“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.”   Luke 2:7

No room. How well I know that feeling right now. 

With all of those holiday preparations still to be done and time dwindling with each tick of the clock, there is no room for one more thing and no time to get it all done. But, still, here I sit looking for a way to squeeze in one more visit with a friend, one more trip to the store, and just one more dozen cookies yet to be made. 

In the midst of my countdown to Christmas, I did it! I made room to have friends over. I made time to get to the grocery store to be able to prepare a family Christmas feast – or two. I made time to check each gift off my list. I even made time to get my nails done! Wow – isn’t that amazing. A true Christmas miracle … or not. 

No room. 

As I pause in all of this hustle and bustle, I remember two things we told our children as they became teenagers and began to venture out on their own. 1) Make good choices. 2) Leave room for Jesus. Truth be told, as we hurry and scurry through life, I still tell them this occasionally even though they are grown and out on their own. 

And still, no room.

Today, I took time to read the whole Christmas story in my Bible. You know this really isn’t a story about No Room. It is a story about Making Room. 

Make room for Jesus.

A young girl and boy had their world turned upside down and opened themselves for ridicule as they made room for the Christ child. The innkeeper and his wife made room in a manger among the animals to welcome the Savior. The shepherds made room for a journey to see and then share the Good News. The three wise men made room in their minds to embrace this new Truth and follow a star to present gifts to the Wonderful Counselor, protecting Him along the way.

Make room for Jesus. 

Now, we are called to make room for Emmanuel – God with us. 

He is with us. 

So, can we do it this season and throughout the year? Will we do it? 

Make room for Jesus. All year long.

Emmanuel – God with us. 

You can take Him any and everywhere. He was born in a lowly manger and later rose from the grave to sit at the right hand of God, our Father. He’s seen it all. 

Take another look at your plans this week and for the year ahead. Then …

Make room for Jesus. ( … and make good choices!)

Read the full story – Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23 and Luke 2:1-20

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger…”                                                                                                        Luke 2:1-7

The scene is pretty much the same after each Christmas celebration and this year will be no different. 

After hosting family gatherings on Christmas Day. We give out our last hugs and wave goodbye as each person drives out of sight. Returning to the family room and eyeing the spoils of the day all I think is, “What a mess.”

Bags of torn paper from those once neatly wrapped gifts. Stacks of dishes in and around the sink with remnants of our feast. Who knows what dried on the counter and those mysterious spots on the floor. Extra chairs pushed about to accommodate all. Trash cans overflowing and random items left behind (a toy, a jacket, a gift that wouldn’t fit in the car). A new water ring on the table.

What a mess.

All of that planning and preparing – the anticipation – and in a few hours it’s over leaving a mess to be cleaned. A good deal of time is spent cleaning, rearranging, and putting things back in order. If I’m not careful, it’s easy to get lost in the tossed aside tinsel. To wonder if it’s all worth it. To focus on how tired I am and doubt that extra effort really made a difference. 

That first Christmas was pretty messy too.

Everyone had to travel to their “own town” to register for the census. (Today ours is done electronically and we still find that challenging.) Throw into the story a young man with his betrothed who is pregnant. (Scandalous.) And then a manger as a baby bed. (Not an ideal setting, especially for our Savior.)

What a mess. 

I am sure on more than one occasion Mary, Joseph, and their families thought, “But I had other plans … I thought this would be different … Is it worth it … What a mess.”

Over the years, I’ve learned to look past the messy and find the magic. The magic of family and friendships. The magic of time well spent in the company of loved ones. The magic of the laughter of the young and the smiles of the old. The magic seen through the eyes of child. The magic of the baby in the manger who came to save us. 

After reading Luke 2:1-7, look past the mess and find the magic – the miracle. The miracle revealed when the angel announced to the shepherds … “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

Life today is the same as long ago. We have to train ourselves to look past the mess, find the magic, and expect the miracles. The miracle found in a family reunited or a good medical report or the gift of another ordinary day. Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. All we have to do is listen and look. 

