It was a first. I’ve never ridden in a tow truck until recently. A flat tire on a busy highway forty-five minutes outside of Birmingham required a tow to the nearest auto repair shop.

Standing on the side of the highway as cars whizzed past me, I waited expectantly for the one vehicle that was going to help me make it home. When the tow truck driver hopped out of his truck, we yelled hellos over the highway noise. He wasted no time in loading my car and then helped me climb into the cab of his truck.

I didn’t know what to expect with this whole big-truck thing, but discovered a clutter-free, squeaky-clean cab. It was actually much cleaner than my own vehicle being towed which caused a bit of embarrassment on my part.

A tow truck ride was never on my list of activities to pursue, but it unexpectedly turned out to be a not-too-bad experience. Honestly, it was a little bit of fun to barrel down the highway in the big rig. The tow truck driver and I chatted about kids, work, and inconsiderate highway drivers. The ride was quickly over and after a drop off to a waiting auto repairman, my new best friend departed. The flat tire was quickly replaced. And in a snap, I was back on the road.

Sometimes it’s the minor, everyday things, like flat tires, that can make life the most challenging — if I let them. But lately, Jesus has been reminding me not worry so much about what I don’t have but instead to concentrate on what I do have. He says,

“The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life,”  (John 10:10).

In my everyday life, satan wants me to focus on what I don’t have. When I do this, he is able to steal my joy, kill my plans, and destroy my good intentions. However, when I choose to remember what I do have — a full life with Jesus as my guide — I can find joy in something as simple as a first-time tow truck ride.

Through the flat tire experience, Jesus reminded me:

I can be grateful that a tow truck driver was willing to do his job well.

A simple smile is what a tired driver needs rather than the frenzy of a crazy, upset lady.

Jesus wants to show up in all kinds of unexpected places including tow trucks. (I shared that Jesus is his best friend when I handed the driver my children’s book to give to his five-year old son.)

The flat tire experience isn’t one I’d care to repeat. But I am thankful Jesus goes with me through the ups and downs of everyday life so I can be free to enjoy the ride.

Two things happened this week I would like to share in hopes that it will assist you in a tangible way in your daily faith journey.

First, I discovered something new the other day when reading the Bible in a new light. I know being in the Word is important and can’t imagine not reading it. But, there are times when I come across a very familiar verse and I struggle because it can feel like just words on a page.

For example, I was reading Philippians 4:6:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I love this very familiar verse and pray it often for myself and others. But on this particular day, the Spirit encouraged me to read more. So, I looked to the verse right before this passage which says:

“The Lord is near…”

Now, this is what I read:

“The Lord is near. Do not be anxious.”

It was as if the Lord was saying personally to me, “Susan, always start with Me because I am near. This is why you don’t need to be anxious.”

Sometimes all it takes is simply grouping verses together in a different way to jumpstart a new thought. So, when the verse you are reading doesn’t seem to be really speaking to you, I’d encourage you to dig deeper. Look at the verses surrounding the one you are reading.

I don’t know what is going on in your life, but I want to encourage you: The LORD is near. And because of this, you do not need to be anxious.

Second, I had the privilege of being a guest on a new podcast called “Conversations” which was recently released and I hope our conversation might encourage you in your faith walk. Karen Shayne, the moderator and I chatted about faith journeys, redeeming time, and tips on how to make Jesus a priority in your everyday life.

 I’d love for you to listen and give me some feedback on our discussion. Even more, perhaps you could share what was an “aha” or maybe an issue you wished would have been included.You can listen by clicking the link here

“Faith. It does not make things easy. It makes things possible.” Anonymous

One was a young widow supporting herself by the generosity of others. The other was a pageant beauty living in a house of royalty.

One became the great-grandmother to King David and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. The other will forever be remembered as a woman who acted bravely and saved her people.

Ruth, the widow, was willing to leave her homeland and her gods to follow her destitute mother-in-law’s one true God. Ruth’s famous words took her to unimaginable places. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God,” (Ruth 1:16).

Esther, a young Jewish girl, used her beauty to convince a king to save her people. Her battle cry still holds weight even today reminding women that God will use them no matter their circumstances. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish,” (Esther 4:16b).

In the sixty-six books of the Bible, only two books are named after women; yet they couldn’t be more different. One has little means. The other is a future queen. They become two of God’s most famous sheroes of faith. I think these contrasting pictures show us how God works in our world. Simply, he uses anybody who is willing. No matter where you are on your journey, what your circumstances are, or what your socioeconomic status, God WILL use you if only you say “yes.”

As you read this, perhaps you are sensing God is leading you to go somewhere (and I don’t mean across the world, maybe he just wants you to go across the street). Or is it possible he is asking you to use your circumstances to take a first step? To you; it may not seem like a big step at all, but in God’s kingdom plans; your one small step might just change the world.

• What story is God writing with you which just might make you a shero of faith?

Ruth. Esther. So different yet both sheroes.

• Who is your present day shero of faith and why?

 

If you are reading the Bible along with me this year, we are about to read the books of Ruth and Esther. I’m so excited! Even if you have not been reading along with me thus far, jump into the books of Ruth and Esther. You’ll love these gals.

Here is the link to the Bible Reading Plan I am using for 2023. You can join me anytime. 2023 Reading Plan

Eighteen months ago, my husband and I moved into a wonderful new home on some acreage. I’ve never lived in the country and honestly didn’t think too much about the need to make any adjustments. And that is exactly where my demise began. I have always lived in neighborhoods with sidewalks and have always been a walker. I love walking. But when we moved, I lost my sidewalks so I quit walking. In my mind, I was just taking a break. But eighteen months later, a less than satisfactory medical report jolted me.

