leave them there.

Often my prayer is for God to 

pare me down,

boil me down

to the essential.

The me He has in mind for me to be.

That I would only be concerned with the 

stuff He has for me.

I've done my fair share of cooking over the last 

umpteen years.

I know what happens

to a pot of salted water that boils away.

Salt crystals are left.

Beautiful and white

and essential.

I want to be the salt crystals in the bottom of the pot.

I want only what God has for me.

Not all this

stuff.

This schedule.

This hurry up.

And wait.

I want to sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus 

and learn like Mary.

Because that was the essential.

And Jesus said it was good.

So you and I today?

Let's not miss the 

pared-down beauty that God has in store for us.

The worrying and the waiting?

Leave them right here.

And walk toward the 

story that Jesus has for you.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you
~1 Peter 5:7

Many blessings,

Deni

this thing called grace.

 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, 
“This was he of whom I said, 
‘He who comes after me ranks before me, 
because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
~John 1:15-17

 Thus says the LORD:”The people who survived the sword found 
grace in the wilderness; 
when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; 
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
~Jeremiah 31:2-3

So this squishy thing called grace?

This elusive, feathery thing that's out there

and available 

in here 

all the time?

It's real. 

A gift from the God who loves you.

A gift that isn't just received once,

but needs to be accepted daily.

We have to own it. 

Take it in

~in the midst of our messiness~

and claim it as our own.

What good is a gift if we don't use it?

Don't live with it?

Don't wear it? 

So, grace?

As I walk this road,

grace becomes more here.

More now.  

More real.

It's about looking in the mirror 

and knowing I'm enough.

It's about taking another moment to think

before I react. Before I speak.

Perfect?

No, I'm not that.

But I was given a gift of love

~this grace~
and I give the greatest gift
when I receive others 
in grace.

Who will God put in your path today?
May they be someone who needs to know grace,
and may we rise to 
extend it
and live it
and own it
and give it away
today.

Many blessings,
Deni

five days with Paul {day five}

Happy Friday! You made it. :)

Our last Bible reading for the week comes from another of Paul's letters. This time, we're jumping into the book of Ephesians. Ready? Here we go...

Today's reading: 

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Ephesians 5:8-20

We have so many choices to make each day. If we're not paying attention when we're making those decisions, we could just default to what we've always done. We could just haphazardly choose the easiest answer without thinking it all the way through.

In today's Scripture, we are challenged to live intentionally. To live on purpose. To live with an overriding thoughtfulness. That's how God loves us, right? 

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. 

So live as people of light!

So our challenge today? Let's not choose the easy way out. Let's intentionally think through each situation we're placed in, and "carefully determine what pleases the Lord". Let's replace the negative thoughts and actions with ones that "make the most of every opportunity". And, at the end of the day, let's "give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Today, reflect God's light as you love and live intentionally.

Many blessings,

Deni

{picture taken in the Fez House in Epcot's Morocco Pavilion.}

{love is in the details.}

five days with Paul {day four}

Welcome to Thursday!

I hope that your week is going well.

Today's Bible reading comes from one of Paul's letters to the church members in Corinth. Are you ready? Here we go...

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

    and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

    for those who love him.”

 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.                                                                   ~1 Corinthians 2:9-10

I know that we may not always understand why things happen the way they do. We struggle in our limited humanity to grasp why this or that might occur, and we may sometimes get to thinking that we can comprehend it all. God's words through Paul help to remind us that anything spiritual that we understand comes from God. His Spirit gives us insight and perspective into God Himself. His Spirit reflects and illuminates God to us. Without God's Spirit is us, we would never even begin to know God or see where He's working. 

And oh what God is planning for you and for me...we can't even start to grasp it. The Bible assures us that no eye...no one on earth...can begin to comprehend what God has planned for those who love him. 

Situations might try to get you down today. Worry might try to creep in and steal your peace. When they do, hold tight to today's Scripture. God has something amazing (beyond our understanding!) planned for you, and His Spirit will reveal what you need to know when you need to know it. Hang in there. God has incredible adventures in mind for you.

Many blessings,
Deni 

{picture taken in the Fez House in Epcot's Morocco Pavilion.}

{it is a soul-stirring place.}

five days with Paul {day three}

Welcome to Wednesday!

