Cecil Murphey's words ring in my ears. The author of 90 Minutes in Heaven and Rebel With a Cause graced our studio last week. A man with simple yet profound wisdom shared the major point Jesus made in Matthew 25.

I've heard the story:
When we feed, house, clothe or look after a stranger, we do it for the Lord.

But I missed the main point.

Cecil says, "We do the obvious because they are obvious."

Reflecting on this point I wonder, am I looking for a "service project" to dish food at the local shelter? Maybe I'm waiting for the church to ask me to house a missionary on furlough. Or give clothes during a 'clothes drive'.

My daughter called last week praising God's faithfulness. They have 4 children, living on one income. She said, "Mom, God is so good to us!" It seems they were trying to stretch the budget to buy pants for the oldest who replaced his legs with stilts and the youngest who's been wearing threadbare hand-me-downs. When out-of-the-blue (that would be heaven disguised as God's servant) showed up at their door with EXACTLY the needed sizes.

A woman in their church did 'the obvious.' Her kids had outgrown their clothes. She knew a young family who might need them. Jesus describes her in this passage! "You, dear servant had no idea that by doing this simple act, you would bring me glory and receive rewards in My Kingdom."

Matthew 25:34 "Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world."

Lord, make me blissfully unaware of the reward as I do the obvious today. In Jesus' name, amen.

For more wisdom from Cecil Murphey, join us at the cafe table at www.EncouragementCafe.com

Lot's wife lingered. In Genesis 19:26 it says she 'looked back'. Sound familiar? It's easy to pass judgment on her when we read that and say, "What was she thinking!!?"

But we do it.

We look back at our past and think, 'what if' - you can fill in the blank with whatever personal struggle plagued you.

The fact is, we occasionally linger there. Our mind gets caught staring at the rearview mirror.

God's wisdom said, 'don't look back'. Lot's wife could hear the burning sulfur annihilating her hometown and something inside whispered, 'can it really hurt to take a peek?'

Maybe lingering caused her to stop and pause and maybe at that very moment a spew of volcanic sulfur poured onto that very spot.

We don't know the how, but we do know the 'why'

She lingered. She turned her back on God's wisdom.

A sermon outline on the Book of Proverbs had this insight on wisdom:

"Wisdom continues to cry out — only in stronger and fuller form — the Word of God.
Men, including Christian men, continue to ignore the cries and appeals of wisdom.
Men especially turn away from the teaching of the Word.
There is always a balance beam. Every individual can climb on one side or the other.
Will you hear, heed and follow, or will you close your eyes and ears and go your own way?
The ultimate outcome is up to you.
Throughout time and eternity you will reap the fruit of the decision you make now regarding wisdom."

Wood, C. R. (1984). Sermon Outlines on the Book of Proverbs (9–10). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.

Today Lord, turn my eyes and ears to Your Wisdom. Pour Your Word into my heart and mind so that the screaming of this world will not make me linger on the past. In Jesus' name, amen.

There it is, the computer, the "smart" phone, the iPad. You stare at it KNOWING it is about to consume your day.

What is truly urgent in life? What is vitally important?

Sometimes the clever ringtone or gentle ping pulls our focus away from important and blurs it with urgent.

What could ONE HOUR of distraction-free concentration do for your life?

Look at your list - what is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing on the agenda?

The ONE thing that is complex, hard and will take effort?

Not the emails, errands, or low-priority-but-easier-to-check-off-the-list to-do items.

Today, focus. Don't pick up the phone, get off this computer, lay down your iPad.

For ONE HOUR, focus and DO that ONE thing.

GO

Am I the only one who felt drained after the holidays? My girlfriend kept reminding me, "You DO know, it's the most wonderful time of the year, right?"

Yes, yes, yes. I know. And I love seeing all of my family.

That being said, it is also the MOST EXHAUSTING time of the year!

I'll just admit it, I felt like running away and finding a hideaway when it was all over. A picturesque little cottage in the woods, or a camper, or a tent, or honestly, I'd settle for a warm sleeping bag near a fire ;o)

Alone time. That's what my heart longed for.

My Father knows me. He knows me so well it unnerves me at times. Like this morning.

As visions of a hideaway scampered through my thoughts, I pulled a promise from my crystal box. Several years ago my girlfriend gave me a crystal box jammed full of scripture promises from my Father.

This morning it read:

There is no place you can escape from My Presence, Luann. Psalm 139:7-10

Guess He has other plans for me today. What about you?

