I have been told that taking a multivitamin on a daily basis is important. My understanding is that once these store-bought pills are swallowed, they dissolve in the stomach, travel through the bloodstream, and then go to work in their designated areas; in time, the recipient can expect positive results. After all, the vitamin bottle advertises: designed to unlock energy and support metabolism. Wow, why wouldn't I want that kind of power-surge traveling through me on a daily basis, right? (Any minute now, that promised energy is going to invade each cell of my body, I just know it...)Just as our physical bodies need certain essentials to maintain our health, so do our souls. Everyday, we need an intake of God's truth in our Heart, so that it can dissperse into our Bloodstream, and then create new Life in us. This kind of "spiritual vitamin", like the physical ones, will also go to work in it's designated areas. One biblical promise in God's word will speak into one area of our life, while another trustworthy verse will help us somewhere else.So, take your vitimins, the ones for your body, AND the ones for your soul. They are daily and essential!As a matter of fact, I will give you a couple "to digest" below. My prayer is that you will indeed receive them deep into your being. Let these healthy words affect you exactly the way in which your Helper and your Healer designs them to function. Physical vitamins in labeled bottles don't always produce their advertised results; but the "soul-vitamins" found in the Good Book, never fail when taken with a humbled heart:God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (I John 5:12)Do not fear, for I am with you; do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

All throughout Scripture, God creatively uses comparisons and contrasts to teach Christians about who He is, and how we should live. For example, think of the house that is built on solid rock compared to the house built on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Also, think of a flourishing tree by a stream; while in contrast, picture a dried up bush in the desert (Jeremiah 17:5-8). Both of these passages teach us the benefits as well as the burdens of living a life with or without trusting and obeying God. Where the bible sometimes seems so difficult to understand, these colorful pictures of life are so very elementary to any reader!I came across another comparison/contrast verse this morning:For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5)There is no wiggle room in this verse; what we think about can lead us to death or life. The word mindset is defined as "the established set of attitudes held by someone." Hmm... what's my attitude? (I would rather not answer that at times.) What is my mind seton?Theflesh: the worries of this world, the pleasures of this world, successes, failures, plans, hopes, dreams?Or theSpirit: God Himself, who He is, and also the great things He has done in His word, in His creation, and in me? (Yes, HE is in me, and that is a great thing!)One of these patterns of thinking is a dead-end road, possibly enjoyable for a moment, but only to be followed by discontent and despair; on the other hand, the Spirit-filled mindset lends itself to a fresh start every day to the God of wonders, who has the best for His children in every circumstance. The fleeting pleasure of the flesh is nothing compared to His eternal love abiding in a submitted soul.So next time you find yourself confused about the past, or striving in the present, or fearful over the future, change your mindset from the flesh to the Spirit. He loves you and the beautiful truth is: His mind is set on you. He can (and longs to) out-do your best man-made ideas any day, and every day. The question is, do you believe this?Sinking sand, or solid rock? Dried up bush, or fruitful tree? The flesh, or the Spirit? It's a mindset.

One of my favorite hobbies is to sit quietly and work on a (not-too-difficult) puzzle;there must be something therapeutic in this ordeal for me as I slowly fit each puzzle piece together to form a picture. Because of this, and also because it's a relational activity, I keepa puzzle stretched out at our kitchen table on a continual basis for anyone who wants to join in. So yesterday, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I sat down with Simon, our French exchange student, and we worked together, placing one puzzle piece at a time in it's designated spot.

Our lives can be compared to one large puzzle, with God Himself being the puzzle-worker. All the pieces are present from the beginning, and there is a beautiful masterpiece waiting to put together by its Creator. He knows where each piece fits, and He knows exactly when to put it in its place. Every piece is different in shape and markings; some are bright and full of color, while others are drab and dreary, serving as a neccessary backdrop to the revealed glory by its side.

Do you trust your Puzzle-Working God? In other words, do you undoubtedly believe that God knows best in both the timing and the order of your days? Or, do you find yourself becoming impatient, wanting to yank the "puzzle pieces" from His hand and do life yourself? Be careful, the bible teaches that there will be consequences to this method. Think of Sarai, Abram's wife, who decided to take matters into her own hands in order to fulfill God's promise of bearing a son (Genesis 16).

Do you find joy in your Puzzle-Working God? Or are you upset with Him because your picture is not the one you would have picked for yourself? The bible speaks of this as well in the Potter/Clay analogy: You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing?" (Isaiah 29:16). I know there have been specific times in my life when I have had to beg the Lord to change my embittered clinched fists to joyful hands of praise... and He gracefully answers my repentant prayers.