Today and every day – Embrace the mess. Find the magic. Expect the miracle. 

As we move closer to the end of 2022 and find ourselves in the middle of the advent season, I am reposting a series I posted last year because they are some of my favorite messages that capture the feelings of the season for many of us. I will start with more original posts in the New Year! Enjoy this season. Happy Reading. Merry Christmas!

“I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty, and at the heavens, and their light was gone.”                                                                                                                 Jeremiah 4:23 (NIV)

I reclined in the chair admiring my work. The color-coordinated decorations were just right. Everything perfectly scattered among the branches. I thought to myself, “This is a beautiful tree.  Good job!”

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it … a bare spot. A space totally void of decoration. No glass ornament. No festive bow. Not even a twinkling light. How could this be? A flaw in my perfectly beautiful tree.

I contemplated moving an ornament but that would create a different bare spot. I checked the box of decorations and all of the ornaments for the tree had been used. Unable to find a solution at the moment, I decided the bare spot wasn’t so bad. Right? It would take too much rearranging to try to fix it so I decided to leave it. It was near the back of the tree so no one else would notice.

The Christmas tree is beautiful and I love to sit and admire it in the quiet, dark morning. Yet, each day when I sit down to gaze upon it, I get this feeling that something just isn’t quite right. 

It’s that bare spot. 

I just can’t ignore it. My eyes drift directly toward it each time I pause and take in the sights of this beautiful season. Yet, it is hardly even noticeable.

If you were to visit my home today I bet you wouldn’t be able to spot it. But, I know it is there. 

A bare spot. An empty space.

Our lives during the Christmas season can be similar to this tree. We try to put it all together with everything just right. Yet, there is still a bare spot, something that is missing. An empty space in our tree of life. 

Some bare spots are new. It wasn’t there last year. Then, as hard as we try to fill the void there just isn’t enough stuff or fluff to fill in that space without leaving a gap somewhere else. 

Other bare spots appear each year. They may shrink over time as we collect new things to replace what is broken, lost, or missing, but the original tree will never be the same. 

Sometimes our bare spots are clearly visible to everyone and others we cleverly hide by turning things just to hide the void.

How can this tree be so full yet still empty in that one spot? 

How can I be so full of life yet still feel incomplete?

As hard as I try each year (really each day), everything can’t be just so or always put together just right. No tree is perfect. No life is perfect. We all have a bare spot. But each tree is still beautiful. Our lives are still meaningful. 

Don’t let those bare spots keep you from celebrating the season. Let God help decorate your life and fill in some of those bare spots and embrace the others – you know, the ones that are just part of your tree. 

If you doubt God can fill your void, read Genesis 1:2, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the water.”  

Just look at the heavens and the earth. God did a pretty awesome job starting with nothing. When we feel formless or empty, He can certainly work wonders with us. 

He is hovering over you now. Let Him fill your bare spot!

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”     Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Looking across the table, my view was clouded as I peered through tear-filled eyes. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly laugh anymore, one of my dear friends brings me to tears with yet another spontaneous, humorous comment. Yes, tears … Tears of joy. The best kind. 

To borrow a phrase from a male friend of mine who said it best, “Girls just wanna do lunch.” Nothing makes us happier than a long lunch with girlfriends (usually at some unique place) to catch up, decompress, and share our inner most thoughts, feelings, victories, and defeats. Just to treat ourselves and laugh until we cry. To be validated and reaffirmed by those people whose opinions we value … those who can relate to us … those who love us. No matter what … at ALL times. 

From watching my husband, I think the guy version of this comes in the form of fishing, hunting, sporting events, and working on cars – manly stuff like that. For us girls, it’s just lunch. Throw in shopping, going to a play, or something like that and it is just the cherry on top. 

After time with friends, I always feel renewed, rejuvenated, refreshed – don’t you? I also generally go home wondering-  how did I get to be so lucky? To be surrounded by such witty, beautiful, intelligent women. Why do they put up with me? With my whining, complaining, and insecurity. What in the world do they see in me? I am one high maintenance friend. Down-right needy. And I know it.

