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Front Row Seating

A few years ago, my husband and I spent a couple of days at a lovely beach resort in the Florida panhandle. From our balcony on our first morning there, we watched a young man set out about sixty beach chairs and umbrellas near the water’s edge. We could tell he had done this many times before, as he clearly had a system for setting up the chairs as quickly as possible in three neat rows. We decided to rent two beach chairs, but were disappointed when we inquired about the price and availability. The “front row” chairs were extremely pricey and had already been rented for the duration of our trip. “Second row” chairs were a little cheaper but also unavailable. We had to settle for the available, but still costly “third row” chairs. They were perfectly comfy, but our view of the ocean was obstructed by those lucky enough to snag first or second-row chairs. We eventually laughed, calling ourselves part of the “third-class” crowd. We also laughed that people, including us, were willing to pay exorbitant prices to enjoy tiny strips of beach.

When we spend time with God, we are never part of the “third-class” crowd. Whether we read our Bibles, pray, or worship, we are guaranteed premium seating with our Heavenly Father. When you spend time with Him, you are His priority, and He listens intently as if you were the only person in the world. Psalm 116:2a (NLT) tells us that God even “bends down to listen.” He wants to hear what we have to say and hear the praises we sing. God is the one who paid the exorbitant price when He sent His Son, Jesus, so that you can enjoy sweet communion with Him. The Almighty loves you and wants to spend time with you. He will always have a front row seat reserved just for you.

The Most Expensive Real Estate in the World

I recently watched a TV show in which a couple hired a realtor to find them an apartment in Manhattan, New York City. The realtor showed them three different apartments, each tiny and extremely pricey. The couple ended up spending an astounding $625,000 for an apartment with less than 700 square feet. It is said that some of the most expensive real estate in the world is in Manhattan, and after watching that show, it does seem legit.

While a tiny apartment in Manhattan may be out of the price range for many, you actually own the most expensive real estate in the world – your mind. Who and what you let occupy that prime space matters tremendously. As the realtor, you naturally want the best tenants. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 (NIV) that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” These stringent requirements will attract the best occupants for your precious real estate. When combined with prayer, they also bring about the promise given in Philippians 4:9b: “the God of peace will be with you,” which is priceless.

Performance Review

Before I retired, performance reviews rolled around at my workplace like clockwork every spring, and my supervisor always asked everyone in our group to submit a list of their accomplishments for the last year. I worked in Human Resources, but my job focused on data and systems rather than people, so I felt the need to explain my work in detail. Admittedly, I probably included too much detail in my assessment of myself, but I wanted to ensure my supervisor knew about every project, major task, and achievement I worked on. It usually took two to three pages to do that.

In only a few short paragraphs, the Book of Genesis talks about God creating the heavens and the earth. Sounding almost like an “I forgot” statement, Genesis 1:16b (NIV) states, “He also created the stars.” Wow! I find it amusing how I felt the need to explain in detail how much I did to improve things where I worked, yet God’s creation of the heavens and the earth is stated so simply in the Bible. I guarantee none of my accomplishments left anyone in awe, but reading about God’s awesome power and majesty in speaking everything as we know it into being is humbling and incredible. Take time today to worship him for His magnificent creation. He is worthy of all the praise and thanksgiving we can offer.

Necessary Pruning

Here in sunny Florida, we had a hard freeze recently. Temperatures dropped below freezing for 8 to 9 hours on three consecutive mornings. This kind of polar plunge is uncommon for our home on the Space Coast. Though the weeds in our yard are still standing mighty and green, a wide variety of trees, vegetation, and grass got hit hard. Things once thriving and pretty now stand dark brown and crispy. Toasted are our hibiscus, snow on the mountains, hummingbird bushes, and banana trees. I can’t wait to take an inventory of what can be salvaged and trim away dead leaves and branches to make way for spring’s arrival. Pruning back what’s not healthy will help them grow and flourish into something vibrant.

Over time, our hearts and minds get brown and crispy from the hurts we receive from others and from things we may unknowingly bring on ourselves. Just as plants damaged by frost and freezing temperatures need pruning, so do we occasionally. Let God tenderly prune you. Ask Him to reveal anything in your heart and mind that keeps you from enjoying His best for you. Let Him gently trim away anything you need to let go of and watch your faith grow like vibrantly colored spring flowers.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Cold Front Brings Warm Message

My daughter, Ashley, was born and raised in Florida. Temperatures can certainly take a dip in the winter, but seldom last more than a day or two before rebounding into the seventies. But unlike me, she ventured north and now lives in a metropolitan area that frequently experiences cold weather. It occasionally snows there, but rarely in large amounts at one time. Last Sunday morning, almost a foot of snow had already fallen, with more on the way. That much snowfall was a novelty for Ashley… and for her car.

She had parked her car on the next street over from her home, but was ticketed for parking on a snow route; she had to move it. She scraped the snow off the windshield and windows, and her car started fine, but it was stuck. Cold and frustrated, she didn’t know what to do. Someone shoveling outside his home nearby gladly came over to shovel Ashley’s car out. Once out of that parking spot, she carefully drove to the next street over, but ended up getting stuck in the middle of the road. Random passersby immediately came to help. When Ashley finally reached a spot closer to her house, a woman happily stopped shoveling outside her home to clear the snow so Ashley could park.

By the time Ashley was safely parked in a new spot out of the way of any service vehicles, her church’s morning service had already started. Though close enough to walk to her very well-attended church, she knew there wouldn’t be any seats left when she got there. Disappointed and tired, she went back inside her home. As she warmed up, she reflected on the morning’s events, feeling grateful for the neighbors who so willingly and cheerfully helped her. Neighbors were out in full force helping neighbors that snowy day. While Ashley did not make it to her church’s service, she had a warm, front-row seat to God’s goodness. Ashley was meant to receive a different message that morning—one about what it means to show compassion, generosity, and sacrifice to your neighbor.