License Plate Ministries!

God is soooo good!!

I’ve been having a difficult time thinking of something to write about this week. I’ve mentioned before that many times I’m thinking on my way to work. This week was no different – and it just wasn’t coming to me. Then, I happened to glance over at the car next to me – and the license plate said “GD PRVID”. How appropriate – of course God will provide the answer – and it will be in His time, not my impatient schedule! My prayer, many times, has been “God, help me to stay out of your way!”

God reminded me of a picture I recently saw. It said “Cherish the quiet times – the world screams, while God whispers.” Oh, how true that is – especially this time of year. Presents to buy, food to cook, goodies to bake, decorations, parties, meetings, work… it just never ends. My quiet time hasn’t even been very quiet lately. I rush in, read a chapter or so in my Bible, sit there quietly for a minute – ok, I’m done being quiet – and off I go! Put a little check mark by ‘quiet time’ and I’m good for the day. Somehow I don’t think that’s the way it’s supposed to be – and could very well be the reason for my struggle.

God has so much that He wants to say to us. He wants to answer us; He wants to guide us; He wants to tell us how much He loves us – if we’d only listen. As we scurry about doing our Christmas chores – trying to figure out how to get everything done – I can imagine God sitting in Heaven saying ‘I’ll tell you if you’d just stop and listen to me!’ Hmmm – seems I’ve told that same thing to Morgan a few times. “If you’d just stop and listen!!” I wonder if God gets as frustrated as I do when I say that?!

God has all of the answers we need. He knows the path we should take, and He knows the best way to get there. All we have to do is listen. He isn’t going to make us listen. He isn’t going to shout above the constant roar of busy-ness that we encounter every day. We have to be intentional – we have to stop and sit down with Him and say “I’m ready to hear what you have to tell me.” Then be quiet and listen. Let God fill your heart with the peace and love that only He can provide.

Stop ... breathe ... begin

Last night was Morgan’s first official band concert! She was so excited – and looked so beautiful!

The 6th graders did an awesome job – especially since many, Morgan included, had never played an instrument before two months ago. It was amazing how far they have come since the beginning of the year. The expectation of the 7th graders was higher than that of the beginning band – and they held nothing back! They did an excellent job – even performing an 8th grade level song wonderfully. The 8th graders had a very tough act to follow, and unfortunately, they had a very rough night. They just didn’t seem to have it together, and they were devastated. Now this group can play brilliantly! I’ve heard them play flawlessly in the past, but on this particular night, they had a hard time getting in sync – but they finally did and had an awesome ending to a wonderful evening!

Why am I telling you this? Our walk with God is very similar to the path of the concert. The expectation of the beginning band wasn’t very high – and when they performed well, we were impressed. The higher the level, the greater the expectation. When a person decides to turn their heart over to Jesus – whether a child or an adult – it’s not an automatic transformation where everything lines up with God’s plan. It’s a journey. The ‘new Christian’ is expected to stumble and struggle as they grow in their faith. As that person grows in faith, the expectations are higher. We expect the leaders in the church to perform flawlessly – and not falter like someone who is new in their faith.

But is that really the case?? No! We all have bad days. We all have days where we are out of sync with God – no matter how strong in our faith, no matter how many years we’ve studied the Bible – we still have days where we just can’t pull it together.

I did say that the 8th graders pulled it together – but how??

The Band Director said “STOP”. There was about a 3 second pause, and he said “Begin”. When the band began, they were right on time, right in sync, and it sounded beautiful. Ok, Michele – how does that help me?!?!?! Well, here’s how!

Just as the band could only pull it together when they stopped and started over, sometimes that is the only way we can get back on track with God. Sometimes, we lose focus, we lose patience, and before we know it we are so far off the path of God, we don’t know how to get back. If we just keep walking, we stay on the same path – our path. If we STOP – take a deep breath – and let God take control, it is much easier to get in sync with God.

And everyone must STOP! Sometimes we get to the point where we make ourselves stop – ‘Ok, I’ve had enough – God – help me!” Other times something forces us to stop – a sudden death, a tragedy – or maybe a birth or a miraculous recovery. Those are the times we feel like God has hit us over the head with a 2x4 – and say ‘oooohhhhh, ok God, I get it!’ Regardless of how we stop – we all do! God has lots of stop signs along his path – and if we run too many of them, he’ll slow us down!

