"What's changing for you?"

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A friend of mine contemplated a move and talked with me about it. She was concerned about lots of things like her child who had never moved, the relative uncertainty of her income in the new job, the new location would cost more to live in, would her husband find a new job when they moved; those kinds of things. You know, the normal concerns we all have when making a career change.

I asked her if she felt in her heart that this was God’s plan for her and her family’s life. "Yes," she said, "there have been only green lights, no red lights along the way. It feels right, but I’m still not sure."

"Then remember," I told her, "that the same God who put this plan in your heart, who has shown you green lights, not red lights; the same God who has the whole world and all of its matters in hand, has you and your concerns in hand also. This same God will provide for you and your family."

And I say the same to you today—whatever change you’re facing, know that God is with you and will provide for you and your family.

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"Something failed you lately?"

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I was without email recently. A lot of what I do in my business depends on email. So I got frustrated by my lack of email, especially when I couldn’t fix it quickly and couldn’t seem to find anyone readily available who could help me. I’m sure you’ve been stuck on hold or going through the same on-line chat "help" for the third time just like I was…

I just couldn’t seem to find a resolution. So I changed tactics. I got on the telephone and started calling people I normally email. Yes, it took me longer. No, it wasn’t as efficient as email.

But you know what? I really enjoyed talking with folks again. I discovered again the personal nature of phone calls. Emails don’t convey the emotions and nuances that the human voice captures. Emails don’t allow for rapid follow-up of questions and issues. Emails don’t communicate the human experience as well as a phone call.

So in the midst of a technological failure, I discovered that listening to life helps me make a life and not just a living. Thank God for that!

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"What do you see?"

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I mentioned to you recently that I painted our kitchen as a birthday present for my wife. We have a large bay window there overlooking the front part of our farm. Painting around that window gave me a chance the incredible view and watch the animals.

I just had to put down my brush and watch as our cat, Maybelle, walked up to a dogwood tree. At first, she put her front paws on it and stretched out. Then she looked up the tree, sized it up, and turned her head to the side as if to ask, "What’s up there?"

Curiosity got the best of her as she climbed up the tree. She went up it as far as she safely could, pretty close to the top, where the branches grew too small to support her. So here she is, near the top of the tree. She stretches out her neck and starts looking around, shifting her weight to get a 360 degree view. Then satisfied, she climbs back down.

Be like Maybelle today. Get curious. Look around at God’s world. And enjoy the view as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

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"Do you sleep soundly?"

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My office is on our farm, overlooking our horse pastures. I enjoy looking out over the pastures between phone appointments and during breaks from writing and recording. It’s quite an idyllic view.

One day I noticed a couple of horses laying on the ground, stretched out flat. It’s unusual to see them like that. Usually they sit up and don’t lay flat. I looked more closely out of concern. Then I saw a third horse standing near-by, almost at attention. He looked around the area at anything that moved, kind of like he was guarding his two pasture mates while they slept soundly.

I then understood why those two horses could sleep laying flat on the ground—they were being guarded against danger.

You are being guarded against danger, also. God is at attention, watching life as it moves toward you.

Now does that mean nothing bad will ever happen to you? Of course not. What it does mean is that you can sleep soundly, knowing that God has your back, and you don’t have to worry so much as you make a life, not just a living.

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"Do you see flaws or beauty?"

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A friend recently made a lemon meringue pie for me. Her husband brought it to our home. I looked at it, wiped the drool from my chin, and asked, "Are you sure she made this? It’s beautiful and looks like a professional pie baker created it!" He smiled and assured me that she had made it.

The couple stayed for dinner and when it was time for dessert, I told my friend that her pie was just too beautiful for me to cut and asked if she wanted to do it. She said she would so I got out the plates and pie server for her.

I stood next to her as she cut the pie and said, "This pie is so beautiful I thought a professional pie baker made it. It looks like one of your best!"

She replied, "Well, no, it’s not one of my best. The meringue didn’t cooperate with me. Do you see how it pulled back from the edges of the pie here? I don’t know what I did wrong, but it just didn’t turn out like I wanted."
I saw a beautiful pie. She saw all of its flaws.

What will you see today as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living? Look past the flaws and see the beauty…and taste the sweetness today.

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