After returning from a recent girls’ day outing, I began to wonder how is it that friendship is such a powerful force? How does spending just that small bit of time with friends have such a positive, powerful influence on our lives? To get an answer, I decided to see what the scriptures say about friendship. 

Through reading, I realized that God made us this way on purpose. He made us for friendship. 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”   

    Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

He never meant for us to do this alone. God puts people in our lives to lift us up along the way. That support can be physical, emotional, and spiritual. In turn, we are to be that kind of friend to others.

God showed us how to be a best friend. He showed us how to listen, to love unconditionally, and to serve. He tells us:

“Greater Love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”               John 15:13

He showed us that too when He gave up His own life for our sins. 

To lay down your life for a friend can be done in different ways not just through the ultimate sacrifice. You “lay down your life” when you drop everything to go be with a friend when there’s an emergency, when you set aside time to be together, when you take time to pray for them, through random acts of kindness, when you listen without interruption – you get the picture.

I can think of numerous ways my dear friends have done this for me over the years. Each time adding support, love, joy, and worth to my life. I am truly appreciative and thankful for that. I just don’t say it enough. 

Today – take time to thank a friend. Remember God reveals Himself and His love for us through those angels in our lives. We are stronger together.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”   — Proverbs 27:17

On Monday, we said goodbye to one of our fur children, Goliath – a chiweenie who joined our family almost 17 years ago. As you can imagine, we are devastated and his passing leaves a huge void in our hearts. I am thankful for the many wonderful years we had with him and appreciate all that he added to our lives. He was a small dog with a huge heart. I am reposting this devotional in memory of our sweet Goliath.

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NASB)

For some reason, when I read this scripture this phrase comes to mind: 

I am dog tired. 

Are you familiar with this saying? I have heard it used for years by family and friends and I have used it myself on occasion. I imagine being “dog tired” is a lot like growing weary from doing good.

Just think of all the faithful, four legged friends out there who eagerly greet their owner each and every day – day in and day out without fail. Dogs are always happy to see you, eager to please, and overcome with joy to come when you call (I wish it were the same with cats and children!). 

Dogs generally spend their days in hard play and service to their masters. They provide unending love, companionship, and enjoyment for millions of people. No wonder they are dog tired! 

Yet, I tend to look at my precious pooch and think, “Boy, you’ve got it made!” On some really difficult days I have wondered what it would be like to live like my dog. No pressures. Great accommodations. Now I realize I couldn’t have been more wrong. I never really considered how hard it would be to be pleasant and excited every time I saw my owner – all of that tail wagging – and drop what I was doing to tend to his needs. Wow! What selflessness. I think we can all draw wisdom from our four legged friends. 

With this in mind, I read this passage and compare my own weariness with that of the fur people around me. Then, I don’t think I should be weary at all. I wonder – Am I really doing all of the good that I can? Do I serve my Master faithfully the way that I should? Am I the companion I should be? Probably not. If I were a dog, my owner would have probably taken me to a shelter by now or at least considered it. I imagine he would tell the folks at the shelter, “She’s too lazy, stubborn, and set in her ways.”

On the other hand, I also notice this scripture does not put limitations on doing good. It doesn’t say doing good to others. It merely says doing good. So don’t leave yourself out! We have to take care of ourselves. Run. Play. Rest. Within their lives of service to their masters, dogs take time to enjoy the basics: running through the grass and leaves, playing with their favorite toys, and catching a nap when they can. Shouldn’t we do the same? I believe this would help us not grow weary as quickly. So, what’s your favorite toy? A hobby? A way to relax? If you don’t have one, you should acquire one. It might mean you are working too much – take it from someone who knows. 

First things, first. We must always remember what, or I should say who, comes first – our Master. My dog drops whatever he is doing when I call and comes running. We should do the same when God is calling. Make sure you take care of your relationship with Him first. 

