Sphere of Influence

The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy. – Psalm 65:8

National Public Radio (NPR) was covering the Solar Eclipse live from the Path of Totality.  As a reporter walked through masses of people she asked the same question over and over, “What do you think of the Eclipse?”  Later, she summarized the crowd’s responses by joyfully proclaiming “the word I heard over and over again was AWESOME!” 

She highlighted one man’s story.  Seventeen years ago, during a partial eclipse, this man, who called himself a “devout scientist,” looked into the sky as the midday moon began to hide the sun.  In that exact moment, the devout scientist also became a devout Christian.  His scientific knowledge collided with the presence of the Maker of heaven and earth.  He stood awestruck as God’s existence became a reality in his heart, mind and soul.  Now he shares his awesome faith in God with his scientific sphere of influence.  

Who is in your sphere of influence?  Who are you shoulder to shoulder with at work? Who are you face to face with at home? These are the people with whom we can share how awesome God truly is.

When your morning is greeted with a stunning sunrise, give God praise at breakfast with your family.  When a beautiful sunset stops you in your tracks, tell those around you how thankful you are for God painting the sky with gorgeous colors.  Or when the weather is absolutely perfect for an event, thank God out loud, so others will hear your praise. 

I challenge you to:

• Be intentional. Pick one person you will purposely praise God with this week.
• Be spontaneous.  When you see God’s awesomeness around you, praise Him!

God has divinely placed you in a sphere of influence to shift hearts, minds, and souls to the reality of His presence.  When you point to God’s awesomeness, with one moment of praise, you invite God’s power into the lives of others.    

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

Eclipse

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.  Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

– Isaiah 40:26

Where were you today during the total eclipse of the sun?  Were you lucky enough to be in the ‘path of totality,” looking up (with proper eyewear, I hope) as the moon, 400 times smaller than the sun, blocked its rays and caused total darkness in the middle of the day?   

Small towns, many of which have never seen tourists, are swamped with visitors from around the world.  Today in our nation, more eyes will gaze upward than any other day in history.  Millions will look to the heavens and marvel.  

What will they be thinking?  

I often think of the heavens Your hands have made, and of the moon and stars You put in place. – Psalm 8:3

How often do you think God as the creator of the heavens… the moon, sun, and stars, each of which He knows by name?  Just as He named the stars, He also placed you at this precise time in history to know Him and look to Him as your God.  

What if the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call reminded you every day to lift your eyes heavenward and think of He who created and controls your world?  Wouldn’t thanksgiving and praise be your first response when you remembered who truly rules and reigns in heaven?

As darkness falls over the land today, we should remind ourselves of a similar day, over 2,000 years ago.  On that day, from noon until 3:00pm, while Jesus hung on the cross, God stopped the sun from shining (Matthew 27:45).  

Astronomers today would be shocked by a three-hour solar eclipse.  But God had a plan then, and today, to show His glory and power.  The darkness during the crucifixion and the earthquake that followed Jesus’ last breath, declared Jesus was indeed the Son of God (Matthew 27:54).

Instead of waiting for the next eclipse to lift our eyes heavenward, every day we can stand as a nation and give God thanks and praise for His magnificent presence and His mighty power.

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

See Through

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. – James 4:10

Boulder, Colorado is known for being an outdoorsy town.  It’s common to see hikers, bikers, and runners while I’m driving around. But every once in a while, I’ll see something so strange that I’m left in stunned silence, with mouth agape. 

Like the woman in her eighties, hair full of pink foam curlers, pedaling a purple bike with a green basket full of groceries.  All I could think was, “Wow, that’s multi-tasking at its finest: grocery shopping, exercising, and getting your hair done.  Go Grandma go!”  Then, just today, I saw a college-aged woman running in what looked like a bathing suit right out of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.  The tiny black bottom and bright teal bra matched her spikey blue hair perfectly as she proudly sauntered along.  I really didn’t know what to think about that one.  

Times like these, when I have to do a “double take” to make sure what I’m seeing is really there, I’m stopped just short of passing judgment by a memory of having once been in their shoes.

It was the night of the last youth drama before Christmas.  The cast of five high school students was to perform in front of nearly a hundred elementary school kids and their adult leaders.  I was the director, aka Drama Mama.  It was three minutes before showtime, and the angel of the Lord still hadn’t shown up.  I checked my phone, no message.  I called, no answer.  So with no other option, I ducked into a closet to quickly change into the Angel of the Lord’s white gown.