Do you think the Deacons go on retreats just to eat good food and listen to Jan play the harp? Well, yes … but there’s more than that! The retreat is an opportunity for this group to say STOP – regroup, refocus, and renew – come home and begin again, confident that the path we are on is one that God has laid before us.

Through this Christmas season, there is a great amount of love and joy – but there is also a great amount of stress and anxiety. This is the perfect time to stop, take a deep breath, and say “Ok, God, You are in control!”

The Last Minute

Happy Friday!

Christmas is right around the corner – ready or not!! And if you’re like me – it’s more like NOT!!

Why is it that we have an entire year to get ready for Christmas, but the biggest shopping day of the year is Christmas Eve? When did $50 off of a new tv become more important than someone’s life? Why do we stress out at the last minute to get decorations up, gifts purchased and wrapped? I’ve barely gotten my tree up – but then I had to rearrange my entire house as an excuse! But then, don’t we all have an ‘excuse’? It would make so much more sense to shop throughout the year, pick up things for those special people and wrap them, and then put them away for Christmas. Then we wouldn’t have to be rushing around with everyone else at the malls in a panic! I say I’m going to do this every year – but never do!

Jesus is coming – just like Christmas is coming. We have our entire lives to get ready for him. Throughout our lives, we can grow stronger in our faith and honor God every day of our lives. The average life span in America is 67 years – that means you have about 24,455 days to thank God for. But even still, we tend to wait until the last minute. We wait until Sunday to worship, we wait until Wednesday night to fellowship, we wait until funerals to thank God for the life of those we lost. We help the needy at Christmas through Angel Tree, Shoeboxes and donations – but Jesus said these people are always there and are always needy. At Thanksgiving, we talk about how thankful that we are to have a roof over our heads, food on our tables, and a family that loves us – but they are there all of the other 364 days of the year, too. Why do we wait until that ‘last minute’ to express it?

The day that Jesus comes isn’t marked on the calendar like Christmas. We have thousands of days – thousands upon thousands of opportunities – to thank, praise, worship, and honor God. Every day we have the chance to make a difference in someone’s life – with a smile, holding a door, sharing God’s word. God doesn’t want us to wait until the ‘last minute’ and try to get everything in under the wire – He wants us to make the most of every day that we have – as if when you close your eyes for sleep each night – that is your ‘last minute’.

This next year, make a resolution to make the most of every day. As you get your family ready for bed, and say prayers – make a habit of asking ‘What did you do today to make God smile?’ And share things that you’ve each done that day. It might be something as simple as ‘I let someone out in front of me in traffic’ and it might be as profound as ‘I shared God with someone new’. It might even be ‘I had a horrible day – and I need to pray about it now!’ It‘ll be tough at first, but it will create an awareness, and if you know you’re going to have to ‘answer for it’ at bedtime, it will make you (and your family) more intentional about serving God every day.

Christmas Gifts

Not that very long ago – on Halloween night – one of my neighbors had a piece of paper with a cute little casper-like ghost on it – that said ‘Tag – you’ve been tagged by the Halloween Ghost - have a safe and wonderful night – or something like that! It magically appeared on her door. I thought it was cute – and thought – hmmm – that would be really neat to do at Christmas time! I thought it would be a great way to spread a little Christmas cheer; a hint of mystery; and the word of God – all in one fell swoop!!

So, I wrote a little poem, got a few little gifts (cute candles – 2/$1 – ‘cause Jesus is the light of the world) and secretly placed them on a few of my neighbors doorsteps! I intentionally chose three neighbors – one that is cranky and I don’t like very much; one that I don’t know at all; and one that is a friend.

How neat, I thought – and hope that it will spread about through the neighborhood. Then I got a little tap on the shoulder – tap, tap, tap – “hey, Shell – why don’t you put the idea in your ramblings?!?!?!”

Now, why would I want to do that?!?! It was my idea!!! Then another tap - “Um, no it wasn’t – it was Jesus’ idea – remember the whole ‘love your neighbor’ thing?!?!?!’

Good point! And wouldn’t it be much neater to have all of Mechanicsville – and beyond – waking up with little surprises on their doorstep, than just my little block!! After all – that’s what ‘love your neighbor’ means – no one said property lines had to touch to be a neighbor!! And you all already know that I love you and you’re in my prayers!

