Happy New Day! One half of the year is gone! Time! Where does the time go? If you just sit and watch a clock for 60 seconds, it can seem to take forever, yet, it is when we are not paying attention to it, that it seems to fly. The question for today is; are you happy and at peace with where you spend your time? Think about this past week or the past three months. It's a great time to reflect and learn. Where did you spend the top 3 amounts of time? Was it being intentional or proactive? Or did you find yourself reacting more often? This can be asked in every area of our life, and especially with our spiritual life. I have found, that many people I have coached or counseled, wonder how they ended up where they are. While life does move forward, many times we are not where we want to be is because we didn’t move forward in lockstep with God's will for us. Sometimes, right actions or good intentions come too late. We must not only do what is right, but also at the right time. We often know the right thing to do in any moment, but we don't trust it or question it. To learn how to trust and obey, we have to spend more time with Jesus. Don't let TIME be an excuse to not spend time with God. Our spiritual growth doesn't just happen. Now is the time! What are you waiting for? Lamentations 3:25-28 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.” Happy New Day!

Happy New Day! (3 Things God May Be Wanting From You During This Time) Are you over this yet? Feeling alone....even with family around? A study in the journal SCIENCE showed that people would rather give themselves electric shocks than be alone with their thoughts for just 15 minutes. But there IS a difference between being alone and feeling lonely. If you feel lonely, remember or maybe you need to hear for the first time- God cares for you. He knows about your loneliness. Jesus experienced the greatest loneliness of all when he was on the cross. He knows what loneliness feels like. So, what are a few things God is hoping you may learn from feeling this way? 1. God may be wanting you to work on your strengths and quit focusing on your weaknesses. If you find yourself feeling unsure about the future, it’s important to focus on what you are good at. When we do that, our confidence builds and then we feel a little more “sure” during the day. 2. God may be wanting you to seek a deeper relationship with him. (I believe that is exactly what he is hoping for from all of us- the ENTIRE WORLD!) When we are alone and seek after God we will be rewarded. He will give us increased awareness in each moment throughout each day to see how he is with us. Many people report after increased awareness they see increased patterns in life, numbers or how reading an article was in the right exact moment. This kind of awareness does not come without setting apart time to be with God. One of the rewards is a sense of peace and the feeling of NOT being alone. 3. God may be trying to show you that you have more to share with the world. In "Life Together" Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote about our need for community and being alone. He said, "If you refuse to be alone you are rejecting Christ's call to you and you can have no part in the community of those who are called." He believed in the importance of time alone with God. During this time with God, we should be asking for guidance, courage to move forward and being thankful that he has given us time to discover or rediscover our purpose in the coming days. Let him know that you trust him to make your thoughts his thoughts and protect you from the enemy taking over our thoughts (An idol mind is the devil’s playground). God may have to put you and yours in a lonely place for a season, but he makes a home for the lonely. It is not a place to be afraid of or being looking for all the bad reasons why we are here. The truth is- we are never alone. God will never forsake you, but he will transform you if you embrace this moment. Happy New Day! “God is with you – wherever you may go and no matter what life brings.” Joshua 1:9