Thankful today for life interruptions. As I look back over the past year of my life, the most memorable moments were unexpected.

Take yesterday for example. After 5 years of living in this house, my husband finally agreed we need some curtains on the windows, not to block the view of the lake, but to enhance it. (that is a breakthrough, right there)

Deciding on just the right thing, at just the right sale price has been a challenge. In the past week I've put up rods, ironed drapes, switched them out and taken them down. The gals in the drapery department at JCPenney know me by my first name.

Yesterday, the last place I planned to be was at the mall, for heavens sake. Wednesday before Thanksgiving? Please, I'd rather have bamboo shoots run under my fingernails. But here I was, ringing out at the register.

And there she was, Vivian. This young African American girl breathlessly approached the counter asking to use the phone. It seems she was dropped off to go to work and discovered she wasn't scheduled. She needed to find someone to pick her up.

Enter that familiar knock on my heart. Yep, it was pounding pretty good. I know when I feel that, God has an interruption planned. "Do you need a ride?" I asked. All activity stopped. She looked at me quizzically. The cashier waited to see what might happen next. Vivian cocked her head to the side in disbelief and replied, "Uh, yes." "I'm leaving, I'll take you," came out of my mouth.

Can I just say, that was not on my agenda? My list was probably like yours, a mile long of things that needed to be done before the end of the day.

I discovered during our ride a little bit about my new friend. She has 7 siblings, 5 were adopted out of the family 6 years ago, because of her mom's drug abuse, leaving just her and her brother. No one wants 13 & 14 year olds. Her decisions took her down some wrong roads.

I asked her where she went to church. She went to church a few times when she was younger but doesn't go now. "Vivian, God put us together on purpose today. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. You didn't expect to run into me and I didn't expect to run into you, yet here we are, unusual, don't you think?" I asked.

She said, "Yes. In today's world, no one takes a chance on anyone. I couldn't believe you offered me a ride."

I asked her about her past and her hopes for the future. In 20 minutes we bonded. "Are you working Sunday?" I asked. "No, I'm off," she replied. "I'll pick you up for church if you want to go with us," I said. "Really? That would be great!" she said.

I got out of the car and wrapped her in a hug. I prayed over her. We stood amazed at how quickly we connected.

God wants to interrupt us for His purposes. Let Him.

Empty Nest…..is it really empty?

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Can I just be honest? It does hurt when you have invested 18 years pouring yourself into children and suddenly they leave! Everything changes! However, life continues to bloom and I’m noticing something in the Bible – it’s a normal process!

If our entire life is consumed only by our children and their activities, when they fly the coop, it will feel empty. Paul pointed out a vital characteristic in 2 Timothy 1:5, when he said, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Timothy learned by example. Timothy saw faith in action. When he left the nest I imagine his mom continued growing and blooming faith in others lives with her example. I can’t imagine she led an empty life.

The definition of EMPTY is – Containing nothing; not filled or occupied.

When our grown kids begin experimenting with worldly things once they leave, our natural tendency is to point a blaming finger in the mirror saying, “What did you do wrong?” It’s easy to become paralyzed by the actions of grown children. The battle cry of my heart is this main ingredient verse with an added special request, “Make them old, Lord! Make them old!” God is faithful. We can believe that He has them in the palm of His hand.

Retirement is never mentioned in the Bible. God opens new ministry doors when your calendar becomes clear. Some of the most motivated, powerful, radical servants sprinkled throughout His Word were empty nesters.

One empty-nester lived across the street from me at a critical time in my life. She had raised 3 children and could have sat back, empty. But this woman decided to fill her life with a young mom who was desperate. She held my hand and encouraged me when I discovered I was pregnant with number 3. All of her parenting knowledge was poured out on this confused, crying girl. Empty was never how I would describe Mrs. Metcalf, no she was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. And her joy spilled out onto me.

Put on your God-goggles. Pay attention. He longs to fill your void places with some unexpected occupants.

Father, pry open my closed mind and reveal clearly where You want me to shine. Fill my empty places Lord with Your Holy Spirit and take me to places where You can then pour me out into the lives of others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Numbers 24:21 “Your dwelling place is secure; your nest is set in a rock;”

Love, love, love Andy Andrews quote from A Traveler's Gift:

"All men are driven by faith or fear - one or the other - for both are the same. Faith or fear is the expectation of an event that hasn't come to pass or the belief in something that cannot be seen or touched."

So the natural question is: What is driving me?