Today's Bible reading:

 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

~2 Corinthians 5: 16-20

We wear multiple hats each day, don't we? Mother, brother, friend, employee, co-worker...the list goes on and on. It's a wonder that we don't get confused as to who we really are. On second thought, maybe sometimes we do. 

Let's let God's words through Paul clear a few things up for us. 

First off, we encounter a reminder. We need to be sure not to evaluate people and Jesus from our limited point of view. As human beings, we only know so much. It's a dangerous and limiting thing when we place our definitions onto others...and onto God. 

Secondly, God reminds us of who we are. Remember all of those hats that you juggle and struggle to wear each day? Lay them aside and read about who God says you are:

You are new. "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun". I know there are days when you might feel anything but new, but through Christ, you are. Brand, spanking new. Each day.

You are a minister. "And all this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God had given us this task of reconciling people to him". You don't have to have a seminary degree or to be on a church staff to be a minister, if you have asked Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, you are one. Now. Today. And it's your job and my job to move through life pointing the way to Jesus. 

You are Christ's ambassador. "And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us". You might think you're far from being qualified to be Jesus' ambassador, but He is all the qualification you need. He loves you, and He has great plans in mind for you this afternoon. Wear His name with an expectant spirit, and represent Him in all that you do. 

Many blessings,

Deni 

{picture taken in the Fez House in Epcot's Moracco Pavilion.}

{one of the most beautiful places on WDW property.}

five days with Paul {day two}

Today's Bible verses:

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.

~Philippians 4: 12-16

We're back in the book of Philippians today. 

It might be tempting to think that Paul was perfect, but he wasn't. He had struggles and limitations just like you and me. In today's portion of Scripture, he lets us in on what has sustained him through all of the ups and downs. Paul has learned the key...and, through Paul's letter, God is teaching it to us today. Ready? Here we go...

Contentment through Christ. Paul starts off today's verses by telling his friends that he is content in whatever situation he is placed in...whether he has much or little. He's learned something along the way, and he's putting it into practice. He has learned that, no matter what, he can "do everything through Christ, who gives me strength". 

Strength through Christ. You and I can't make it through this life without Jesus. Period. There is unlimited strength available to us if we but learn to lean completely on Jesus. I know that sometimes in life it's easier to lean on Christ. When things are tough, it's tempting to want to find strength elsewhere. But if we're going to learn anything to put into practice today, it's this. We can make it through whatever we face through Jesus. He will give us strength. 

Giving through Christ. When we are fully trusting Jesus, and our strength (and thus contentment) comes from Him, we can bless others. Paul's friends in Philippi had blessed him richly. They took care of him when no one else did. They were concerned about his welfare, and they ministered to him in an on-going way. They gave what they had, and it made an impact not only on Paul, but on those that Paul ministered to. 

So, today? Let's put this freedom-granting, life-giving lesson into practice. Let's find our contentment in Christ, our Source of strength. And, in return, let's give of ourselves to the cause of Christ. Those talents He's given you? Use them today for Jesus today. The treasures? Yep, those too. The time? We are all busy...but, when we all give the gift of our time, we are all blessed. 

Go for it. Today.

Many blessings,
Deni

{picture taken in the beautiful Fez House in Epcot's Morocco Pavilion.} 

five days with Paul {day one}

{I was asked back in April to join my church's devotional writing team. Each writer is given a chunk of Scripture to write about for five days. I'm so thankful that God gave me this opportunity. My turn to write came two weeks ago, and I thought I'd share it with you.

So, this week? Let's spend some time with Paul as we read through what God laid on my heart...}


Today's Bible verses:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

~Philippians 4:4-9

Today's words are from Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. He loved the people he was writing to, and he wanted God's best for them. Today we find Paul running over a few last things with His friends...a few essentials before he ends his letter. 

I know that sometimes life gets complicated. It can seem overwhelming at times. Today? Today, let's focus on four simple things straight from the Bible. Four uncomplicated things that we can do to grow in Christ today. Are you ready? Here goes...

