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Devotional readings focused on Psalm 20, 91 and 121 for the second week of April. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings This week’s edition of Daily Focus might feel a little different! I’m going to propose a practical exercise for us to do together, one which I think will make a big difference in the way we pray for our kids and grandkids. Do you struggle with having a vibrant prayer life? I do. For me, it is a case of mental and digital clutter: as soon as I begin to pray, my mind typically floods with items from my to do list. Or, as I mention a person to the Lord, my thoughts begin to ruminate on my last conversation with that person. Worse yet, if I’m praying about an area in my life I want to bring into better alignment with God’s purposes, my mind might suggest a list of tips from the latest self-help article or video I encountered online. So much for focusing on the Almighty! But then I opened up Psalm 20. A few verses in, the psalm began to sound like the prayer of a parent for their child. So, I went back to the beginning and read it again as a petition to God. My mind stayed steadily focused on the words of the psalm as I prayed—relief from my usual jumbled thoughts! I know I'm not the first one to suggest praying through scripture. That has been a recommended practice for God's followers since the earliest prayers were written. But it did remind me that God wants prayer to be a joy and pleasure, rather than a burden. It is a privilege to bring our burdens to our Heavenly Father and let Him carry them for us. Even in those times when we struggle to put our thoughts into coherent words, God still wants to hear our hearts. And we never struggle alone. Paul teaches in Romans that the Holy Spirit Himself puts our pain and tears into words when we just can't articulate what's on our hearts: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 One way the Holy Spirit does that is by bringing to mind passages of scripture we have studied so that we can cling to God's promises and, in a respectful and faith-filled way, hold Him accountable to come to our aid. I think God loves to hear the words He breathed out whispered back to Him by faithful hearts. So here's what I'm proposing this week. I have put together a reading list of passages for each day; each passage contains a prayer or a blessing. As you read, note the parts that speak to the needs of your children and grandchildren right now. Then compile those parts into a complete scripture prayer in a note app on your phone, and start praying those scriptures over your family. Feel free to choose other Bible passages that you know, as well! I'm going to share my compiled prayer below in the comments this week. I would love to see yours! And please let me know if this makes prayer easier for you. Our kids and grands need prayer, so anything that removes the roadblock to meeting with God is helpful. I'm praying for you all this week, that the Lord will strengthen your connection to Him through prayer! Suggested Readings for Creating Your Scripture Prayer this Week Here's my compiled prayer--I invite you to pray along with me! Monday's reading : Psalm 20 Tuesday's reading : Psalm 91 and Psalm 121 Wednesday's reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-19 Thursday's reading: Luke 1:46-55 Friday's reading: Ephesians 3:14-21 Weekend reading: Philippians 1:3-11 Share your prayer below in the comments section . . . can't wait to hear from you!

Devotional readings on Psalm 27, 28, and 138 Meditation Go to the Bible readings and reflection questions If my life is characterized by one thing, it is waiting. No matter how hard I try to tie up loose ends, it seems like I am always waiting for one last piece to fall into place, waiting on a reply, or for a situation to change, or for an opportunity to arrive. Waiting feels like a roadblock to progress: "Enforced inactivity," as I like to call it, seems like an unproductive use of my time! Which it usually is because, truthfully, I tend to waste time when I'm in a waiting period--doom scrolling is so much easier than being mindful or finding purpose in the waiting. I don't think I'm the only one who strugges. Look around the next time you are waiting in a line--most everyone in line with you will be on their phones, trying to avert boredom. I'd like to find a different solution to the problem of waiting, something that doesn't involve anesthetizing my bored mind with cheap distractions . God, in His far-reaching wisdom, offers a solution in His Word. This week's psalms teach us how to redeem the time we spend waiting and turn it into growth with three simple encouragements: Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord. You can