Its too easy to harden our hearts

 Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.  14 Blessed is a man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."  Unconfessed sin lingers in my behaviors.  I have to identify my sinful thoughts and behaviors quickly or they will take root.   With out this constant evaluating my thoughts and behaviors, I fall into the trap of  accepting my sins as “ “not that bad”, which is a hardening of my heart.   If I look toward this worlds opinions; many sins are considered “normal” and encouraged such as gossip, lying, slothfulness, greed, slander, lust, envy…….We have a higher calling!!!  Let’s not harden our hearts!   Let’s  confess our sins to God and try, try, try again!   You know the sins you’ve hardened your heart to.   Be inspired to deal with them today!!!

Remember, we are saved by grace and not by works!! Its Jesus’s finished work on the cross that saves us!!  Yet, I have found, my days are better , when I try my best to avoid sin.  Thank you Jesus for forgiveness and desire to do better!!

Be a good team mate

 Proverbs 21:20. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,”.  I raised three boys.  When I would send them into the bathroom to brush their teeth, inevitably, a fight would break out, one of the three had to win.   I had to remind my boys, "We are on the same team, right now we are on the; "get to school on time team".  I told them, "In this house we treat each other with patience, kindness and understanding.   What part of being mean to your brother is patient, kind and understanding?"   They would inevitably have an excuse why couldn't possibly have avoided the fight.    They were children and it was my job as their mom to teach them to be on the same team.         Many times our own families feel like they are our enemies.  I am a divorced mom.  One huge mistake I made was forgetting my husband and I were on the same team.    A house divided against each other will fall.  Practice patience, kindness and understanding today.  Be a a good team mate, look for solutions with love.  ❤️

Prideful crash

 Ezekiel 28:5 “ By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud……..17 Your heart became proud on  account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.  So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”  PRIDE!  I have been feeling a bit “puffed up”, after my successful Birkie week with four good races in four days.   This morning I was driving to Madison.  I arrived in Madison and feeling pretty empowered I didn’t notice the black ice until I lost control of my car and crashed.  I felt so ashamed, one minute I’m on the top of the world.  Then in an aftermath  of a crash; praising God no one was injured because of my prideful driving.    Pride is a funny thing, it makes you feel invincible, which never ends well. Today, if you are feeling great about things you’ve accomplished, great!!! Just remember everything we have comes from God in the first place.  Stay humble so you can stay alert!!😇🙏

Quietness and trust

 Isaiah 30:15 "This is what the Sovereign Lord, The Holy One of Israel, says:  "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."    

....."18Yet, the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him."     In quietness and trust is your strength!!  Wow!! Quietness and trust is so profound!! I am a " get it done" type of person, yet, no matter how hard I try I can’t make things happen God will not allow.   It's hard for me to sit back, wait and trust.   When I do, His still small voice along with the words of His Bible show me which way to go.   In my obstinance sometimes I still trudge through with my plans. Today, I hope to let my mind be set on His ways and His peace.  I hope to let His word be the lamp to my feet.   Isaiah 30:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."   Today, in quietness and trust; let’s do our  best to follow Our Gracious Lord!!

Be the encourager!

1Peter 5:2 " Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  4And when the Chief Shepard appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."........6 "Humble yourself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."   First of all,  thank you again for all the prayers.   I had an other great race!!  I felt good the entire time and was able to be an encourager not a complainer!!   On the 53k course there were plenty of people starting to complain about, wax, hills or snow conditions….When I heard someone complain I would quickly point out something to be thankful for.  Toward the end of the race one girl said, “You have single handedly kept me going!  Thanks for being so encouraging.”  I responded, “ It’s Our Good Lord, that has kept you going!!   I’ve been reminding you of His goodness.”  When I arrived at the changing rooms, I heard of an other testimony of a first time Birkie skier; she felt she couldn’t go on and a “Birchlegger”(person who has skied 20 or more Birkies) lady took her under her wing and helped her.  The young lady  attributed her finish to the encouragement and care of the Birchlegger!   Today, know that what you do or say doesn’t return void.  Let what you do or say be for the glory of Our Good Lord!!  Be the encourager!!!

Be courageous

 Mark 5:19 "Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.".......34 "He said to her, "Daughter, your faith had healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.".......36 "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."................." Talitha koum!" ( which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!").  Today is my biggest and final race for the week.  Its the Official American Birkenbien in its original form.  I did the open track event on Wednesday.   I have had a great week of participation in wonderful races and enjoying my friends and family and my sister’s and brothers in Jesus.    I try to make a habit out of being bold in Christ.    Yesterday, when I was getting tired toward the end of my 29k race, I encouraged a sister with scripture, a fellow skiier over heard us he encouraged me with scripture! He said to fly on  eagles wings!!!   As I read Mark 5 today, there are so many verses that stand out.  Be encouraged today to use scripture to encourage each other.  It’s amazing how much healing takes place when we share the word of God!!!   Be bold in Jesus!  Be courageous!!!

