Don’t Forget To Back Up!

By Kathy Willis

I’m not good at backing up my van. Okay, I admit it! I try to use my mirrors, and I move my head around to visualize things, but I’m still awkward at maneuvering the car in reverse. There are some parking lots and parking garages that do not allow enough wiggle room, let alone parking room. I’m a novice.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed our new puppy enjoys going in reverse as much as she enjoys moving forward. All that’s missing is the back-up horn blaring a warning: “Watch out for Jazzy, she’s backing up!” She doesn’t even look where she’s going; no mirrors to consult. She just reverses her footsteps in the same locations as when she was moving forward. It works. She’s a pro!

I’m programmed to advance, not retreat; to progress, not regress. Most of my leadership training focused on one point: moving forward. We studied goal setting, becoming a visionary, striving for success—but nothing was ever said about the need to go in reverse every once in a while.

I’ve had a life-journey reversal this week. I can see how it will be good for me. Reversals cause me to reflect and to grow. They cause me to evaluate what is really important in my life. They keep me humble and grounded. Success without trials only produces empty victory, full of shallow egotism. Real growth happens when life says, “Go back. See what you missed. Learn from it.” Backing up allows us to see things in the proper perspective.

Sometimes the object we must go back to is our “first love.” Revelation refers to the church that lost her first love. They were challenged to return; to back up and find where they lost it. When I lose something, I have to retrace my steps, and remember what I was doing when I last had “it.” I’m making a fresh commitment to remember my First Love (Jesus), and to accept reversals as they happen, knowing they will conform me into His image.

Author Quote: “Don’t forget to back up” is not just a motto for your computer, but your life!

“Thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works,” Revelation 2: 4b-5a KJV.

Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist, and speaker.  Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions.  Learn more about how she desires to “Shine the Light on Him and His” at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.

God Can Do It!

By Kathy Carlton Willis

I was reminded this week just how big our God is. I knew, I just KNEW that God had something around the corner for us. I had guesses as to how He might take care of us and show us a glimpse of His love. But I didn’t REALLY know. In fact, I had no clue just how powerful God is to change our outcome.

I think what I’ve experienced can be called “mustard seed faith.” I had a little bit of faith. I had faith enough to think mustard seed-sized things might happen. But God took my little bit of faith and honored it by showing me just how BIG He is. WOW!

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WORSHIP: All That Jazzy

My Boston Terrier, Jazzy, worships me.  Maybe worship is too strong of a word, but I don’t think so.  She follows me from room to room just to be by my side.  She’ll rest at my feet or beg to lie in my lap.  When I take a nap, she jumps up in bed and pressed the small of her back against the small of my back.  She covers me with her kisses and looks up at me with an expression of adoration on her face.  She trusts me to provide for all of her needs and many of her wishes.  When I come in the door, she can’t wait to greet me.  Jazzy is content just being with me.

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Time Out!

“Mister, I need to GO,” whined Jimmy as he tugged on the ref’s pant-leg.  “Okay, go tell your coach to call a time out for your team,” said the referee. “No, Mister, I need to go NOW!” pleaded Jimmy.  What could the ref do, but send Jimmy to the restroom, while calling a time out.  They were only second grade, don’t you know!

There are times when we all need to take a time out.  Sometimes, it is a gradual building up of pressure that screams we need a break.  Other times, it’s an urgent warning that we need to stop everything right NOW and take a time out!

A story is told of a man and woman who challenged each other to split wood for eight hours, and at the end of the time, see who had the largest woodpile.  Every hour the woman took a break.  The man went nonstop, thinking the extra time would amount to a larger woodpile.  To him, it meant easy victory.  At eight hours, there was only one obvious winner.  The woman’s woodpile was much larger.  The man asked, “How can this be?  I worked the entire time, while you took a break every hour.”  The woman responded, “I used that time to sharpen the ax!”

We each need to take time to sharpen our proverbial axes.  What should we do, when we take a break from our everyday busyness?  First, think of the word break spelled as BRAKE.  Stop what you are doing; put the brakes on.  When we slow down the inner quietness allows us to hear God’s still small voice more clearly.  Through Him we find the peace that we can’t seem to find anywhere else.  We relax, allowing our physical and emotional wellbeing to rejuvenate and reenergize.  As one commercial so aptly put it, “Calgon take me away!”

The Bible sets up a time for spiritual renewal.  In the Old Testament that time was called the Sabbath.  Many New Testament Christians set aside time for the Lord the first day of the week.  Unfortunately, because of our busy workweeks, Sunday becomes the only day to complete chores and errands, and it is no longer a day of rest.

AUTHOR QUOTE: Are you feeling an urgent need to leave the playing field of Life for a break?  Just ask for a time out.  It’s not just for ballgames or errant children.  It can be ours today!

“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,” Exodus 33:14.

Today’s devotion is by Kathy Carlton Willis, wife to Russ, pastor’s wife to many, author, editor, publicist, and speaker.  Kathy Carlton Willis Communications encompasses her many passions.  Learn more at: http://kcwcomm.blogspot.com/ or http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/.

Transplant Trauma

By Kathy Carlton Willis –

We had just moved into our new home and the new sod, trees and landscaping floundered. Of course, it didn’t help that we were melting in a 100-degree heat wave. But the crux of the problem was transplant shock. Uprooting those green leafies from their old, comfortable setting and placing them into strange new surroundings traumatized them.

We did all we could to “love on” our greenies. They received refreshing drinks of water once or twice a day, requiring my husband to spend a good amount of time rotating the sprinklers to saturate the entire property. Even with the proper care, the bright green leaves of grass, trees and plants faded to a straw-like gold. Transplant Trauma.

We noticed it took time and proper care for the transplants to adjust to their new surroundings, and then they snapped out of the shock and turn green again.

Many Americans move to new locations as transplants. The month of May spotlights National Moving Month and Creative Beginnings Month. It’s no surprise that many of us look for fresh ways to start anew and learn to bloom where we’re planted.

I’m a transplant too. I’m not from around here. Perhaps you moved to a new area because of a new job or you moved your membership to a new church. God rarely has us planted in the same soil for life. God uproots us, taking us from the comfort of what we know and love, and moves us to a new area where we can flourish. Maybe God moves us to revive something that is parched and dry, to rejuvenate with our refreshing green ministry efforts. Hurting people and hurting programs look for a fresh new covering of green. Because of our faith in the Lord, we are part of the landscaping team to provide a spiritual covering, a layer of prayer support and green renewal of life.

But when we move to our new surroundings, sometimes it takes a while to get acclimated. We can’t minister or encourage others, because we no longer feel rooted as deeply into our spiritual nourishment. We fade as we go through a period of transplant trauma. Shock. The refreshingness of our green—the good intentions we bring with us—are temporarily turned to dry hay. With the right amount of time to adjust, and with the loving care of our new surroundings, we green up again. It’s good to know it’s just a temporary condition.

Sometimes we come to a new place still grieving the loss of our previous setting. We bring that trauma with us until we come to accept it. Other times, eager to get started in our new surroundings, culture shock stands in our way. We adapt. We add the water of the Word, confirming our calling to our new spot. We soak in the SONlight. We allow our Heavenly Master Gardener to tend to our needs while we tend to the needs of others.

And when in doubt, repeat this phrase, “Transplant trauma is temporary. God’s tender loving care is permanent.”

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1:3 NLT).

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