find those words in Psalm 27:14 (NASB): Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Let's start by understanding what these words meant to the original author, King David: Strong: To strengthen and repair; to prevail; to encourage and make bold. Courage: To be bold and alert, determined; to persist and be firm. Wait: To continue on with expectation and hope. Isn't it interesting that all of these words are actions? When David says, "be strong," he's saying that a waiting period is a time to prepare and repair. When he says to "take courage," he's telling us to hold fast to our convictions and say no to compromise even if that makes the waiting time longer. And when he says "wait for the Lord," he's telling us not to hide until the waiting is over. No, friend, we should stay on the lookout so we don't miss seeing what God is doing. If we truly want to live out the principles of “Be strong, take courage, and wait for the Lord,” we need to ask ourselves these three questions whenever we find ourselves in a state of waiting: Be strong: What can I do now to strengthen myself for the future? Don't just think mental strength here--consider how you can strengthen yourself physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually for what happens next. Our natural tendency is to sit still in the waiting, but what if we made intentional personal progress instead? Don't waste the waiting time. Take courage: Are there any areas where I am compromising my convictions to make the waiting go more quickly or feel less uncomfortable? Sometime we all need a break from stress, and distraction is a great technique. But being courageous means we need to keep an eye on our choice of distractions to make sure they are God-honoring and life-affirming. We also need to guard against compromising our deeply held convictions. Ending the waiting sooner through compromise of Godly principles will not improve the outcome. Wait for the Lord: Where do I see God at work in my life and in the lives of those around me? The stress of waiting weighs us down, but God wants us to lift our heads and look to Him. He is never absent and those who seek Him will find Him! When we wait with expectation and hope, we will see God move in everyday circumstances and our faith will grow stronger in the waiting. My prayer for you this week is that Psalm 27 and the other passages we study will change your perspective on waiting. Let's not wait passively. Let's prepare ourselves for the future, strengthen our convictions and keep watch for the hand of God at work in our lives and the lives of those we love. Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 27 This psalm describes a waiting time in David's life. What did David know about God that gave him courage in the waiting? Make a list of the qualities and actions that God had already shown David. Verses 4-6 give a hint about how David kept himself strong spiritually. What do you learn from those verses? What could you do to keep yourself spiritually strong in a waiting time? Tuesday's reading : Psalm 28 How is David feeling in this psalm as he describes another time of waiting? What truths about God's character does David preach to himself in his desparation? How do these truths about God encourage you as you wait for Him? Wednesday's reading: Psalm138 In this psalm, David is thanking God for His intervention in David's life. In verses 7-8, David makes several assertions about how God will take care of him in the future. What are these assertions? How has God proved to be the same for you as for David in the past? Thursday's reading: Philippians 1:12- 2 1 In this passage, Paul shares that he is going through a time of waiting: He is in prison! How has God worked through Paul's imprisonment? Paul talkes about hope and courage in verse 20. What is he waiting for expectantly? What is Paul's conviction in verse 21? What expectation and hope might you have for your time of waiting? Friday's reading: Hebrews 10:32-29 The author in this passage is reminding the readers of God's faithfulness in the past. How has God proven Himself faithful to you in past waiting periods? The word "endurance" in verse 36 has the same idea as "wait" in Psalm 27:14. Why does the author encourage the readers to have endurance? What is your motivation to endure? Weekend reading: II Corinthians 4:16-5:1 Paul encourages us to look to the unseen things when we are experiencing suffering. What unseen things can you focus on in a period of waiting? Even though we should work on our personal strength--physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and social--eventually our mortal strength will fail. But Paul says there is something eternal which will never fail. What is that eternal thing we are looking forward to?

