How do you smile again?

This has been a full & just plain hard week. So many people suffering & exhaustion settling in for all. What to do? How do you find strength? How do you smile again? I think it’s two-fold: Hope in God & celebrate the people He’s given you. In the midst of the downpour, lean in to Him. When surrounded by chaos, hold your people close. Tragedies-personal & corporate -always refine us to remember what’s most important. Strangely, we can sense a new peace. Ironically, pain brings perspective. We remember what we were made for: God & people. #lovegod #lovepeople #hurricane#hurricaneharvey #tragedy #pain #perspective #truth

NO WAY

What if Jesus had not died for the world? There would be no peace, no Heaven, no healing, no victory, no love, no truth, no payment for sin, no joy, no God Sanctuary in our hearts, no power, no good, no help, no freedom, no inheritance, no life, no security, no light & no hope. Yet, because He did die for us, all of these gifts are “YES!”
“…in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” (2 Cor. 1:20) #resurrection 

Exfoliate Your Life-NEW & IMPROVED!

MAYBE IT’S TURNING 40, I really don’t know.  In my twenties, I noticed clothing & hair styles.  Now, in my early forties, I notice skin.  How clear is her complexion?  How many wrinkles does she have?  Does she look older than me? Or, worse does she look younger than me?

Years ago, I gave it up in one word… GENETICS.  It’s not Beauty Products!  It’s just plain old genetics… you play the cards you are dealt… what your mama looks like, you will look like.

Now, I still take care of my skin… I appropriately cleanse and moisturize.  But, the one thing I did this year was that word none of us knew before 1998… I EXFOLIATE. 

To EXFOLIATE is “to wash your face in such a manner as to remove old dead skin cells”…so that fresh & renewed skin can show through and say, “World, look , I’m 29! I am young..ignore those neck wrinkles!”

 

What do I mean by all this?  I’ll tell you that I do notice-my skin seems clearer & cleaner and generally feels better. I wonder… 

 HOW DO YOU “EXFOLIATE YOUR LIFE”?

  • Wash your face..…Cleanse yourself of any (and all) hidden sin and plain old “you know what you are doing is wrong” stuff. Forgive where you need to forgive, confess when you need to confess.This applies to people and God. ONLY heavenly soap can do the trick. (I John 1:9)

  • Exfoliate.…this is the next step of the process. Some exfoliating products can actually hurt your face the first time you use them. Why? Because there are little granules in the product DESIGNED to do just that…hurt you to heal you. Those rough granules smooth the dead skin away. 

    How can that apply to our lives?  What things is God using in my life to “exfoliate” my life? These things hurt-they sting. Yet,my faith is a whole lot smoother when He’s done. (Isa. 43:19)

  • Moisturize.… My skin needs moisture. My favorite products are those that “keep on moisturizing even while you sleep”.  Isn’t that amazing? My soul needs moisture. No dry, crispy faith for me! But, it needs water…living water. (The Book of John!Water that keeps on flowing and bubbling up over in my soul. I not only need (but must have to survive) that constant reapplication of His Word. For me, every morning and every evening. This product actually delivers!

TONIGHT,as your prepare for bed and “do your routine”, I pray it brings blessing. As the soap cleanses, as deadness is washed away, and refreshment comes ONLY from Him, I pray God makes this ritual worshipful.