Mid-days With Lauree

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Dallas shooting that resulted in the death of 5 Dallas police officers. If you we're in Dallas-Fort Worth 5 years ago, you will probably never forget what took place on July 7th, 2016. At a memorial earlier today, Chief Garcia said that: "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid." Today we remember the 5 fallen officers who gave their lives for our community and stand with the men and women who serve to protect it on a daily basis.

I'm hoping that it has not been one of those days, but every once in a while, one of those days comes along. Since they do, I want to offer this reminder: God will not be sleeping tonight. Nope, he just doesn't need it. But we do and since God won't be sleeping, we can.

Maybe you find yourself walking through a child who is giving you a handful. If you are, you're not alone. We're currently experiencing this with our youngest child and I was recently given some encouragement from a pastor friend of mine that I think would be of encouragement to you as well. It isn't easy, but with God's strength, stand with your child during the tough times. Kids just want to know that their parents are there. If necessary, hold them in the sad times and carry them in the unbearable times. We're learning that a little bit more day by day and we're being reminded that God loves and cares for our children more than we do.

Back on September 23, 1857, a man named Jerimiah Lanphier started a noon prayer meeting right in the heart of New York City. About 6 people were in attendance. A couple of weeks later, the largest financial crisis in United States History to date occurred and in the days following, more than 3,000 people gathered for noon time prayer. This prayer movement spread and as a result, over a million people came to know Christ in a years time. I hope and praying nothing like this financial crisis happens again, but my takeaway is this: In the middle of hardship, it's not our need for God increases, it's our awareness for our need for God that does.

I'm no Hebrew scholar but in talking to people who are, I found out something really interesting. In the Hebrew language, which is the language of the Old Testament, there is no Hebrew word for "coincidence". A word that means a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. Just my humble opinion, but maybe we should stop chalking things up to "coincidence", and start crediting God's very real provision.

We have to face the facts: We can't go back and get a brand new start. We just can't. There's no rewinding the clock, there's no time machine. But thanks to God's grace and mercy, we can start today and get a brand new ending.

Here is a piece of encouragement I heard from Pastor Matt Chandler that I wanted to share with you"If God has eternally loved me, then his love for me can't be based on my past. Because he loved me before I ever had one."

I wonder if you've ever thought of God as watching over us with this God notepad and pencil just keeping record of all the mistakes we make throughout the day. That may be a daunting mental picture but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Just think about it: If that we're the case, why would we need Jesus? Remember 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."Worry no more, because God IS Love.

The story of David & Goliath is pretty well known and it's an awesome story, but sometimes I worry that it's gets written off in our minds as a great story to tell to kids in Sunday school. I'd agree it's a great story for kids to know, but by no means is a children's story. There's so much there for each and everyone of us to unpack. The Philistines we're feeling pretty confident as David stepped forward to take on the challenge of facing Goliath. Why wouldn't they be? Everyone with eyes could see that Goliath was big. But there was only one person that knew how big God was. That was David, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. So today, want to ask you that question: Do you know how big your God is? Do you know, in the Goliath-sized situation you're up against, what your situation is up against with God as it's opponent? I think you can have confidence in that battle.

I don't know what you may be facing today, but I'm realistic enough to know you may be dealing with some problems that are causing you feel a little jumbled up. Unfortunately, I don't have any fixes for you. But what I do have some experience and what I've learned is when I spend just a little more the truths and promises we have in Christ, it seems to put those problems back into perspective. When we look at our problems in the context of God's promises, it not only lessens our worry, but it increases God greatness in our eyes.

It's not uncommon for us to have a thought and immediately pick up our phone and share it with our friends on Facebook or Twitter. And there's nothing inherently wrong with it.Here's just a thought the next time we have this urge: instead of casting your anxieties on the internet, which cares for no one, let's cast our anxieties on God. The one who cares for us.

A little nugget of wisdom from the always awesome Bob Goff"When God doesn't give us all of the answers we want, that's when we get to decide whether just having him is going to be enough for us." That hits deep.

Maybe you can relate to this: I've had this belief in the back of my head that because God saved me and Jesus paid for my sins on the cross, I owed him. How that manifested itself is I felt like I needed to do my best to pay him back. As Christians, we all kind of know that it's just not possible to fully pay him back for his sacrifice, but that didn't mean I shouldn't try.But as I've gotten older, I'm just not sure that reflects the gospel. Jesus isn't asking us to repay the graces that has been poured out on us. We can't. And it's not the point. The point is for us to enjoy the grace has been lavished on us and in return, just share that grace with others and tell them where it comes from.

I am a grateful grandpa today as I announce that baby Katherine is finally here! After lots and lots of prayer, my 3rd grandbaby made her way into this world yesterday at 5:05pm! She's healthy, happy (most of the time), and mom is doing well! Thank you for again for all of your prayer leading up to this time.

We probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about this, but how much do you think the enemy is lying to you today? My guess: a lot.

Have you ever tried to figure out what God's will for your life is? You are not alone in wonder. Chad Bird, one of my favorite Old Testament scholars, has a perspective on this important question that I think could help steer you in the right direction. He says, "Look around you and see those people in your life, love them. Care for them. Pray for them." I can't say for certain what God has in store for you, but I think exactly where you are is a great place to start.

They say that time heal all wounds, but how much truth is there to that saying?

Maybe you're feeling like you need to wait till you've got ducks in row before you can really do what God has called you to, but can I just say from experience, don't wait. Life doesn't get less messy and there won't be a perfect time. God doesn't wait to love us till we look like how we want to look, God loves us exact how we are. Messy and all. So don't wait till you feel like your ready, step out in faith. Your heart will catch up.

To anybody that is somehow believing the lie that you're too broken for God to choose you, I'm here to tell you that you are chosen and you're never too broken for God to make something beautiful out of your life. I know this because God has done it with me. We have a God who loves to breath life and make life out of the shattered and the broken. He can take your mess and make a masterpiece, all you need to do is believe.

Texas Pride is unlike any other and in true Texas form, the Lone Star State has an official fungus.