A Peaceful Proactive Summer

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial kickoff to summer. After we got through with the scary storms, we now have some beautiful weather. This is ideal weather to enjoy the beginning of Summer.

There are various ways to approach the hot and sunny summer months of June and July. Some people like to do less, enjoy the down time, and embrace the slower pace. Some people like to fill up the calendar with fun and adventurous activities that they only have time for during the summer. However you approach the summer, we all know that longer days, heat and humidity await us. 

So how will you spend it? Psalm 90 reminds us “Lord, teach us to number our days” And so even in the summer vacation months we want to “serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100) and “make the best use of the time.” (Ephesians 5)

I do not want to tell you what to do this summer, but I do want to tell you lovingly to have a peaceful proactive summer. 

Here are 3 encouragements for you and your household as you advance into June and July:

1. NO DISTRACTIONS – FOCUS
   Be proactive in determining now what you want the summer to be like. Of course, we are open and flexible and spontaneous, but there are some parts of our faith that require us being proactive. The summer can be such a time of strengthening and inspiration if we allow it.
   With the extra time, there is ample opportunity to read the Word and to spend time in prayer. Distractions will try to keep you from that. Focus-in now on how you want to grow in your faith this summer.
2. NO DIVISIONS – UNITE
   Divisions are all around us. Things that cause divisions are all around us. Weaknesses in ourselves that cause divisions will be visible this summer. We need to be proactive to be peacemakers and those who strive for unity. Distance and isolation are sneaky in creating divide amongst believers. We must be focused on staying connected and doing our part. May we walk by faith to being a key piece to us being a united church.
3. NO DISCOURAGEMENTS – ENCOURAGE
   Of course, it is wishful thinking that the long summer would not have any discouragements. Bad days and moments are bound to come. But the hope here is that we would be proactive to minimize discouragements in the faith and in the church. One way to do this is to build people up. We all need encouragement. We all love being encouraged. Life-giving interaction with a fellow brother or sister in the faith is truly so good! May we counter discouragement with encouragement.

I am hoping and aiming for me and my family to have a peaceful proactive summer. We have a calendar filled with events, but we also have lots of slow and easy days. 

We are looking to Jesus and aiming for no distractions, no divisions, and no discouragements. And we are believing that we need to focus, unite, and encourage! 

May God give us all a peaceful proactive summer!

I love a good pep talk.

I’m always up for a confidence-building, head-lifting, mood-shifting, perspective-changing motivational speech. 

Who doesn’t like an emotional and passionate Inspiring message! I particularly like it when it is fiery. Several come to mind right now from sports history or from classic movies! Michael Jordan’s halftime message in Space Jam. Tim Tebow’s postgame speech in 2008 after a loss to Ole Miss. Currently, I really like this one about being the shark of the ocean.

But for as much as I like to hear those messages, I have learned that they don’t often change me. I mean sometimes I am inspired, but often times I just like it and stay mostly unchanged. 

I am learning that it takes something more substantial to really impact me. I have learned that God’s Word is the very thing to move me. I have found that nothing makes such a difference in my mindset and motivation than God’s truth. 

It’s not about what I can do. It’s about what God has done. It’s about what God is doing. When I hear and when I am reminded what God is doing not only does it settle me and level me, but it strengthens me! Moreso than anytime I’ve ever been told by myself or by somebody else what I can do.

So I go through seasons of latching on to certain Biblical phrases and passages that  are helpful for me. 

Currently these 2 passages of Scripture have been very helpful to me:

Psalm 94:17-19

“If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would have soon lived in the land of silence. 

When I thought ‘my foot slips’, your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

“And he said to me “my grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

There is hardly a day that goes by that I do not recite those 4 verses to myself. They work on me and in me. 

God uses His words to speak life in to my life. 

That is a good pep talk!