The pages of the Bible bring forth a resounding call to love God with everything in us. This call challenges the way we think, the way we act and even the way we feel. As you and I think about the call to love God with complete abandon to the point where we invite Him to change our thoughts, actions and feelings, we must turn our attention to the One who is calling us to change. Long before we invite God to change anything about us, we must know and believe that God has our very best interest at heart.

One early Monday morning, I found myself sitting in my parked car, inside my closed garage, and hiding from my children. I was wrapped in a warm blanket and desperately trying to find some way to have a meaningful time of prayer and Bible Study.

Six powerful words were strategically placed at the beginning of the Christmas story as recorded in the of Gospel of Luke. These words were spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus, following the shocking news that she, a virgin, would give birth to a child. This child would not be like any other child. No. This Child was God’s Child.

Listen to Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (New International Version) This verse comes alive for me every time I stand in front of a group to speak or sit in front of my computer to write. God provides the competence I need to do the work He calls me to do. I am at my best when I embrace this truth and live out of His competence,
not my own.

How often do our lips get us in trouble? Have
you ever walked away from a conversation
and asked yourself, “Why did I say that?” I
will confess that I have! Anytime I find my
lips getting me in trouble, I breathe a quick prayer asking
the Lord to guard my mouth and watch over my lips.
This prayer is based on Psalm 141:3. “Set a guard over my
mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (New
International Version).
Words are powerful—not because they hold power in
and of themselves, but because they reveal the state of our

Moses faced a daunting job description: he had the task of leading the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity and into the Promised Land. Thankfully, Moses did not face this task alone. God’s visible presence led the way in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
As Moses and the Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land, an interesting instruction came from the Lord. The Israelites
were told to turn around and camp by the Sea.

School will start soon. For the Lennon family, this means big changes are on the horizon. Our lazy summer mornings will be a distant memory as we return to a more focused schedule. I am not saying this is an unwelcome change.
Even now, as I write this article, my boys are chasing each other around the house enjoying a high-spirited pillow fight. Certainly the Lennons can stand to have a little more focus in our daily lives.

I have heard it said that if you have three close friends, you are blessed. The longer I live, the more I believe this statement is true. Close friends are friends that know you and care for you. Close friends are there for you in the easy times as well as the difficult times. When you are down, a close friend picks you up.

The song, “Everything” by Israel Houghton has captured my heart and forced me to ask an important question: “Who is my everything?” The song conveys the idea that the Lord must be my treasure, my priority, and that no one can compare to Him. The last line of the song states, “Oh Morning Star, You truly are everything.”

Recently I went on an overnight backpacking adventure with a good friend of mine. My friend is an avid backpacker; she owns all the equipment and thrives in a backpacking or hiking scenario. I, on the other hand, thrive in hotels. However, I am not the type of person who backs down when a challenge is extended to me. As a result, for 24 hours I was a backpacker. Of course, I knew nothing about backpacking when I started the process. I had to learn. The way I learned was by watching my friend. I had to listen to her important instructions and follow them.