I have this sweet puppy named Zoe. She’s my best little friend and my favorite child. Ask my kids and they’ll tell you. Other than being with me and eating, she lives to go outside. Since she’s a tiny girl, not even four and a half pounds, she can’t go out and play like other pups can. Hawks watch for her and wouldn’t hesitate to swoop down and try to carry her away. Honestly, I have no greater fear for her than that. It doesn’t help that she hops through the grass like a bunny. Of course the hawks think she is dinner rather than someone’s little girl.

She’s now eleven, and in those years I’ve learned that early mornings before 8:00  a.m. and after dinner seem to be the safest times. Rarely is there a hawk present. Still, I don’t take any chances or let my guard down where she’s concerned. While we walk, I stay near, most times right by her side. I know that if I’m close a predator can’t easily get to her.

One evening recently, she and I were walking together and I could see my shadow cast over her prissy little body. It brought God to mind and how when we walk near to Him we are safest from the Predator. Even a little distance away from Jesus allows room for the enemy to swoop in and dig his talons into us.

It’s too easy to think that a step away won’t cause harm. But it can. Allowing this bad attitude here and that sinful action there can cause great harm to us and to those we love in the long run. I know for me, walking closely with Jesus daily by spending time with Him in prayer and through His Word matters. Even a few days away leads my mind to wander. I’m intentional about staying by His side. When I do, even a little bit of a bad attitude is caught and quickly addressed.

As for Zoe, she hasn’t figured all this out. She wants to run and hop and sniff no matter how near or far I am. I have to be a good mom and watch the skies for danger. I have to make sure I stay near enough to grab her up if I see a hawk circling. God is the same with us. Even when we are oblivious of the danger overhead, He’s there to grab us up at the first sign of danger.

My charge to you: Stay near to Jesus. Remain in the shadow of His wings. Danger is always out there lurking, but our good Father is watching the skies.

Blessings to you and yours from Lisa and Zoe!

Zoe sleeping on her back porch, dreaming of playing outside. Sometimes her feet wiggle as if she’s hopping around her courtyard.

The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I realize how many un-mined treasures are still to be uncovered. Each year I discover something new about my Father. It may be an attribute of His that I “knew” about but one not yet experienced on a personal level. Until I actually experience something, it tends to remain in my mind rather than my heart. Encountering God in a fresh way and experiencing something new in a difficult season causes what I know in my head to drop into my heart and become my actual possession.

As I’ve spoken to women over the years, the one thing I’m most passionate about is for them to actually encounter Jesus on their own and stop taking others’ word for it. It burns like wildfire in my heart for struggling women to know the intimate relationship with Jesus that He’s led me to over this past decade. Still, too many settle for too little and never mine for treasure of their own.

I’ve recently come across a new speaker, a man who captures my absolute attention with his laid back, casual manner of communicating the truths of God’s Word. Before listening to his sermons, I did a little research on him – something I advise you to do before listening to any speaker. Know who’s teaching you. This wonderful man of God went home to be with Jesus in 1993, but he left a lasting legacy for believers through his online sermons.

I’ve only listened to a few so far, but these are such needed messages. There are so many available, something like 1500, that I wasn’t sure where to begin. So I just started at the top of the page with the Attributes of God series. The first one is invaluable to so many Christians. Dr. Strauss gives a concise and practical “how to” on reading your Bible. I read one article about him where the writer says, speaking of Dr. Richard Strauss, “He knows how to put the cookies on the bottom shelf.” What a great description of this pastor’s style. He takes what others complicate and makes it easy to reach. I love his style.

The next in the series is about getting to know God, something that seemed impossible for me during my early years trying to walk out my faith. Dr. Strauss’s message simply communicates truths that it’s taken me years to learn on my own. I hope you’ll listen. They are in text format as well, but if you walk or bike or garden, I strongly suggest you listen and absorb his sermons. I’ll add the link here.

Spiritual Gold 

As you see, the site is called spiritualgold.com, and aptly so. This fine man of God will help you mine in the areas that will most help you get to know God. If you check him out, I would love to hear your thoughts.

If it’s not this pastor who leads you toward truth, I hope you are continually striving to know your Creator better. Each day we need to be spending time in the Word and in prayer. No matter how deep we dig, we are still a lifetime away from knowing the depths of God the Father through our relationship with Jesus.

Blessings to you today. Go and mine for God!
Lisa

The title, Timing is Everything, is a phrase I recently wrote in the margin my Bible. I was reading in Acts where Paul wanted to go to one place, but the Spirit blocked his path and sent him elsewhere. I considered that and wrote out the phrase above.

Little did I know that two days later I would be reading that phrase in my hotel room as I had my quite time. I just sat shaking my head. It was the morning after watching my granddaughter be born. It meant so much to me because I wasn’t supposed to be there at that time and Ellie wasn’t due for nearly two weeks more. The plan was for me to go to South Carolina when she was born in early May. After a local baby shower here, though, I decided that her mama, Citlalli, needed to be able to play with all of Ellie’s pretty clothes and blankies before she arrived, so I took off.

The night I arrived, we had dinner and did a little shopping with the swollen footed mama-to-be. Later that sleepless night, I prayed, “Lord, it sure would be nice if that baby would come while I’m here.” Little did I know, Citlalli was in labor in the next room. Timing is everything.

I left SC with a broken heart. I wanted to stay and help. I wanted to do for them all I could to make the transition with a newborn easier. I wanted to live closer so that I could watch Ellie grow. I knew that visiting every few months would never be enough to satisfy my need to hold that cutie.

Once again, I’ve had a recent plan that didn’t quite turn out like I expected. On June 2nd my husband, son, and I were scheduled to go for a visit. Less than a week before our departure date, I received a call. My son took a job that would require him to work out of town for a long period of time. Because of that, my June 2nd visit became a mission to collect mama and baby and bring them to TN to stay for a few weeks – maybe longer.

Timing really is everything. God knew all this would pan out so that this NaNee would have time with her grand baby. I’m over the moon to be so close to them and be able to pour into to Citlalli as she figures this mom thing out. I’m reminded of the Titus verse about older women helping the younger. It’s a privilege to do that.

More than anything, my prayer during this visit is for salvation for Citlalli. Pray that with me. She’s a precious, sweet girl and a wonderful mama. I’m praying for us to develop a Naomi and Ruth relationship. May my God become hers. If I accomplish nothing else over this summer, I pray that I live out the love of Jesus before her.

This little girl is a true gift.

Do you have a timing is everything story? If so, I would love to hear it.