible, Esther knew what it was like to keep secrets. Mordecai raised Esther to be proud of her Jewish heritage, but asked that she keep it a secret from the her husband, King Xerxes. It was not until Esther learned of a plot to kill all the Jews in her land that she gathered the courage to share her secret with the King. She bravely decided, “If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)

Once the King knew Esther’s secret, her true identity, he issued a decree to protect the Jewish people. Esther is forever remembered in Biblical history for being a hero, because she told her secret with faith, courage, and for a much greater purpose than herself. 

God is our King and He already knows all our secrets. Nothing is hidden from Him. Yet He still calls us His daughters and sons and loves us unconditionally.  

Sometimes He calls us to share our secrets with others who have the power to help.  

If God is nudging you to share a secret, then like Esther, gather the courage to say “For such a time as this,” and tell it for the good of yourself and others.

Be brave. When we share our secrets with our King and others who can help, goodness can bind-up the brokenness, and scars can start to heal. 

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

One Step Up and Two Steps Back

He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. – Philippians 1:6

Have you ever been in a “one step forward, two steps back” mode?

Last summer, I set out to learn how to mountain bike.  I was actually making great progress, getting fitter and more confident on the trails.  I had almost mastered a safe dismount… almost!  That progress came to a screeching halt when I “turtled” on a trail in Crested Butte.

You might not know what “turtle” means.  I certainly didn’t, until my husband explained it to me as I lay crumpled on the ground under my bike.  I had been riding down the mountain and knew I needed to stop before a sharp turn.  As I tried to unclip my biking shoe from the pedal, it wouldn’t budge.  In the fraction of a second I had left to remain upright, I frantically twisted it this way and that.  But I stayed stuck, and gravity took over.  I hit the turn, the wheels went out from under me, and I landed on my back (with my feet still in the pedals).  Imagine the ugliest turtle possible. I’m sure it looks a lot cuter than I did at the time.

After the crash, I didn’t go near the bike.  Every day I lost ground on my goal and grew more out of shape.  

How often do we feel exactly like this in our faith?

We take two steps forward and read God’s Word faithfully for a week.  Then we become so busy, we hit the ground running in the morning and forget for a month to crack open our Bible.  Or we pray to God and commit to cut all gossip out of our conversations.  Then we go out to dinner with friends, gossip like there’s no tomorrow, and wake up the next day with a guilt hang-over.

Thankfully, God knows we’re on a journey with Him and not all of our steps are wise, good, or beneficial.  That’s why He promises us, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” (Phil. 1:6)  God did not say YOU began the good work or YOU are faithful to complete it.  Instead He says HE did and HE will.

This promise reminds us of important truths to hold onto while we’re reaching out to know God more in a crazy busy, fast paced culture.  

• The good work God planned for all people began the moment Jesus died on the cross.  Do you remember what time Jesus breathed His last breath?  Yes, 3pm!  What an incredible reason to say, “Thank You!”

• The good work in you started the exact moment you believed Jesus was indeed your Savior.  Jesus then placed His Spirit in you. What a gift to be thankful for.

• The Holy Spirit in you will be faithful no matter how faith-filled you are today or tomorrow.  Thankfully, God’s power through His Spirit never gives up on us.  The Spirit of God continues to help us to become more like Jesus over time. 

• The work of the Holy Spirit in you is on-going and won’t be complete until you see Jesus face to face.  We can rejoice that in the end, we will be able to look back and see progress.

Yes, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!  Let’s trust in God who is faithful.  And let’s give thanks to God whose Spirit is alive and active in us completely all the good works He has planned.  

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