Dad’s selected fast food establishment gets everyone’s order totally wrong, and the only thing worse than the food is the condition of the restrooms. 

Though I’m not proposing a life without a calendar (or 3), I am ready to step back and relax a little. And summer offers the perfect opportunity to do just that. So a few days ago, I wrote down a few simple summer goals.

What if He really is all He says He is? What if He can do everything He says He can do? What if He really is the resurrection and the life? What if life lived His way is life truly and fully LIVED?

That baby boy with a brain bleed is now the young man driving my car. What a beautiful reminder that God sees, knows, and has a plan for our helplessness. He never wastes a moment, and He helps, heals, and redeems.

There’s not much worse than a feeling of complete and utter helplessness. Ever been there? Ever felt it? Helpless is when you’re intimately involved in a situation, and directly affected by the outcome, but you have absolutely no control or influence over the course of events.

Giving protects our hearts, keeping us righteous and whole. Generosity keeps us from harboring the sins of pride or selfishness. It helps us maintain proper perspective, reminding us that everything we have is God’s, not ours. Giving helps us focus on building God’s kingdom, not our own. 

You know, it’s funny.

When I blogged about walking through the wilderness two weeks ago, I never could have known that a surprise trip through my very own wilderness was quickly approaching.

It’s ok to grieve when the door closes. It’s ok to stand, shut out and and staring, to sort through feelings of rejection, shock, and resentment. It’s ok to grieve when the door slams shut. 

We all go through times of uncomfortable waiting or even desperate need. When we do, we can look to Exodus to learn the lessons God taught the Israelites during their wilderness wandering. 

 Who you are and how you treat people should never be dictated by how others treat you. There’s not a single one of us who’s perfect. So if you’re relying on other people’s behavior to inform your own living, you need to reevaluate your role models.