So, I’m back to walking.

I had lost the habit. It was so easy to do. Now I am back into the rhythm of walking and it is actually refreshing. I’m catching up on so many things: a audible book I’ve been meaning to listen to, a few podcasts people have recommended, a longer prayer and praise time, enjoyment of the outside and nature. It’s been pretty great.

Good habits are a funny thing because they are so easy to abandon and amazingly difficult to pick back up. Why is that? Regardless of what the habit is — reading your Bible, attending church after COVID, praying daily for a certain friend who needs it — starting again is often challenging.

Therefore, this blog is to encourage you. If you have lost a habit you wish to regain, just start again. It’s no big deal. Truly. If you said “yes” to reading the Bible with me this year but the habit has fallen away, just start again. If you said you were going to call a friend but it’s been weeks, call anyway. There is no deadline for starting again.

I’ll never know what I missed for eighteen months by not walking as my exercise. Worrying about it won’t change anything. By moving forward, my goal is to receive a more positive health report. But even more than that, I want to enjoy all the benefits the habit of walking has always given me.

I’m grateful that stopping didn’t mean I couldn’t start again.

Let’s raise a water bottle and celebrate all the future walks out in the country. Join me anytime you like.

 

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100

My husband and I live on a ranch we fondly call CBell. Our place is a far cry from a ranch but we have two horses, a dog, a barn, and a lake, so it feels like we can loosely call it a ranch.

Before we built our house, the builder, architect, my husband and I walked the land with house plans in hand. My husband and I dreamed of overlooking a beautiful pasture, a picturesque barn and a calming lake. I envisioned myself standing at the kitchen sink surveying the views and enjoying the horses. So as we walked around the undeveloped property that day, I asked where the kitchen sink might sit. The builder used a string to plot out the entire footprint of the house. Then, he drove a stake in the ground where the kitchen sink would be. That stake remained in the ground for many months even after the foundation was poured. As the project progressed, I would often stand at that stake knowing one day I would be washing and drying dishes at that very spot.

The house has been complete for a while now. And just as I dreamt, I am able to stand at my actual kitchen sink and look out the window to see the beauty that surrounds. Ever grateful, I smile when I watch Barnaby and Minnie Faye stroll to the trough for a drink. Sometimes I witness an eagle soaring to see if he might scoop a fish from the lake for breakfast. Some days, the fog is so dense, the views have an eerie appearance. The other day, I watched a storm move in and not long after, clouds were replaced by a rainbow.

I love looking at the views from my window that all began with a dream.

God created us to be dreamers…  He wants us to imagine a future so He can do the immeasurable. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20

What are you dreaming about? What kinds of things has God placed in your mind and heart that you might see lived out in the not so distance future?

Might I suggest you take a stake (whatever that looks like to you) and claim a future for it? Your stake may be asking God to put a new friend in your life. It could be seeking the Holy Spirit to assist you in reading your Bible regularly for the next 30 days. Dreams come in all sizes —big and little. So, I challenge you to go a little crazy.

Your window view will most likely not involve a kitchen sink. But it sure is fun when God gives you a dream and then lets you see it clearly.

We claimed this Bible verse for the window view at our kitchen sink:

(God speaking) “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple (house) so that my Name may be there forever.  My eyes and my heart will always be there.” 

2 Chronicles 7:15-16

The best-seller of all time was written about the most famous person who ever lived. 

WordsRated, a non-commercial, international research data and analytics group, found that on average 100 million Bibles are printed each year. They projected that there are more than 6 billion Bibles currently in print. 

Writer James Chapman estimates that 3.9 billion copies of The Bible have been sold in the past 50 years. In second and third place are the Works of Mao Tse-tung with 820 million copies sold and Harry Potter with 400 million copies sold respectively although some may argue third place belongs to A Tale of Two Cities. In any case, The Bible is never disputed as the most published, most purchased, and most read book of all time.   

The Bible consists of sixty-six individual books. According to BibleGateway.com, the most read book of The Bible is Psalms, a collection of songs, poems and prayers. 

The most famous person who ever lived is written about in The Bible. 

According to Time Magazine, Jesus Christ tops the list of the 100 most significant figures in history. Research it yourself – almost any list will have Jesus as the most famous, significant and top person who ever lived.  

Now, imagine yourself — sitting under an umbrella at the beach, or breathing in the great Colorado mountain air, or relaxing on your porch with lemonade in hand — reading the all-time bestseller.  

Begin in Matthew, the most-read biography about Jesus. Then jump into the energetic book of Mark who uses action words and vivid accounts to walk (or run) you through the life of Jesus. Next, discover the personal side of Jesus from Luke the doctor who uses the most descriptive language through eyewitness accounts. Finally, learn more about Jesus from His beloved disciple, John, who desperately wants you to know and believe Jesus is not only the Messiah but your Savior. 

Should you choose to read the biographies of Jesus this summer, you can expect to find mystery, intrigue, romance, and betrayal!

Reading the Psalms alongside the biographies of Jesus adds richness to your summer read. Through the songs, poems and prayers, your senses will come alive as you more fully see, hear, and feel the character of God that was so lived-out in Jesus.  

I’m sure there are variety of choices on your summer book list. However, this reviewer recommends the all-time bestseller written by the Author of life, who simply wants to get to know you better. 

Beginning June 5, you can read along with me each day through my 2023 Reading Plan.  As you read, please share your discoveries, aha’s, and gratitude in the comments section of this blog post.  

 

“For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 108:4