Stop and Smell the Roses

By Cheri Cowell –

 

Some of us are always on the go. We take two things off our to-do list and add six more. There never seems to be enough hours in the day. More than once we’ve said if we could clone ourselves for just an hour we might catch up. But the truth is, we wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we got to the end of the list. We watch other people who seem to relax while the laundry is piled high and the weeds are overtaking the garden, and we wonder how they do it. How can they relax when there is still so much to do?

Perhaps these people have learned the secret of true rest. They realize not one of us is promised another minute of life, and all that striving and labor won’t add a day of living. So it is good to stop and smell the roses, to rest and relax, even when the to-do list is a mile long. Take some time today to smell the roses, to take a walk in the woods, to watch a sunset or sunrise, and thank God for another minute of life.

“One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NASB).

Prayer: Help me to resist the urge to keep going. Instead Lord, help me to stop and rest, and while there to smell the roses.

 

 

Sparkling Clean

By Cheri Cowell –

 

There is something special about a clean house. When the floors are mopped and vacuumed, when the cobwebs are swept away, when the dust layer is removed and everything shines, it feels good. If there were a magic wand that would create this wonderful scene, the stores wouldn’t be able to keep those wands in stock. Unfortunately, someone has to do the work.

Sanctification is the big word used to describe the cleaning God does in our hearts as we submit our lives to Him. The scriptures say God desires to present us blameless before Him. Said another way, He wants us to be made holy from the inside out, clean and pure like a freshly cleaned house.  Our part is to submit to the process of having every area of our lives opened for Him. There is no magic wand, and sometimes God has to scrub really hard to remove layers of dust and grime, but in the end, we will shine and sparkle for Him.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5: 23 NKJV).

Prayer: I want to be pure, holy, and blameless for You so I submit to the cleaning process. Make me sparkle for You.

 

Peace Like a River

By Cheri Cowell –

 

The word ‘obey’ is not considered a positive word today. Ask children to tell you what the word ‘obey’ means and many would have no idea. We don’t stress obedience. Perhaps this is because we struggle with our own obedience. It feels like we are surrendering, giving up, even losing. That’s because at the heart of obedience is the requirement of humility. Humility asks us to bend and finally surrender our wills.

Yet, the amazing thing about obeying God is the peace that flows through you and your life when you finally surrender to him. Like a full-flowing river, peace will wash over your life when you quit struggling and finally surrender. When you obey and give up your right to be right, good things flow to you like rolling waves of the sea. When your will is fully surrendered to God, peace will flow in your life like a refreshing river.

“If you had obeyed me, you would have had peace like a full-flowing river. Good things would have flowed to you like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18 NCV).

Prayer: I admit I struggle with obedience and the humility required, but I long for my life to flow with peace. So, help me to bend and surrender my will to Yours, God, so good things will roll in my heart like a refreshing river.

Put On Your Shine

By Cheri Cowell –

 

Let’s be honest. Two subjects are lightning rods in the workplace—politics and religion. Some workplaces are zero-tolerance zones when it comes to religion. Even if you are blessed to work in a business run by those with Christian principles, the differences on religious views can be tricky to navigate. So as not to rock the boat, do you simply put your Christian values in a lockbox from nine-to-five?

Scripture gives us an alternative approach to the lockbox. We’re told to let our light shine. Light doesn’t use words. It doesn’t argue its point. Light simply brightens a room, and it helps show the way. How? It does it through its presence. When we let our inner light, which is Jesus Christ, shine, that interior light warms hearts. When we put on our Shine, we bring glory to God without a single word spoken. If you work where it is unwise to discuss your faith, determine to let your light do all the talking.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).

Prayer: Help me remember that arguing my point is often less effective than simply putting on my Shine—Your Light shining through me.

Man at the Top

By Cheri Cowell –

 

When implementing big policy changes or sweeping shifts in workflow it is important to have everyone on the same page. Buy-in is necessary from the top all the way down to the bottom. If someone feels threatened by the proposed changes, if they don’t agree to set aside their own views and go with the flow, the plans can be sabotaged before they even begin.

We might have great plans for our futures. But if we have not cleared those plans with the Man at the Top, we are sabotaging our own plans. It is not as if we need God’s buy-in on our plans, but our plans must be aligned with His ways. This is ‘committing’ our plans, when we align them with the will of God. Only plans that have been committed to God will succeed. Only plans that are aligned with the Man at the Top will bring us peace. Have you set about on your own path, or have you committed your plans to God?

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).

Prayer: I’ve made plans and then sabotaged them by not bringing them before You. Help me to commit my ways to You so You will help me succeed.

 

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