Archive for February 5th, 2013

I am traveling on business and yesterday sure was long. Up at 4am east coast time so I could make a 6am flight to Atlanta only to be delayed. In 5 hours, I sure got to know the Atlanta airport well. I spent time in the chapel praying (terminal E), perused through the cool art displays (also in term E), got a mini-workout in by walking the underground tunnels instead of taking the trains, and actually ate breakfast AND lunch at the airport (Chick-Fil-A and Moe’s respectively). When I arrived in San Francisco, it was already a long day and I still had a meeting or two to check off my list. So an early dinner and early bed time were my final targets. I was in bed at 8pm and probably asleep within seconds.

I arose 10 hours later refreshed and ready to take on today. And as sleep refreshes us for each day, I was reminded how Jesus refreshes our life. This came to me during my morning workout which was a brisk walk in the 50F dark morning combined with my iPod praise music. And because I was walking very early during pre-business hours on the manicured commercial building sidewalks and parking lots, no one was around. So I sang along to my music — Jeremy Camp, Tree63, Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust — as I walked along. I couldn’t hear me because of my earbuds and no one else could either. It made for a wonderful workout and mini-praise session — the perfect way to start out the morning.

On my way in to the hotel I grabbed a banana and some yogurt as a pre-breakfast before my Jamba Juice. I enjoyed it during my morning devotions in Romans 12:14-21 and then read today’s Max Lucado which really hit home. I am copying it below as well as linking to it.

When my daughter, Jenna, was little I often took her to a park near our home. One day as she played in a sandbox, I bought her ice-cream, but when I turned to give it to her, her mouth was full of sand. Where I had intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt. Did I love her with dirt in her mouth?  Absolutely. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way!  I loved her where she was, but I refused to leave her there.  Why?  Because I love her.

God does the same for us.  “Spit out the dirt, honey,” our Father urges. “I’ve got something better for you.” “I can eat dirt if I want to!” we pout and proclaim.  We can.  But if we do, the loss is ours.  God has a better offer.  He wants us to be just like Jesus!

“Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.” (Psalm 51:10 NCV).

The visual really hit home and our recurring persistence to “eat dirt” doesn’t surprise me.

Have a blessed day! I know I will.
…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Our country would be so much better off if we ripped the script from this commercial and applied it directly to every single person, entity, business, and gov’t agency immediately.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net