So, with that being said – attached is the little poem I wrote. Here’s how it works: Make a few copies of the poem (or retype it) Next, find an inexpensive gift and secretly place them on the doorstep (or mailbox or whatever) of your neighbors – near or far! Don’t get caught – and don’t sign it – it’s a secret! Remember it’s not about the gift, so don’t go all out - the Dollar Tree works great – in fact, a card works just as well – or just the note if you want to.

Be intentional about who you share with – it’s great to give it to friends – and people that you know will pass it on. But remember, Jesus didn’t say to love the neighbors we know and like – give it to someone you don’t know – or someone you don’t particularly care for – like the neighbor with the dog that eats your flowers in the spring! Jesus will take care of the rest!

Here's the poem.....

Hello, neighbor, and Merry Christmas
I hope the season is going well!
Sit back a minute – take a break,
I have a tale to tell!

Santa comes around every year
And gifts he always brings.
But the meaning isn’t always found
In those new and costly things.

Jesus gave us the best three gifts –
Faith, hope and love they are.
And asked only that we share them
With our neighbors near and far.

God said ‘love your neighbor’
So I give this gift to you.
Along with all my hope and faith
That your Christmas dreams come true.

Know that you are in my prayers,
My neighbor and my friend,
And pass along your love and prayers
To a neighbor on your end!

It takes only a moment of your day
To send this little note
And perhaps give the greatest of gifts
Of love and faith and hope!


I’ve secretly delivered this gift – and my prayers – to you and two other neighbors – near or far. My hope is that you remember the gifts that we’ve been given that can’t be found in Wal-Mart or on e-bay. Enjoy this Christmas season – and enjoy all the things that Christmas is really about.

If you can – pass a copy of this note, and a small gift or card to three of your ‘neighbors’. Be careful not to get caught! Remember, it’s not about the gift and it’s not about the giver – it’s about sharing the gifts we already have – giving someone a little faith in their world; a little hope in their future; and a little love in their heart!

Countdown to Christmas

Well, here we are – the very last Friday of November! Monday, we will be in December – and you know what that means?!!? The countdown to Christmas begins!

I wonder what Mary was thinking on this day, two thousand years ago. There was no ‘countdown’ yet. I wonder if she sat with her hand on her belly thinking ‘just one more month.’ I wonder if she realized just how special this baby would be. There was a quote in the movie The Nativity Story – Mary said “I wonder when it will happen, I wonder when he will be more than just a child”. I know that before Morgan was born, I dreamed of what she would be like – what color her hair would be, would she be tall, what her passions would be, what would she want to do with her life – her dreams and her thoughts; and what kind of impact she will have on the world. I would talk to her and tell her how much I loved her – even before I laid my eyes on her. I wonder what Mary whispered to her baby; what she dreamed about for him. I wonder what kind of impact she thought he would have on this world!

As you rush through the malls, the grocery store, e-bay and prepare for Christmas this year, stop and think about what Mary was doing to prepare for this day. I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t thawing a turkey and fighting the crowds at Toys-R-Us!

Take time to think about that last month before your child was born. Think about what you and your family were like – what you did and thought, what you dreamed about and prayed about as you counted down those last days before your child entered the world. Remember what those whispers were, what those prayers were; that feeling of hope that your baby would bring into your lives. Remember the anticipation, the excitement and the fear as you counted down the days before you would hold your baby in your arms. Relive those memories – and share that with your child.

God gave us three things – faith, hope and love. I don’t think I ever felt that so strongly as the day my daughter was born. I remember looking at her for the first time – so tiny; so perfect; so innocent – it took my breath away. If I was so overwhelmed by the hope and love that my baby brought into my life – I can only imagine what Mary felt like when she first saw her baby!

PS - it only takes a minute to get from the first picture to this one!!

God Bless,

Michele

Happy December!!

A little over a year ago, I started leading an awesome group of children in the 3rd-5th grade with a program called Breakout! As a part of that, I emailed their parents on a somewhat weekly basis. After a bit, my informational tid-bits transformed into something of a weekly devotional.

I have been advised that I should now make another transformation with technology - so here I am! For those of you who have gotten my emails - this is an extention of that. For those of you who don't know me - well, hang on - this could rival the soap opera circuit!

At some point, I'll backtrack and post some of my (or your) favorites - but for right now, I'm just getting my feet wet!

Thanks for reading - and God Bless!!