Finish Strong no matter how tangled you get!!

Proverbs 21:3 "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."

....9 "Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife."

....13" If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor he too will cry out and not be answered."

...21 " He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."

.....23 "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity."

..24 "The proud and arrogant man -"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride."   Today as I read Proverbs 21, I am convicted of my pride, and how sometimes doing the right thing can feel like a sacrifice.  Have you ever asked someone, “ Do you think you’ll go to heaven when you die?”  And their response is, “ I hope so, Im a pretty good person.”?   When I read Proverbs 21 I’m reminded how not good of a person I am.   Praise God we are saved by grace not by works!! Because of this amazing gift we receive from Jesus, we want to do good.   We will fail, but just like yesterday at my ski jouring race  we have the ability to keep trying!! Yesterday my dog Tonto and I got tangled up with the other dogs, we eventually broke free and still finished 

Strong!  We missed the podium by 4 seconds and were caught in the tangle for about 10.   It cost us a podium finish but in the long run who cares where you place as long as you finish well!!! What ever may tangle you up today, shake it off and keep on keeping on!! Finish strong!!

Thanks for your prayers I have felt the benefits!!    Please continue to lift me up and my fellow Birkie Skier's that we all may stay safe and finish strong!!

No greater way

James 1:6 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double- minded man, unstable in all he does.”   My race went extremely well yesterday.   Thanks so much for your prayers.  I could feel the power of prayer as I climbed the hills with my freshly broken wrist!(Sunday).   I had complete confidence that I made the correct decision staying in the race assigned to me.  I made that decision based on reading yesterday’s Bible verse.  I let Gods’ word be a lamp to my feet and I didn’t change my mind!   I can be indecisive.   When I am I don’t  have peace.   Today, TRUST that when you read the word of God and you get a clear direction it’s the right one!  Let’s be stable in all our ways. Firmly trust and obey, there is no greater way!!

Dig deep

 Luke 6:46-49. "46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  Today, I’m skiing the American Birkebeiner open track. I have registered for the classic open track. I wanted to switch to skate, but it would be technically against the rules, at this stage. Many people have said no worries, just go ahead and do what you want.  The problem is, I don’t feel right about it.  I'm gonna try to dig down deep today and do what I'm supposed to do in the ski race and I really hope I dig down deep today and do what I'm supposed to do,  in all areas of my life.  Without a firm foundation, I quickly head to destruction.  I hope this helps you too.  Do today what lines up with the word of God!😇

Overflowing , no matter what!

Colossians 1:10 " And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light"

13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."   He gives us everything we need to do His good works!!  We do good works out of the overflow of His love in our hearts!   If we're not " feeling it", maybe its because we are burdened by our own "stuff".   This human condition, can wear us out.   Be encouraged

and renewed!   We are not the sum of our wrongs we are the righteousness of Jesus Christ!  5 minutes ago is just as over as 50 years ago.    Get up shake it off and try, try, try again!!  I find it easier to keep on keeping on when I remember to keep on identifying with who I am in Jesus Christ; forgiven, strengthened, joyful and full of enough love to give out of my abundance!!  😇.  I hope this helps you to walk right today too, no matter what!!!

Resist what you will be ashamed of

 Romans 6:21 "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!"

Sin is a snare!    What benefit do we derive from the behaviors we don't want to do, yet we do want to?  We all feel a crazy pull to behaviors that we are ashamed of. Today, when you are tempted to do things like gossip, complain,

Over indulge..... you know the sins that ensnare you try to remember how you'll feel after.   Hopefully that will help you resist.

Romans 6:21 "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!"

Sin is a snare!    What benefit do we derive from the behaviors we don't want to do, yet we do want to?  We all feel a crazy pull to behaviors that we are ashamed of. Today, when you are tempted to do things like gossip, complain,

Over indulge..... you know the sins that ensnare you try to remember how you'll feel after.   Hopefully that will help you resist.   We can usualg see the temptations coming.  Let’s try not to put ourselves in the places we will be most tempted!

Happy Valentines Day. Be Hos love and defeat enxiety in others!

