God’s Greatest Purpose is Love

Whether you are a caregiver, family member of resident in long term care you know that past hurts are as real to us today as they were even decades ago. But God gives us hope which we can only discover through forgiveness.

pastorpete51's avatarWalking With Lambs

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me please.” And he said to them, “I am Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Genesis 45:4-5 ESV

Too often the unknown stories of residents in long term care are the wounds left behind by unresolved family differences. But the good news is that God isn’t finished with any of us yet. Remember that as a young boy, Joseph had a dream which got him into trouble with his brothers. Some of us probably think of Joseph’s life as a blueprint for success. We figure that if we can just stick it out like Joseph did,  then one day we will get the great job, the big home or the perfect marriage that we always dreamed of…

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A Riverwalk

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Psalm 46:4 KJV

Last Summer my wife and I went for a walk along a small river near our home in Florida. We were delighted by a rare afternoon without thunderstorms during our rainy season . Though our walks are a bit shorter now that we have grown older, they are still the best times for us to talk and share special time together. Walking along quietly with the Lord is no different. He treasures the time we spend with Him but we must always tell Him the truth.

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When we are sorry for something we must confess it to Him, and remember that He already knows! When we have a needs; that we can’t work out on our own we only have to ask and He has promised to answer. He is our Savior and Lord; but He has also offered to be our closest friend. He offers to walk by our side and listen to what we has to say on quiet afternoons and busy mornings; during sleepless nights and when we sit down to rest. He is near us at every moment and eagerly waiting to walk with us with us along the banks of the River of Life.

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Media Mealtime and Multitasking

Priority

It came to me today that my efficient manner of layering tasks one over the other is not God’s best for my life. So in my own battle here are a few things that God is helping me to do.

Prioritize- God first in my day. No media till after prayer. The phone is on but I won’t even glance at it till after prayer, morning coffee and breakfast. This might seem like a no brainer but for me it has been a welcome return to those slower starting pre-cell phone days. This little time is the first fruits of our day and should belong first to God.

No Media at Mealtime!

Have you seen families sitting in a restaurant paying good money for food but paying little attention to one another while they text or play games on their cell phones? The scarier part of this is we might be more likely to do this ourselves at home. It is time to liberate mealtime from the dictatorship of media! That includes eating alone. How can we even taste the food if our attention is elsewhere? God gave us a 3 times a day appetite so we would have 3 opportunities a day to give thanks and then enjoy what He has given us!

Mini Media Fasting

The attitude of the 21st century might be summed up by the phrase “No cell phone left behind!” But unless we are the President or an on duty 1st responder, the truth is the world will not miss us for 30 minutes. While I do admire folks who go off grid for a month; I confess that I am not there yet. But half an hour on my morning walk without a cell phone I can do. Maybe for you that might be time at the gym, a visit with a neighbor- (cell phone left behind) or an hour fishing. So why not give these ideas a try this week? You might be amazed at what God can do with just a little bit of our time that we liberate just for Him and His purposes!