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 21, 33, and 47 Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and journaling idea I am waiting on an answer to prayer, and it’s slow in coming. Complexities increase each day and hope fades. But the Easter Sunday sermon I heard this week reminded me: I’m living through Saturday. It’s not Sunday yet. Resurrection Day is still on its way. And like it was for the disciples as they waited for Sunday to dawn, it’s easy for me to forget that Jesus is going to triumph over sin, death, and hell. . . when Sunday arrives! I understand that “Sunday,” the day when Jesus puts everything to right, may not arrive for a long time, so I need to keep my faith and hope strong in this liminal space. One verse in this week’s readings spoke clearly to me about this: Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:22, NASB If my level of hope is the measuring cup of God’s mercy, Lord, help me to strengthen my hope! I must choose praise over worry, prayer over problem solving, and faith over fear. As Christians, we know we are supposed to live lives of hopeful praise, but we often struggle to keep our minds and hearts focused on God's goodness instead of all the chaos and trouble that surrounds us. Our thoughts are easily captured by the difficulties of life, and our awareness of God’s presence is dimmed. I feel that tension in my own soul. I am blessed in so many ways, yet the challenges of life dominate my thoughts more than the triumphs do. Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century Baptist preacher and scholar, described the human propensity to focus on troubles this way: "We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and write our blessings in sand." Convicting, right? Especially because by midlife we have seen our share of troubles! That’s why the choice to praise is so pivotal in midlife. Middle age is the season where we determine our elderly orientation, because it from this viewpoint that we can best see our own past and future through the experiences of both our children and our parents.  At no other life stage will we have that unique vantage. It is at this point that we decide the trajectory of our old age.  Will we become bitter? Ungrateful and resentful? Full of cynicism? Or will we align our thinking and our practice with what God wants, and live thankfully and hopefully.  This week, I’m providing a download to help us develop that orientation toward worship, hope, and gratitude.  Below the readings you will find a file named “Timeline of Blessings” that you can print or open on your tablet.   Here’s what to do with it: Set aside some time during the week to reflect on God’s lovingkindness.  Start by reading one of the daily passages below, and then ask God to show you where He has been present in your own lived experience. As you review your own personal history, write down unique blessings or circumstances where you see God’s love in specific eras of your life.  Then, note them briefly (one line each) in the appropriate section of the timeline.  As you do this, ask God to engrave these memories on your heart and mind. I started working on my own timeline of blessings a few weeks ago, and I was amazed at how my perspective changed when I focused on God’s lovingkindness .  It doesn’t solve the problems I’m currently dealing with. And it doesn’t speed up God’s answer to my prayer. But it does remind me that God loves me and has been unbelievably generous and faithful through the years. Even in those times where life was grim, I can find examples of God’s continuous care and grace, and those example give me the courage I need to stay hopeful and choose to praise. I think you will find the same as you join me in engraving God’s blessings on our hearts! Readings and Timeline Exercise Monday's reading : Psalm 21 Tuesday's reading : 2 Samuel 7 This passage gives a possible context for Psalm 21: David's consolidation of the Kingdom of Israel and God's special blessing on David's family line. Wednesday's reading: Psalm 33 Thursday's reading:   Acts 16:11-34 This passage shows praise in action and how God works through our worship. Friday's reading: Psalm 46 Weekend reading: Psalm 47

Devotional Readings Focused on Psalm 19 and 104 for the Fourth Week of March: Finding Joy in God's Revelation Meditation on God's Creation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions When I was a child, my grandmother took me into the field next to her house to look for dandelions. She taught me how to distinguish the tender emerging leaves and flower buds from the older, tougher ones. We filled a bowl together. At lunchtime, Grandma mixed cream, sugar, and apple cider vinegar to dress the greens and tiny buds. I still remember that salad even after 50 years! What made that experience so memorable? I believe it was my amazement at being able to eat from the neighbor's pasture. Grandma and I found food given by the hand of God for our delight and nourishment! The Delight of Harvesting Since then, one of my joys has been hand-picking the earth's fruits at various farms or growing them myself. For a few years, when we had a large garden, my morning ritual was to step outside in my pajamas to water the plants with one hand and pick fresh, ripe vegetables with the other. It was another sign of abundance from God's hand. Currently, I may not have a garden, but I can still feast daily on God's provisions through His Word. The psalms and other readings this week proclaim the beauty and necessity of both God's natural revelation—the created world—and His special revelation, found in the Bible. Both bring us joy and peace while pointing us to the One who longs to be known by us. The Glory of God in Scripture and Nature Psalm 19 highlights the message from both the heavens and the scriptures. David asserts that the heavens speak wordlessly, yet unmistakably, of God's