Serve the Lord with the same energy and enthusiasm a dog – a good dog, the world’s best dog – serves his owner. And the next time you are dog tired, go to the Master and curl up with Him. He will care for you and you will be renewed.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

This is a repost from last year at this time. I started to write something new but I think this still says it all.

“Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”       Psalm 23:5 (RSV)

Full. That is where I seem to find myself during the holidays. Just Full. You might be feeling that way yourself right about now.

Full from overeating. A full table. Everywhere you look there is more food. Later, it won’t be just the leftovers either because the holiday baking has just begun. Go ahead, break out the stretchy pants.

Full of family and guests. A full house. People everywhere you turn. Each one of them needy in their own way. Leaving no room for you to take care of your own needs.

Full of events and activities. A full calendar. A celebration here and there. Time with friends and family. Plus, your normal obligations … the decorating to do. And don’t forget to squeeze in that shopping. 

Yep – it’s that time of year. We are all full in one way or another.

Lately though, I have found myself full in yet a different way. In the midst of my daily frustrations, the holiday happenings, and all the things that drive me bonkers on top of all that, my heart is full.

I don’t mean full as in heavy. Although, I often feel that way it seems. This is very different.

Full. Yes, my heart is full. Full as in overflowing. 

In the middle of this holiday chaos, I look around and realize how deeply I am blessed. I am blessed with great kids who come home to spend time with me or call when they are too far away. I have parents who are proud of me and support us all with their unconditional love. I have extended family who add extra seasoning to my life. I have great friends with whom I laugh and cry (sometimes at the same time). And I have a husband who has stuck by my side through the highs and lows of life loving me all along the way. Not to mention the material comforts of a home filled with laughter, love, and tears.

When this first wave of the holiday season has come and gone, the leftovers are no more, and the house is empty again, I know I will still be full. Full of gratitude.

So it is with truly a thankful heart that I pass along to you this simple thought: Allow yourself to be full. Let your cup runneth over with the blessings given to you each day as you walk with the Lord. 

I know some days you feel like your cup may not even be half full – maybe you think your cup is too big to ever be overflowing. Be realistic in your expectations. Your cup will run over before you know it. 

Take time to read Psalm 23 in its entirety. It only takes a couple of minutes. Then, don’t let yourself become full and overwhelmed – but full of the good stuff you are given. That stuff that surrounds us each day that we fail to truly appreciate. Remember the simple things. 

Let your heart be full this season – especially on those days when you feel like you are running on empty.

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other.”           I Thessalonians 3:12

“And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”                                                                                                                                            Colossians 3:14 (NASB)

Dressing for success. Some days I wish warm up pants were suitable for all occasions. Because no matter what we look like in them the comfort factor is high and we feel better. If you ask my kids, warm up pants are suitable everywhere (unless you are their mother and you are going out in public). However, those of us in the adult world understand that clothes matter and should fit the occasion. Let’s face it -when you look good, you feel good. 

Have you encountered anyone that looked like a million bucks and then treated you like a lost penny – insignificant? Then, how did that person look to you? Sometimes we put on our physical clothes to dress for success but we fail to take the qualities along with us that really matter. I have learned over the years that people may be polished and wearing the most expensive clothes but their demeanor can ruin it in a second. The ugly on the inside eventually shows on the outside. 

It is the same way with pretty too, though. When we are clothed with the right qualities that God has taught us we are pretty from the inside out. I have friends that I am convinced look better than me no matter what they are wearing – even their warm up pants – and that is because they are beautiful people on the inside. 

What’s love got to do with it? The scripture tells us that love is the bond (perfect bond) of all unity. So, above all things put on love! Each and every day. With love, barriers are broken, partnerships as well as friendships are forged, and people make positive changes in the lives of others (and themselves). 

If you go back to Colossians and read all of chapter 3, you will find this in verse 12:

“And so, those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Look, it’s a whole wardrobe given to us by God. One stop shopping – you’ve got to love that, especially if you’re a guy. Walk in, get what you need, and off you go. 

