Good morning, friends! We recently took a trip out west and visited with family. What a blessing they are! If I thought I was weary before we left, I had no clue how much more so when traveling right behind our move off the farm. You know, so much left unfinished. So many boxes to go through yet. Rooms I haven’t even begun to clean out or organize. These things weigh heavy on women, especially. But with weary heart and body, off we went. I’m so very glad we did now. The time spent with family far outweighs the stress of unfinished work. I hope I can hold on to the moments that touched me. Grandchildren, especially, are notorious for teaching us older folks some good life lessons.

While spending the day with a few of those grandkids, one 4-year old noticed I was wearing a bracelet that had a pot hanging from it. The pot has a little lock. It intrigued him, and he began to play with it to figure it out.

He asked me why it was there, and in my most simple 4-year-old language, I told him it was a prayer box. “What do you do with it?” he asked. I said that you can open the box and put your prayers inside, which turned into this little guy asking what we pray. I replied, “Well, like, dear God, help me be good. Help me listen to mommy and daddyn — things like that.” In a flash, he buried his head in my lap, opened the prayer box, and began whispering his most heartfelt prayers.

He then locked the box and said, “There, now my prayers can’t get out.” Then, I saw his little mind wandering, and he said, “But if my prayers are locked in the box, how does God get them?” — which turned into a marvelous opportunity to share the gospel and salvation with my sweet 4- year-old grandson.

Perfect! If for no other reason, this trip now became a sacred time that I was desperately needing. He reminded me that.

There is a work that God has in store for each and every one of us. It was planned out perfectly for each one of us since before we breathed our first breath. God designed each of our personalities in line with His plans for us. Throughout our lives, it should be our quest to find that perfect plan and walk in it. There, and only there, will we find joy and that perfect peace that passes all understanding. It matters not whether the world understands our “walk” with Jesus. What matters so much more is that we find it and walk in it.

In 2 Chronicles, King Asa was facing some hard thing — rebellion, back-sliding. And he was weary of it all. Long story short, he needed reminded that “the Lord is with you when you are with Him.” In chapter 15, it goes on to say that “If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you.” This passage goes on to tell of the distress brought on to the people of Israel because they had forsaken God, and He had brought on them every possible distress. It says that Israel had been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction, but when they turned to the Lord God of Israel in their distress and sought Him, He was found by them. But, listen carefully…those who went about their daily activities (not taking God into account, but merely living their daily lives) had no peace. I sure love verse 7…”But as for you, be strong; don’t give up, for your work has a reward.” Bingo! The rewards are in our staying faithful!

How many of us today find ourselves in that fast-paced life of simply going about our daily lives and not even taking God into account? I confess, I’m prone to do this. I have work to do and a plan for all of it. The easiest thing to do is to proceed throughout the day without ever consulting my Father, who knows best. And I’m here to testify that I often forfeit peace to pursue my own agenda. When I finally drop into bed at night, I toss and turn, though I’m completely exhausted. And wonder why…what went wrong with the day? Why didn’t I get done what I had planned? Ummm…because I was going on my own path in my own strength! Friends, don’t do it! Seek the Lord early each day, even before your feet hit the floor, asking your Father how you might bring glory to Him for the day. You will be so blessed and peaceful if you do.

In the quietness of my mountain home, I’m afraid that at times I’ve lost my peace, while I hustle about each day in my own strength, doing things maybe the Lord hasn’t asked of me. I see He’d much rather that I stay faithful to Him, spend time with Him first thing each day, and glorify HIM with my day…but I have work to do. Learn from me, friends…there will be no peace, no real satisfaction there. True joy comes only through the peace of knowing a close, intimate relationship with your heavenly Father, who loves you and wants you to see Him in all of each day.

Holding my little grandson while he nestled his precious face in my lap, praying…and believing that God hears his prayers, was just the reminder I needed to slow down and remember that the Lord loves me, knows my tendencies, is merciful and offers His grace to help me when I stray. There is work to do, and there is a reward for doing it. Only in heaven one day, will we know how many souls we touched for Jesus…as they watched us live out our daily lives, following His leading.

Joshua 1:7 reminds us to be strong and very courageous..to not turn to the right or to the left, so that we may have success wherever we go. I pray this morning that you develop tunnel vision. I pray you see the Lord in ALL THINGS. I pray you remember that little children have faith as big as the mountains in Colorado. And I pray you stay faithful to the God who is calling out to you. There, and there alone, is peace and joy everlasting. If that were to be the only rewards for faithfulness, it would be more than enough. One day, we’ll know the “rest of the story”, won’t we? Wherever you find yourself today, I pray you remember there is NOTHING more important than staying faithful to Jesus. He died to give you His peace. We live so that others know…and it all begins when someone shares their faith and Jesus is received in simple, child-like faith. Amen! God is good!

I’ve been on a quest here on the mountain. It seems that the Lord always speaks to me on the mountains. I’ve been searching for the reason I am here… on this mountain….and not “back home” on the farm. And now I see. He speaks to me here. I hear His heart for me. I see His plans and I embrace them. It’s part of that process of accepting His plans for me and not my own. He knows me well. He loves me best. I see it now…staying faithful to whatever He calls me to…letting go of me to find Him. I pray this speaks to someone reading today…someone who hasn’t been hearing the voice of the Father, but needs to. It’s all found in staying faithful. God bless you, wherever you find yourself now.