My entrance was grand.  I flew to center stage and spoke my lines with enthusiasm and boldness.  “I bring you good news of great joy!  The Messiah has been born in Bethlehem…”  It seemed as if every eye was fixed on me.  I must be mesmerizing, I thought to myself. 

The drama ended to clapping and cheers.  What a fabulous night!  

As the crowd of kids exited the room and the high school students high fived each other, one of the adult leaders subtly motioned for me to come her way.  Imagining what was sure to be exuberant praise, I leaned in as she whispered, “Laura, that was a great drama, but the next time you’re up there in that thin Angel of the Lord gown, you might want to wear a slip instead of that bright pink underwear.”

Aren’t you thankful God doesn’t laugh at us?

Whatever embarrassing things we do, God’s mouth never gapes open in surprise.  He’s not shocked at our foolishness.  He sees all we do and say and still calls us His beloved child.  God can even use our huge mess ups to humble us into His hands.  There we can laugh and learn together.    

God gave us Jesus as the greatest example of humility.  He wants us to have the same attitude as Jesus. 

Jesus… Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God 

something to be used to his own advantage; rather, He made himself 

nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!  Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:6-11

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

Back to School

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

The Turtle

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

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

This summer, I set out to learn how to mountain bike.  I was actually making great progress there for a bit, getting fitter and more confident on the trails.  I thought I pretty much had it down… until I “turtled” on a trail in Crested Butte last week.

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 downhill and 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 it 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.

Since the crash and the, I think, cracked rib, I haven’t been able to go near the bike, and all my progress has been wiped out.  Each day I’m losing ground on my goal and getting more out of shape.  

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

We take steps forward by reading God’s Word faithfully for a week.  Then, we become busy, hitting the ground running in the morning and forgetting to crack open our Bible for a month.  Or, soon after we pray to God and commit to cut all gossip out of our conversations, we find ourselves out to dinner with friends, gossiping like there’s no tomorrow.  We 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 that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it” (Phil. 1:6).  God did not say that 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 and 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.  Let’s give thanks to His Spirit, alive in us to complete 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

Rocky Mountain High

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 

– Psalm 31:3

Recently while hiking in Crested Butte, Colorado, I had a mountain top experience at 12,000 feet that made me feel like I was in the movies.  The bright sun glimmered though puffy white clouds overhead warming my back as I hiked.  A perfect breeze kept me cool and refreshed each step of the way.  At the top, along the ridgeline, as far as I could see, were magnificent snow dusted peaks that rose from deep valleys of dazzling yellow, red, purple, and blue wildflowers.  From the ridgeline, all was beautiful, peaceful, and good.  

But that is not how I felt climbing up to get there.

The trail was steeper and the air a lot thinner than I had expected.  As we climbed, I found myself stopping more and more often, legs wobbling and gasping for breath.  The trail was unfamiliar, so every time it looked like we were near the top, we were met with a “false summit” and views of the trail continuing to go up… and up.  By the time I slumped down beside the trail at the top, I was weak, exhausted, and surprised by how long it had taken me to hike this high.

Honestly, all I wanted to do at that point was take a nap, but my husband insisted I eat a snack and drink more water to come back to life.  It worked.  There in the Rocky Mountains, I looked up and knew God had been with me every step of the way.  I pulled out a small notebook from my back pack and wrote:

Hiking up a steep trail is a lot like following Jesus.  

Some steps are harder than others, and the path isn’t always clear.  Sometimes you doubt the direction, but faith tells you to keep moving forward.  The weather brings storms and it may seem like you’re hiking alone. When you’re out of breath, rest awhile and give yourself some grace.  Faith is not a sprint.  It’s a long continuous climb.  It’s a daily decision to put one foot in front of the other and follow your leader.  

It is good to thank God for each step of progress.  Thoughts of gratitude drown out the complaints and renew our spirits.  When we remember how blessed we are to move, breathe, and live in His presence, peace, joy and love quickly join us on our journey.   And when we reach today’s mountain top, let’s rest with Him who loves us more than we can imagine and cheers up on no matter how slow we go.

So hike on with Jesus. He will lead you into the adventurous plans God has for you.  What first step of faith will you take today to follow your leader?