As you dress each day whether it is for work or for play, clothe yourself with these things. Your true beauty will be revealed and I bet you get a compliment or two on how great you look. 

What’s different about you? It must be love. 

“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider the great things He has done for you.”                                                                                           I Samuel 12:24 (NASB)

Traveling to work one day at my usual rate of speed, there was a police car positioned so that it was unnoticeable to me until I was passing by the side street where it was parked on a hill to my right. Two seconds later, I heard the blast of the siren and I saw the bright blue lights flashing in my rearview mirror. Immediately, my pulse quickened.  My heart sank. My stomach became queasy. I can’t adequately describe the hollow, sick feeling. The feeling of guilt that took over my mind and body at that moment. 

Scrambling to gather my thoughts, my mind was on high alert. Trying to decide where it was appropriate to pull over on the divided highway, with clammy palms, I was close to panic for an answer when I checked the rearview mirror again and realized that the police officer was trailing a different vehicle. Whew! What a relief. It wasn’t me that the officer was stopping. It was another unfortunate, speeding soul.

As I drove on, the siren quieted and lights faded from view. My pulse slowed closer to normal and I relaxed the death grip I had on the steering wheel. Then, my mind drifted to more comforting thoughts. I knew I wasn’t speeding. I didn’t do anything wrong. I remembered looking at the speedometer and only being 8 miles an hour over the speed limit. Yet, my stomach still felt a little queasy and I was edgy, uneasy. 

The familiar feeling of guilt. I still felt guilty – or embarrassed – the feelings are very similar and closely related. 

This wasn’t the first time I had felt this way and I am sure it won’t be the last. 

Truth: Sometimes I drive over the speed limit. I am convinced that as long as I don’t go more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit it’s acceptable. That’s just a little over the limit and no one can stick to the exact speed limit all the time, right?!

Why do blue lights and sirens have that effect on me? Or sometimes just the sight of a police car? Probably because I know I am not perfect. I am guilty of traffic violations. I am embarrassed to think that could be or should be exposed. 

That’s it. Guilt brings embarrassment. 

I am embarrassed because I know the laws/rules; however, I break them anyway.

I bet you have similar feelings when this happens to you. Be honest. If you don’t have some anxiety in a situation like this does it mean you have become too comfortable breaking the law? 

Do you have similar feelings when you come before God? 

Do you steer your life differently when you are at church or with other Christians than you do when you are at home or with your buddies? Do you have feelings of guilt or embarrassment? Or have you become comfortable breaking God’s rules?

When we commit those “small sins” (like gossiping, using profanity, or judging others) is it just like going 10 miles over the speed limit – nothing to get caught for?

Remember with God there are no “small sins,” and with Him the speed limit is the speed limit. 

When we go over God’s speed limit in our daily lives, do we feel just as guilty as when we see those blue lights and hear that siren? We should.

If not, maybe we have become too comfortable and complacent pushing the limit with God.

From today forward, try something new. Try going the speed limit (or under) on the road and in the way you live your life. 

You will experience more satisfaction … and a lot less guilt and embarrassment.

“You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb; I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”                                 Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

There was a popular game show in the 1970s called The $10,000 Pyramid. It was a timed game where one person would see the name of a category and then he or she would use words and phrases to describe it until the other person guessed it correctly.

Would you like to play? 

See if you can guess the category from these clues:

. Classic style

. Tasteful hair and makeup

. Basic

. Less is more

. Elegant

. Feminine

. Natural

. Grace Kelly or Jackie Kennedy

Have you guessed it yet? Do you give up?

The category is … Examples of Timeless Beauty.

Timeless beauty. This is something many women, like me, seek. We spend a significant amount of time staring in the mirror examining our flaws and then we spend a considerable amount of money trying to correct them. All of this in pursuit of timeless beauty.

But what are we really looking for? Timeless beauty or ageless perfection? They are not the same thing.

If you are looking for ageless perfection then you will most likely always be disappointed. By our very nature, we are perfectly imperfect people. A surgical facelift may fix the problem temporarily but even those remarkable effects don’t last forever. 