glory: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1, NIV) This message is so evident that later in Romans 1, Paul states that nature alone is sufficient to hold humans accountable for their relationship with God: . . . since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20, NIV) God is not cruel or unreasonable. He reveals His glory in nature and gives us His Word to guide us into fellowship with Himself: The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. (Psalm 19:7-9, NIV) What a significant gift! In this season of my life, I must ask myself: How often do I accept God's revelation of Himself to me? Probably not as regularly as I should. The Importance of Daily Fellowship David encourages us to meet with God regularly. He begins Psalm 19 by describing the sun, the source of light and energy for our world. The sun is a daily gift from God. You can set your clock by it! Every day it faithfully rises and sets, allowing the earth to be fruitful. David's correlation of the sun with scripture in Psalm 19 has clear implications: The Word of God is a provision to enjoy daily. I need to improve my commitment to God's revelation through nature and His Word. During transitional seasons like midlife, we must lean more into who God is revealing Himself to be. This is the only way we gain clarity of purpose, renewed strength, and the peace that God promises for the inevitable challenges of life. And perhaps, our renewed connection to God and His creation may ignite wonder in the heart of a grandchild while we pick wildflowers together in a field. Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading: Psalm 19 Reflection Questions: What benefits of reading God's Word does David mention in this Psalm? How does the action of the sun providing light and energy mirror the spiritual action of God's Word? Read verse 14 again: Why do you think David concluded with this prayer? Tuesday's reading: Philippians 2:12-16 Reflection Questions: This passage by Paul uses a nature metaphor. What does Paul say we should emulate? What specific action fosters this quality? According to verse 16, what should we cling to in developing this quality? Wednesday's reading: Isaiah 40:3-14 Reflection Questions: This passage uses metaphors to compare natural and biblical revelation. How do the two relate? Verses 12-14 present five questions to the reader. What point is God making? Thursday's reading: Job 38-39 Reflection Questions: In answering Job's questions about his suffering, God appeared and questioned him. Which scientific subjects did God question Job about in chapter 38? Which twelve animals did God inquire about in chapter 39? Why do you think God chose such detailed descriptions and questions for Job? Friday's reading: Job 40-42:6 Reflection Questions: In chapters 40 and 41, God questions Job about two unconquerable animals: the behemoth and the leviathan. In Job's culture, these two represented chaos and evil. Why do you think God focused on them? What message does God convey about humanity’s power against evil? What is Job's final statement to God in chapter 42? Why is God's use of natural revelation particularly effective in Job 38-41? Weekend reading: Psalm 104 Reflection Questions: In this psalm, David illustrates the harmony of God's creation and how it works together. Take a moment to note or underline the descriptions that resonate with your experiences of nature. Reflect on the wonders of creation, noting David's response to God's creative genius in verses 33-35. Do you see a connection to Psalm 19?

" Devotional Readings Focused on Psalm 24, 101, 145, and 100 – A Call to Faithfulness in Our Generation " Meditation on Legacy Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions Many of us have family members who stand out for various reasons. Perhaps one of your ancestors played a significant role in history or excelled in their career. Others may be memorable for their unique quirks! However, the true remarkable figures are those patriarchs and matriarchs who leave a profound spiritual legacy for future generations. When I met my husband Jack, I learned about his family’s heritage, and one name consistently emerged—Grandpa Oliver Key. Although no one outside Jack’s family would recognize him, he was neither famous nor wealthy. What he bequeathed was much more valuable: his unwavering faith. The Impact of Faithful Generations Everyone in the family felt comfortable approaching Oliver with their troubles. He always pointed them to Jesus. As a lay pastor, Oliver knew his Bible well. Conversations with him were rich with wisdom drawn from the scriptures he had studied and memorized. His grandchildren cherished their time with him, knowing he would always spare a moment for a long walk or a good chat, often followed by a stop at the ice cream shop for a sweet treat. Oliver provided stability, especially during difficult times. For my mother-in-law, he was a critical support during her parents’ divorce. Grandma and Grandpa Key managed to keep the family united, even though not all their children adhered to their Christian faith. Nonetheless, the entire family remembers Oliver’s faithfulness and unwavering love for God. Just a week before his passing, hospital staff reported that every night, Oliver climbed out of bed to kneel and pray for his children and grandchildren. Inspiration for Future Generations I believe Oliver's prayers reached far beyond his immediate family. My husband is now a military chaplain, inspired by the stories of his great-grandfather. Great Grandpa Oliver’s legacy thrives not through wealth or possessions but through the example he set and the inspiration he provided. As my mother-in-law articulately stated, “He had more to pass on to me than the richest person on earth could have ever done.” That's a legacy worth pursuing. Each of us can attain a similar legacy if we strive to be a generation that seeks God. It's not a prerequisite for those before