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

Back on the Mat

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

– Hebrews 12:1

Seventeen years ago today, my husband gave me a running watch for my birthday.  What he intended as a gift, I received as criticism. (A running watch? Great, so he thinks I’m fat and late.)  Negative, judgmental voices echoed in my head, “Get out there and run that baby blubber off.”  After giving birth to two children, it was time to wrestle my weight yet again. 

You see, my whole life I’ve wrestled with my weight. I went on my first diet in 6^th grade.  I portioned out my food, weighed it on a scale, and ate horrible things like brussels sprouts and celery.  The wrestling match continued, through high school, college, before the wedding… every season of every year.  I won some matches by turning down desserts.  But I lost a lot of them by eating the whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream on the couch.  

I’d get on the mat, wrestle and fight to lose 10-15 lbs.  Then I run hop off and gain back 20lbs.  Who even likes wrestling?  It takes grit and guts to stay on the mat, and I’d rather just eat a big lunch and take a long nap, thank you very much.

Last weekend, I heard a sermon about what it takes to really grow in our faith.  Any guesses?  EFFORT.  The pastor even used a wrestling mat as an illustration.  Crap.  It hit home hard when he declared that the sins blocking our spiritual growth are there because we allow, and even want them there.  Yes, we like our sin, so we hold onto it and don’t put in the effort to change.  Ouch.

I don’t think God cares about the number on my scale.  Ten pounds up or down means nothing.  What he’s most concerned with is how I talk to myself about myself.  It pains God to hear His beloved children criticize His creation.  When we say things like, “I’m so stupid, fat, ugly, clumsy or weak.” God completely disagrees.

We are made in God’s image, created to transform into the likeness of Jesus over time.  God places His Holy Spirit in us to guide us and teach us the way we are to go and how we are to think.  I think that’s why God desires for us to continue to wrestle, all the days of our life.

God calls us to stand up, get on the mat, and wrestle with whatever is holding us back from living our best life in Jesus Christ.  It might be negative thinking, an addiction, or a toxic relationship that has too much control over you.  If you ask, God will reveal what needs to be taken down in your life.  It’s likely that you don’t even need to ask, though, because you’ve known it for a while. 

As long as we ignore or avoid what needs to change, we will sit on the sidelines of our best lives.  But, when we decide to get up, walk out on the mat, and wrestle with it, we’ve taken the first steps in the race He’s marked out for us. 

So get back out there, fight the good fight of faith.  It’s time to wrestle and win!  

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

Walk of Shame

As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12

One morning while driving my kids to school, I saw her.  Disheveled and barefoot in a rumpled purple cocktail dress, high-heeled black pumps dangling from one hand, she walked up the hill on 9^th Street in Boulder near CU.  Snapshots of her night filled my mind: a fraternity party, lots of drinking and dancing, a cute guy flirting, telling her she’s beautiful, innocent kissing at first, then lights out, nakedness, finally sleep.  With the morning light, eyes pop open, pounding headache, find the dress, grab the shoes, and hurry out... try hard to forget the night. 

Everything inside of me wanted to pull over and invite the young college woman to sit next to me in the passenger seat.  I’d drive her home so no one would see her “walk of shame.”  My heart ached for a total stranger because I knew her heart was saturated with shame. 

If I could climb to the roof of the tallest building of any college campus, I’d yell “What you do in college, you will remember for the rest of your life!” 

Don’t you wish that when God gave you grace, He also handed you a delete button to wipe away all the sinful memories of your past?  I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to accept forgiveness from God than to grant it to myself.

Recently, while listening to a pastor preach on David’s shameful past, I saw other snapshots in my mind.  Bathsheba taking a cleansing bath on her roof top. David spying her beauty from afar.  David sending a servant to bring Bathsheba close.  A secret night together.  A child conceived.  David plotting to cover up his tracks.  Bathsheba’s husband being killed in battle.  David thinking he’d gotten away with it.  Nathan the prophet confronting David.  David crying out to God for forgiveness.  

When you mess up or hurt others, do you quickly run to God and ask for forgiveness?  Or do you beat yourself up over and over again because you think you deserve it?

God promises that when we confess our sins to Him, He will remove our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).  Guess who wrote that Psalm?  You got it, David.  David knew personally how miserable we’d become if we tried to cover up or ignore our mistakes.  God used David’s deep shame for good so we’d learn to go straight to Him for forgiveness.  Once we accept God’s forgiveness, we can ask Him to help us forgive ourselves. 