Is worry masquerading as 'concern'?

Do my tomorrows cloud my today?

Do I believe?

In this ridiculous economy, my eyes sometimes shift to my dwindling retirement account.
In this sandwich generation, my concerns sometimes shift to parents or children.
In this self-absorbed culture, my thoughts sometimes shift to 'why me?'

And yet, John 16:33 makes a bold statement that is relevant in all situations; we WILL have trouble, but don't worry about it, Jesus overcomes it all!

So which is it Luann????

Well, which one? Do you believe Me or not?

It's a choice! Live EXPECTANTLY! Expect God.

"Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair...."

You remember the song...don't you?? ( If not, then ask your mom. )

In the 1980's I owned a styling salon and it was always buzzing. Sometimes literally, with military cuts, but mostly it was a buzz with chatter. Women tell you so much while sitting in that chair. And their hair style tells even more than their words.

I remember the timid girls who had long hair, wanting desperately to try a new-do, but would consistently say, "Just a trim, my husband would kill me if I got a cut."

And the other extreme wanted bleached streaks with bright purple toner because they didn't really care what people wanted. Or so they said.

Hair often tells a story. Look around. You see the woman who hasn't changed her style in 25 years. She's comfortable with it. She knows it. Her stylist doesn't dream about suggesting anything new because that might throw her into a coronary. She simply wants to be left alone in 'the way it's always been.'

The Britney wanna-be syndrome is alive and well and walking our streets. Recently at the post office, a very thin woman, in tight low-cut jeans with slinky top had the glossy straight blonde bounce. When she turned around I realized she had to be near 80 years old.

Some spike it, curl it, freeze it or jerk it up in a ponytail.

For me, it depends on the day. I have my 'who-cares-what-it-looks-like-I'm-going-to-be-riding-a-tractor' days. Then I have the pleading, 'please-for-the-love-of-Pete-just cooperate-with-the-other-strands-and-go-in-the-same-direction' days. Occasionally it won't be a struggle, but most days a clippy is my best friend.

So why am I yammering on and on about hair?

Because it tells a deeper story most days. So look around at the women in your life today. Recognize their lack-of-self-esteem, their trying-to-please, their hoping-someone-notices styles.....and slip your arm around her shoulder. Let her know someone saw her today and more importantly, someone cares.

Anyone who knows me, but more for those who don't, I am not polished. So it was funny to me to hear that word used 3 times from 3 different people at the last speaking event.

I am the rough one, the wild card, the one that people say, "You never know when she migh break out in a song!" As a matter of fact, our producer has developed a nervous twitch (just kidding) because he tries his best to roll with my unknown next comment or melody burst. It's something that dwells so deep inside my soul that it erupts like a spewing fountain at times. Sorry to those who have been dribbled on by my overflow.

That's me, the scuffed-up, wrinkled one. You'll often see my prissier girlfriends pulling lint, threads or wayward hairs off of my jacket. I don't see them, partly because my eyesight is declining, but mostly because my excitement is so squarely focused on that 'one.'

There's a highlighter that God uses inside my brain when I'm speaking that narrows onto 'one' heart in the audience. He whispers, "Do you see her? Zero in on that 'one' because she needs to hear what I'm going to say through you today." So you'll have to overlook my lopsided self when I step up to the podium.

So to say that anything I'm involved in is polished is.... rare.

There is a reason. The women I work with are EXTRAORDINARY! They make everything look flawless and professional. Applaud them. Hug their necks. Let them know how very much you appreciate their tireless efforts in making every event latch on to the attendee's hearts.

When that 'one' comes down the aisle and locks her arms around my neck, God softly breathes, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." That's more than enough for this unpolished girl.

I've spent the last 2 hours talking about something that is true in our nation and millions share this dilemma.

Flip the Funnel!

Our economy is fragile and wounded. Companies are scurrying to find solutions and scapegoats.

Many view their organization as a funnel with 'multiple talking heads' at the top level - spewing varied priorities that MUST be met.

And it all filters down to the handful of faithful workers trying desperately to dart back and forth in an effort to please them all.

Leaders are scarce. There are many managers but very few who are willing to flip the funnel upside down.

If a True Leader would step up, whether in our country, our business or our home and give direction, then empower those who follow to carry out the initiative, our world would experience radical recovery.

As it is, we have battalions of weary soldiers, needing encouragement, needing nourishment, needing the opportunity to take ownership of their role and run.

Can I get an amen?

Lord Jesus, send leaders.