us to seek God, nor does it ensure that those who follow will. Some of Oliver's children veered from their faith, yet the prayers he offered for his grandchildren continue to bear fruit in successive generations. Faithfulness in Our Generation Grandpa Oliver Key's example teaches us a vital lesson: occasionally, a generation emerges that stands taller and stronger than others. This generation can shift their family’s focus towards God and goodness. Regardless of the choices of those before or after us, we must make the decision to follow the Lord because our choices do matter . And so do yours. That choice confronts us today, much like the decision Joshua put forth to the Israelites near the Jordan River: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." —Joshua 24:15, NIV What will you choose? Will your generation focus solely on material wealth, family vacations, spoiling grandchildren, and long life? There’s nothing wrong with these aspirations, but I believe our objectives should extend beyond that. My husband, Jack, and I aspire to be known as the generation that followed God steadfastly through every season, affirming His faithfulness and love to all generations. Building Faithfulness in Our Lives This week, I encourage you to compile a list of attributes essential to a faithful generation while reflecting on the scripture passages below. This method of close reading allows us to grasp what God conveys about faithfulness through His Word. Moreover, it provides a checklist to evaluate our Christian practices, helping us identify areas that require improvement and those where we excel. If you discover an insightful attribute of a faithful generation, please share it in the comments. I would love to start a conversation about what God is revealing to us! Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's Reading: Psalm 24 Starting in verse three, create a list of characteristics of a woman who seeks God in her generation. Tuesday's Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-23 This passage recounts the occasion when David wrote Psalm 24 to celebrate. What stood out to you about how David celebrated? How did his wife, Michal, respond to his enthusiasm? What was the outcome of her attitude? Wednesday's Reading: Psalm 101 Continue adding to your list of characteristics of a woman who seeks God, as found in this Psalm. Thursday's Reading: Psalm 145 Keep expanding your list with characteristics of a woman who seeks God from this Psalm. Review your list from Psalms 24, 101, and 145. What practical steps can you take to embody these characteristics within your family? Friday's Reading: Joshua 24:1-31 In this passage, Joshua offers evidence of God's faithfulness before urging the Israelites to remain faithful. What proof can you provide to your family members to affirm that following God is the best choice? Weekend Reading: Psalm 100 Reflecting on God's goodness and faithfulness in your life and family, pray through this psalm as a declaration of praise and a commitment to trust in God’s continued work within your family.

Devotional readings on Psalm 26 about focusing on God's purpose for us. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions Last week I finally got my fingers in the dirt. I only had time to prepare a few pots on my back deck, but now they are ready to receive some new seasonal herbs and bring our little slice of the outdoors back to life again. If you are a plant lover, you understand the attraction of gardening in the spring! You look forward to reviving your flower or vegetable beds, and you can't wait to pick out some new vaieties to try in this year's garden. If you have the space around your home, you probably invest quite a bit of time into making your own yard beautiful. One thing we don't usually do, however, is spend much time working in our neighbor's yard. Hopefully, they are pretty good at keeping their own place looking nice, and even if they aren't, our interference is not likely to win friends or create any lasting change! The same holds true for midlife. We might have some influence over the lives of others in this season of life, but the only planting, cultivating, and weeding we can do is in our own lives. This week's psalm gives us some clear direction about the kind of growth we should start cultivating in our middle-aged souls. The key passage this week is Psalm 26, and while reading it I was struck by David's use of the phrase "my integrity." In the very first verse, David introduced the concept of ownership over his own integrity: Vindicate me, LORD, for I have walked in my integrity , And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Psalm 26:1, NASB David also finished this psalm with another declaration about his integrity: But as for me, I will walk in my integrity ; Redeem me, and be gracious to me. Psalm 26:11, NASB In the middle of Psalm 26, David gave a list of the life principles he was committed to following: He declares that he has believed and lived out God's truth, he doesn't hang out with liars or evil people, and he has carefully maintained his innocence. I find two things very interesting about David's use of "my integrity" as well as his list of life principles. First, we know that David didn't always live up to God's standards, so he must have been intentional about confessing his sin to God and making things right with the people he wronged. That's a great example for us! Secondly, I find it interesting that he didn't include anyone else in his declarations of integrity. For David, integrity meant his own standing before God, a standing that wasn't affected by what the people around him did or didn't do. He acknowledged that other people didn't live up to God's standards, but David's focus was simply on his own relationship with God. He knew where he stood with God and declared, My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the Lord. Psalm 26:12, NASB