I encourage you to rest your impatient hands and your questioning heart in a God who is fully trustworthy and entirely faithful--even in the drab and dreary times of your life! These pieces, too, are a significant and irreplacable part of your beautiful picture. God promises hope and contentmentin His word when you just can't see or understand what He is up to in your days. There is no challenge too difficult or no project too confusing for this Grand Puzzle-Worker. He longs to willingly and winsomely create your life's portrait, piece by piece, peace by peace.

Today is my younger son's birthday. Davis is a tall, strong, focused, God-loving, now 17 year-old young man. We look forward to celebrating him on this special day. As his momma, I cherish the fact that his life goes on...And also today, we will celebrate Christmas with my extended family five days "late." Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents will all gather around the table for yummy food, much conversation, lots of laughs, and maybe even some tears. I look forward to this time together, and am thankful for the birth of our Savior. Because of this gift at Christmas, life goes on...And then also today, we will bury my grandmother. The same family members that gather around the dinner table will also honor a beautiful, playful, carefree woman who lived life to the fullest measure, until she couldn't. We will all celebrate her together, and rejoice that her life goes on...John 1:4 says, In Him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.Today, I have both joy and peace in Jesus Christ. HE.... IS.... LIFE.Because of His life, birthdays and seasonal celebrations, and yes, even funerals are filled with hope beyond this present moment. An eternal weight of glory is ahead of us!Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25). Today, I rejoice because our family believes this, and we are all confident that because of Christ...Life will go on... and on... and on...

During this Thanksgiving season, a healthy habit among many of us is to count our many blessings. I am certainly thankful for family, friends, and health, as well as the divine "yes's", "no's", and "wait's" that have been sprinkled throughout my life. These are all God's way of showing me His kindness. But, I have to say, God's kindness to me starts initially with just... God and me. My heart defines His kindness as the intangible presence of His all consuming love that is better than life itself. He gives this kindness to each of us; so let us praise Him togehter:

God, You are Kind.   My heart asks, “Why have You chosen to be kind to ungrateful and evil men?”…There is no one who does good, not even one... For we… (are) foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when Your kindness, O God our Savior, and Your love for mankind appeared, You saved us.  Thank you Lord, for this undeserving gift of mercy; thank You for Your lovingkindness that cost You your Son; thank You for this sacrificial act of grace displayed upon the cross. Again, I thank You with my whole heart! For it was in my desperate state that You allured me…and You spoke kindly to me, and You captured me with Your matchless love. I am forever changed. Please Lord, I now ask You to make me a vessel of Your kindness; I want to reach others who are also in need of a Savior. Daily fill my heart so that I too can exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit, kindness. Yes, make my hands and feet, become Your hands and feet, and cause me to run to the weary, the broken, the lonely, and the lost. When I touch others, may they understand it's really You; yes, I ask that Your kindness would reach out through me and save them too. Again and again, thank You Father, thank You Son, thank You Holy Spirit for Your invading and invloving work, all because of Your lovingkindness towards Your people. I can't help but say it one more time...thank You.

Luke 6:35; Psalm 14:3; Titus 3:3-5; Hosea 2:14; Galatians 5:22

Have you ever been in a conflict with someone in which there seems to be no resolution whatsoever? (I think I know everybody's answer. Conflict is inevitable while on this earth!) So what does one do in the midst of a mess that just keeps getting messier? Sometimes, if possible, the best resolution is just to agree-to-disagree, shake hands peaceably, and walk away from the matter altogether.
But there are other times when in conflict, we tend to get so caught up in the matter, that we can't see straight; we begin to look at things sideways. The argument becomes more about my-side-against-their-side, than the issue itself. And then somewhere in there, God's voice of wisdom gets pushed out altogher. This is when we need to stop, take a meditative breath, and remember that God will always have a different perspective than we humans do. The Wise Counselor sees from above, not just one side; He looks down and sees both angles; He knows the thoughts and intentions of both hearts. He holds the answer; He is Peace.
The contrast between humans trying to resolve matters with or without God's perspective is clearly mentioned in His word:

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:16-17)

So, the questions to ask in the midst of a relational conflict are these:

Does jealousy or selfish ambition contribute to my unsettled heart?
Are my motives pure?
Do I want peace at the end of this conflict?
Am I being gentle, reasonable, full of mercy?
Does the way I am behaving bear good fruits, and line up with my unwavering biblical convictions, or am I being a hypocrite?

These are hard questions, but when they're answered honestly between two parties in conflict, then resolution is more likely to happen. I am so thankful I have a Wise Counselor that can help me see more than sideways. I pray that I will always remember to invite Him into my conflicts. I want His perspective; I want His peace.