When I described timeless beauty, you may notice I did not use the word perfect and I did not use the cover of the Sports Illustrated (swimsuit edition) as an example. 

The tangible beauty of youth is fleeting but true beauty is timeless. 

So how can we each capture timeless beauty?

To harness the power of timeless beauty you first must embrace the reflection in the mirror. Accept the person you have become. No regrets. Every wrinkle represents part of your story – your historical timeline – your journey. Every scar symbolizes a healing or a victory – victory over a difficult situation – victory in living. 

Look more closely and discover what features you possess that reflect a member of your family. Do you have your dad’s eyes? Your grandmother’s hands? And how much did you love and admire them? Their influence can be seen on your face and through your actions. 

Look a little deeper. Become the woman or man of God you know you can be. You are so precious in His sight. Let His word and teachings transform you from the inside out resulting in the ultimate facelift, reflecting confidence and courage.

Beauty radiates from within. God created each of us fearfully and wonderfully. Let others see that through you!

Don’t get me wrong I still want to be the most perfectly imperfect I can be on the outside too.  I must admit I am constantly in search of that magic firming cream that will defy gravity and reverse its effects on my human shell but I won’t let that define me or diminish my confidence in who I am. 

We can all possess timeless beauty that comes from being an obedient child of God. 

Does that thought turn your frown upside down?! Now, that’s a facelift!

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”  2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”                                                                 Hebrews 12:2

Pinecone battles. Kickball. Bike riding. Thumb wars. These are all part of my childhood memories. A time when most debates were settled by declaring, “Whoever blinks first loses. One. Two. Three. Go.” These words started intense staring contests between me and my brother. 

As kids, these moments were serious and being declared the winner was a badge of honor. All these years later, I can still remember that feeling when locked in a gaze with a friend or sibling bound and determined to win the staring standoff. I also remember how it felt to stare at that other set of eyes so intently that everything else fell out of focus. The background and all of the distractions became blurry and insignificant. 

As many children, I experimented with different interests to see where I fit in – where I could use my talents. In doing this, I tried to tap into the ballerina in me by taking dance classes. That lasted one year – those shoes hurt my feet! I have always admired those real ballerinas who stuck with it and learned to turn on their toes for long periods of time without getting dizzy or falling – a result of their dedication, focus, and balance.

As an adult, literal balance and focus becomes more and more important. This is why people are practicing yoga – to balance mind and body. In ballet and yoga, to keep your physical balance you need a focal point. Focusing on one stationery object or thought helps you stay steady. Clearly, there is a connection between focus and balance. 

Focusing on what really matters and balancing the personal and professional aspects of life grows in value as we grow older. In more than one way, success in our day to day activities is all about finding focus to remain balanced, steady. Obviously, as a young girl I lacked the focus it took to become dedicated to dance. I had not quite learned the philosophy of no pain, no gain. When I think of some of the most successful people I know and the hardest workers I have seen, they all have an intense focus and dedication to their craft, work, sport, or area of expertise. When there is a laser-like focus the distractions become blurred and insignificant allowing you to move closer to your goal.

There are days when I lose my focus and the world around me seems to spin. I find it difficult to find my balance and regain control. I have lost my focal point, and everything begins to swirl. That’s when I need to harness the kid in me and remember not to blink.  

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fix your eyes on Jesus …”         (The one who blinks first loses…)

He should be our focal point.            (One. Two. Three. Go.)

He can stop the world from spinning. 

Just like that prima ballerina or a yoga instructor or the winner of a staring contest, it takes time and practice. In this world with all of its distractions it takes true dedication and commitment to maintain focus and balance.

As a Christian, fix your eyes on the One who matters – Jesus. When you do, you can’t lose.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for being an immovable focal point for me. You are the one true constant, unchanging support in a world of uncertainty. When I find myself losing focus and my world starts spinning, I will fix my eyes on You to blur the distractions and get back on track.

Amen.