by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In celebration of his birthday, here are my top 6 Dr. Seuss quotes:
- “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
- “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” ― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!
- “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” ― Dr. Seuss “You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
- “I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ’cause you’ll play against you.” ― Dr. Seuss
- “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
This week’s “Wow!” moment in Jonah:
“We can pack our internal bags just as quickly as Jonah packed his and be on a boat headed in the opposite direction of God’s will even while we are in the throes of everyday life.” – Priscilla Shirer
Would you agree that running from God is easier to spot if buying a ticket to Tarshish, but a bit more difficult when it’s our heart/mind that’s doing the packing?
I may not hold a ticket in my hand, but I am, unfortunately, much like Jonah when it comes to mentally running from God. Perhaps we’re not alone in this boat?
- We properly position our bottoms, Bibles, and bible studies for quiet time—all the external necessities in place—without realizing that our heart, the one internal necessity, is playing hooky.
- We go to church, but rather than expecting God’s presence to be active, alive, and eager to speak, we perceive a faint mental click in the background, signaling the proverbial ✓ being placed in the “I went to church this week” box instead.
- God prompts us to speak truth, shift priorities, __________ (fill in the blank), but instead of running towards God’s desires, we choose instead to get busy, avoid prayer and other believers, or dive into a new addiction (do Junior Mints count?).
To unlock the internal luggage, we simply need to confess to God the specific ways we’ve tried to flee (He already knows!), ask for forgiveness, receive it, and head for the Ninevah God has planned for each of us. No luggage required!
I begin this week with a fresh appreciation in knowing there is no place—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—that my heavenly Father is not already there. (Psalm 139)
How about you?
– Photo courtesy of Lifegroup413.org
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Evening is my favorite time within the twenty-four:
- A cup of hot brew in my whoo-owl mug (especially so with a steady beat of rain melodically playing in the background)
- Prime reading time (no doubt we’re empty nesters, eh?)
- Sometimes it’s Piper time (who needs to read?)
- Exercise behind me…white fizz time before me (Seagram’s ginger-ale soaked in crushed ice)
These are just a few reasons why I enjoy our evenings here at the Baker home—but one new nightly ritual has particularly won me over: Brian reading aloud from William J. Bennett’s, The Book of Virtues, while I’m curled up nearby with my oh-so-soft vintage blanket and Rupert, our white fluff bucket.
The book is a treasury of great moral stories, as promised on the cover. Bible stories, childhood tales, poetry (such as this one), and short stories come alive with one click of the reading lamp.
So, is there a particular time within the twenty-four that you’re especially enjoying these days—or do you find the hours quietly sifting into the next day without notice?
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