When Jesus died on the cross at 3pm, He stretched His arms out to the east and to the west.  Jesus endured great pain to set us free from guilt and shame.  He now calls us to forgive ourselves.

No more “walks of shame.”  Instead let’s walk with Jesus, thanking Him for setting us free and showing us the way to truly forgive ourselves.  

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36

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

"Pissed Off"

Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. 

– 2 Corinthians 2:14

Rarely do my husband and I travel without our teens.  But this week, they were on trips or working, so the two of us ran away from home to Crested Butte, Colorado.  I couldn’t wait to walk around town, hand and hand, leisurely searching for a romantic restaurant. Giggling and giddy, like a teenager myself, I grabbed my jacket as we headed out the door, just in case the temperature dropped.

At the front desk of the hotel to ask for directions, I noticed a foul smell.  I chalked it up to the two dogs nearby.  While riding a crowded bus into town, I smelled it again.  This time, I was sure it was wafting off a group of young men who looked like they’d been hiking or working all day.  Stepping off the bus, I felt a chill in the air, so I hugged my jacket close to warm up.  At that exact moment the familiar foul smell hit my nose again, and I realized two things, a) that it was cat urine, and b) it was coming from me. I was wearing a cat-pee coat out on our romantic date.

If anyone’s ever called you a “crazy cat lady,” let me know, because I have a new cat for your collection.  Her name is Dash, and she gets “pissed” when our suitcases come out and she knows we’re leaving town.  She must have climbed up on my open bag and peed on my coat right before we left.  

Isn’t it amazing how a smell can bring you back in time?  One whiff of homemade pancakes and you’re back in grandma’s kitchen.  Burned toast carries you back to college, or new asphalt reminds you of the summer you learned how to dive off the high dive.  

Recognizing how powerfully our sense of smell influences how we experience the world around us, God calls us to spread the wonderful fragrance of the knowledge of Him wherever we go (2 Corinthians 2:14). Yes, you are a sweet smelling fragrance of Jesus.  How you share your faith with others spreads wisdom and understanding of God with everyone in your path.

• Does your joyful smile share hope in God even in the midst of trails?

• Do your kind words encourage others to believe God is with them and for them?

• Does your daily walk show trust in the Lord even when the path becomes dim?

Every day we have many opportunities to be a beautiful fragrance in the lives of those we met.  Instead of spreading a foul and toxic attitude around your circle of influence, choose to clothe yourself like Christ and be the sweet, lovely fragrance you are meant to be.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

(Colossians 3:12)

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

Why, God?

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 the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

– Psalm 46:1-3

When I arrive in heaven, I plan to ask Jesus a lot of questions.  Most of them will start with WHY.  I picture the two of us in a lovely café overlooking heaven’s beauty as I ask,

Jesus, WHY…

• Didn’t you heal them from cancer when I know you have the power to?
• Did you allow a drunk driver to crash into a young man who was planning to serve You all summer in an orphanage in Uganda?
• Didn’t you stop a bright student from falling into drug addiction and overdosing when she had so much potential to make a difference in this world?

What why questions would you ask Jesus if you stood face to face?

I’ve spent time with the people who’ve asked God these exact “why” questions.  They’re wrestling to better understand God’s plan after the world as they knew it was turned upside down.  

The Psalmist tells us we will have times in our lives when the earth gives way, the mountains fall into the sea, and the waters roar surge above our heads (Psalm 46:2-3).  We receive a phone call that brings us to our knees.  Everything we’ve worked so hard to build collapses, burying us in the rubble of a broken relationship, unemployment, or an empty bank account. 

This is exactly why Psalm 46 begins with, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”  God is, not God was.  God is present, not distant.  God is your hiding place, your refuge when everything is shaking and scary.  God is your strength when you’re at the end of your rope. God is…

Who is God to you?  How you answer is critical to how you endure hardships in your life.  If you believe God is listening to your cries for help, then you will pray often and know that He will meet you in crisis.  If you believe God is your good father, you will go to Him for shelter from the storm.  If you believe God is abounding in love, you will cling to His hand and walk through the fire.  If you believe God is mighty to save, then you will know in the depths of your heart that He is able to use even this disaster for good one day.

Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.”  Jesus wants us to know in our hearts that God is with us, for us, and loves us in the midst of chaos, crisis, and confusion.  

You are not alone when your world shakes or comes undone.  Go ahead and ask Jesus your hard “why” questions.  He’s waiting to remind you that He is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help in your time of trouble.  

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