 Proverbs 13:25 "An anxious hearts weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."   Happy Valentine’s Day!   St Valentine wasn’t a  hallmark mushy love guy, he was a kind, caring and went the extra mile for others.  He did this so much, he is honored with this day.   Many people around us, the clerk at the check out counter, our friends, coworkers and family suffer with anxiety about something.   Today be encouraged to be the light of Jesus in other people’s day.   Have a kind word for them, with sincerity of heart.    I often see something I like about a perfect stranger and tell them.   Many times they will respond, “ I really needed that today, thank you.”    Its easy to find good things in others, just look, you’ll see, then have the courage to tell them!!   This is a perfect way to celebrate this day!!   Be the love of Jesus!! Proverbs 13:25 “ An anxious hearts weighs heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”😇🙏❤️.  Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Live loved

 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."   We are each loved and valued so much that Jesus, would die on the cross for each of us if we were the only person in the world!!   Yes we are each that precious to God!!   Live loved today.  You are!!!😇❤️🙏

Be the encouager not the destroyer

 Proverbs 12:6 " The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them." ......14 " From the fruit of the lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him."  ...16 "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man over looks an insult. " ..... 18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."   ❤️‍🩹 A broken heart will bring many hurtful words and behaviors.   I tell people my worse behavior came out when I was going through my divorces.    Yes plural!   I wanted people to join me in my hate toward them.   That was simply evil!  I  have walked upon many roads Iwould not travel the same way today.    If I could change my past and not hurt people with my words and actions I would.  

But, this is a beautiful thing;  I can learn from my past and try harder and be better today.   I can let things roll off my back.  I can stop talking about what went wrong.  I can start talking about what is right.    I can be the encourager today, not the destroyer.   Will you join me?

Let it be joy today

 Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Every morning we have a choice, we can say, “Good Morning God!😇”; or we can say, “Good God its morning🥺”.   The prior opens our hearts to enjoy what comes.   When we start our days in hopeful exceptation of opportunities for joy with Jesus we can see the Son behind the clouds!  Every day there is some hard.   But every day we have Jesus and that gives us the opportunity to live in joy no matter what!    This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!!  Let’s make it a great day!  Let's set our eyes on what is good and be thankful!   Praise God for it!!  In this world we will have trouble, but fear not, Jesus has overcome the world!!  ( see John 16:33). This world is temporary, we have an eternity of joy to look forward to!!

Proverbs 17:22 “ A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  Don't let the troubles of today, no matter how difficult they maybe destroy the joy you have in Jesus!  Look up!  He's got you!!

Live, Trust, Praise!

 I was listening to a Sermon from Adrian Rogers this morning.  He said, “ Learn dying and start living, stop trying and start trusting, stop crying and start praising!”   We have so much yo be thankful for in Christ Jesus!   I think of my own path and how many times I’ve traveled the wrong road only to be brought back to fellowship with Jesus.  His love for us never changes no matter how far we fall He is right there with us with His hand stretched out.   Im often guilty of not reaching back, thinking I can do it myself.   All my righteous acts are as filthy rags compared to His surpassing greatness.   Today, Im remembering where Ive been and how God has delivered me through it.    He is with us always even to the end of the age!! Today I will try my best to live, trust and praise because all He has done, all He is doing and all He will do!! Colossians 1:13 “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins……21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”  Today let’s LIVE, TRUST & PRAISE!!

Dont let your anxiety ruin someone else’s day

Philippians 4:11 "I am not saying this because I am in  need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  12 I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want.  13  I can do everything through Him that gives me strength."   Yesterday, I accidentally ran over my lab top with my car.   My renter said, he saw it in the garage and was going to send me a picture earlier that day but he didn’t want to cause me anxiety.    Earlier in the day when I didn’t have my laptop at my destination, I was concerned.   So, when I did get home and saw the lab top on the garage floor obviously run over I had a sense of relief.  At least I knew where it was.  I spent much time looking for it and wondering what could have happened.   Even during my uncertainty about it, I was able to enjoy my day.  I had the good fortune to be able to hang out with my grandson and I didn't want to waste my time with him being stressed about something I couldn't change.  Philippians 4:14 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing."  The secret to not arguing and complaining in the first place is to be content in all things.  When I let myself get full of anxiety, I grumble and complain, to others, which makes me an unpleasant person to be around.   If I truly want to be the love of Jesus, I have to learn contentment in all things.  Be inspired to not let your anxiety wreck someone else’s day. Here is a good quote to end on, "When faith comes, anxiety ends!"

Forward, Cant drive forwad lioking in the read view mirror

 Philippians 3:13 "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."   Can you truly drive forward looking in the rear view mirror?   Today im evaluating what to leave in the rear view  mirror and what to have in my windshield.   To be heathy and well, I have to eagerly look forward to what God has planned for me.  When I look forward with eager expectation I am living in hope.      It helps me to live in this hope,  when I remember  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”   If God has plans for my future why am i worried  about the past?   5 minutes ago is just as over as 50 years ago.  Today be inspired to look forward to the high calling of God.   Knowing He uses everything we go through to help us get to!!     Today:   Forward in Jesus Christ!!