Choose joy. Having joy seems so easy when life is going smoothly, but...what if you are grieving or hurting or feeling forgotten? What if you have lost your job or a friendship or your hope? Joy is a choice. It's not always the easiest choice, but it's always the best one. Smile and laugh and sing...even in the toughest times.

Pray the moment worry appears. Worry comes naturally to us human beings. Sometimes we can even get to feeling proud that we're worried...that perhaps our worries make us look like we care more deeply about a situation. But worry doesn't fit into God's plan for us. In fact, the Bible reminds us that worry doesn't get us anywhere. It doesn't make anything better, ever. When you and I sense that rising feeling of dread or worry, God's advice to us is to pray. Just pray. In that moment, right then and there. Pray and give it over to God...He's the One who can do something about the situation anyhow. God promises us that peace will come when we choose prayer over worry. 

Choose to think of beautiful things. You've heard the saying "garbage in, garbage out", right? Paul reminds us that lovely and praiseworthy things are what we should be thinking about. Think about junk, and you get junk. When you find yourself focused on less than God's best today, stop and choose to focus on something else. Today, try in God's strength to fix your mind on the things that He wants you to. 

Go for it. Today...put into practice what you've seen and heard. It's great to attend a worship service every weekend, but if you and I don't put into practice what we've seen and heard, what good is it? Paul assures us that, if we take steps to live out what we've learned, that "the God of peace will be with you".

Will you and I be perfect at living this out everyday? No. And that's okay. But will we be growing and learning and living into God's dream for us? Absolutely.

So, today? Go for it. Leave worry behind and pray. Fix your thoughts on honorable things. And put it all into practice. Live it out and grow in Christ today.

Many blessings,
Deni  

  

what's in a name.

I'm pretty good at avoiding a name tag

when I want to be.

There are just times when 

it's easier to blend in

with the crowd

and be

unknown.

We had attended our new church for several weeks

without being tagged.

Come, worship, leave

in relative anonymity.

Except...one night.

One night, I was asked

for my name. 

Before I knew it, 

the black Sharpie marker

had been taken to the label,

and it was done.

I slapped the name tag on my sweater

and went into the Worship Center.

Communion takes place 

in every worship service.

And I love it.

That night, I approached the communion attendant 

just like the other Saturday nights before.

I was prepared to hear

"the body of Christ broken for you"

and

"the blood of Christ shed for you".

But, instead, I heard:

"Deni, the body of Christ broken for you"

and 

"Deni, the blood of Christ shed for you".

At some discreet moment, 

the women who were serving communion 

had glanced down at my name tag.

I hadn't noticed 

until they said 

my name.

My name made the words 

they spoke

personal.

Jesus did this for me.

Deni.

He knows your name.

He did this all for you.

Intentional love. 

Intentional grace.

Intentional sacrifice

for you and 

for me.

Even in the moments 

when you'd rather 

no one know you,

He does.

And He calls you by name.

Many blessings,

Deni

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, 

and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head 

and the other at the foot of the place 

where the body of Jesus had been lying. 

13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, 

“and I don’t know where they have put him.”

14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. 

It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 

15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. 

“Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. 

“Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, 

tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

16 “Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” 

(which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, 

“for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. 

But go find my brothers and tell them, 

‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, 

to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, 

“I have seen the Lord!” 

Then she gave them his message.

~John 20:11-18

{emphasis mine}

hi class masterpieces

There might be moments

~seasons, even~ 

when you feel a bit lost.

The shuffle of life can 

get overwhelming sometimes. 

Days get to passing 

too quickly,

things get too hectic. 

It's easy to forget 

who you are.

It's easy to think 

you've been forgotten.

I took the above picture in

one of my favorite places. 

The signs themselves

caught my eye.

They are worn and tattered

and broken-down.

But, when I looked closer,

in the midst of all

the stuff,

there it was:

"HI CLASS MASTERPIECES".

My friend,

in the midst 

of all of your stuff,

God declares you to be the same.

He calls you 

His masterpiece.

He hasn't forgotten you.

What artist could forget

his work of art?

Today? 

In the hustle and bustle,

in the immediate and the necessary,

in the middle of everything,

remember who you are. 

His masterpiece.

Many blessings,

Deni

For we are God’s masterpiece. 

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things 

he planned for us long ago.

~Ephesians 2:10