Reading this with the eyes of a midlife mom, I initially felt put off by David's recitation of his own principles for living. Here's what got to me: For years I have been responsible for teaching my kids to be kind and considerate to others, to make good choices, and to follow God. I found it hard to drop that mindset when reading this psalm. I couldn't help but think that David should have used "we" instead of "I" to signify that his family was following God! But then I wondered, what if, in God's eyes, I am no longer responsible for their decisions and only responsible for myself? That's a profound mindshift for a midlife mom, and it has been a sticky transition point for me. As midlife moms, we can spend an awful lot of time engrossed in our adult kids' decision-making processes, and we can spend even more time trying to mitigate the bad decisions they make. But regardless of how well our adult children are doing in life, I am learning that over-focusing on grown kids can distract me from what my focus should be at this point in life: my own integrity. The word integrity in Psalm 26 doesn't mean my own level of honesty or truthfulness. It means completeness, fullness, innocence, and simplicity of character. In other words, my integrity is based on whether I am cultivating God's purpose for my life and my own virtues, on whether I am weeding out the parts of me that don't align with God's character while planting and fertilizing the qualities that He wants me to have. If I am sidetracked by my kids, my friends, or my circumstances from what God intends for me in this midlife journey, then I am not walking in my own integrity. Instead, I am allowing weeds to spring up in my own garden while focusing on the weeds in someone else's yard! I know that the decisions our adult children make in life can give us both reason to celebrate and to mourn. Keeping myself focused on my own spiritual growth doesn't mean that I don't care, that I don't love, or that I don't pray. But it does mean that my priority is God's calling and purpose for me in this season, and there is freedom in knowing that. This week we are going to explore what it means to work on our own integrity as midlife women. Below, you will find six Bible passages to explore and some reflection questions to guide your study as you think about what God's purpose for you in midlife might be and how you can start to grow into it. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 26 Make a list of the declarations that David makes about himself. Then, make a list of the requests David has for God. How do those lists reflect your midlife experience? Reread Psalm 26:12 and pray for God to put you on a level, stable place in your life. Tuesday's reading : I Kings 9:1-9 In this passage, God describes David's integrity to his son, Solomon. What promise did God make to Solomon if he followed in his father's footsteps? What would happen if Solomon failed? What does this tell us about the importance of taking responsibility for ourselves and our walk with God? Wednesday's reading: Psalm 119 Read Psalm 119:1-8. What actions does the psalmist encourage us to take in developing our walk of faith with God? What are the results of pursuing a life of integrity according to God's Word? Thursday's reading: Psalm 119 Psalm 119:9-16. Like David in Psalm 26, in this passage the psalmist makes declarations about his faithfulness to God. What declarations does he make? What declarations can you make about your own life and walk of faith? What practices might you add based on your reading this week? Friday's reading: Galatians 6:1-10 This passage describes the delicate balance between taking responsibility for our relationship with God and using our influence to encourage fellow belivers in their walk. As you read, list out what we should do to help others and what we are responsible for in our own lives. Put these lists in columns so you can compare them. What conclusions do you draw from comparing these two lists? Weekend reading: Jude 1:20-25 This passage also describes our responsiblity for ourselves and our duties to others. What are our responsibilities to ourselves as described in this passage? What promise does God make about Jesus' power in our lives in verse 24? How does this passage give you hope for the future even if you fail sometimes?

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 25, 31, and 34. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions Midlife sometimes feels like a journey through indignities. While growing older is better than the alternative, it's not always comfortable. Whether it's because of wrinkles, menopause weight gain, or just the feeling that one is invisible to the rest of society at this age, everyday life can take on a vague shadow of embarrassment for reasons not entirely in our control. But what if the feeling goes beyond petty concerns over our appearance, and what if a sense of real shame takes hold? What if life doesn't turn out as we expect? Or we fail to accomplish our dreams? And what if--even more difficult--a family member is struggling or has made destructive decisions? It is almost impossible for us as moms or daughters, nieces, aunts, or cousins not to blame ourselves for all that has gone wrong, even for things over which we have had no control. One of the frequent results of significant disappointment is a heavy burden of grief, self doubt and shame. We are not alone. King David feared the shame that accompanied failure and searing disappointment, especially when he thought his situation might be the subject of public discussion. In fact, Psalm 25 directly adresses his struggle in dealing with shame. The first verses set the theme: To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Psalm 25:1-2 (NAS) The antidote to shame David was no stranger to public shame. He brought it on himself over his affair with Bathsheba. But he also experienced the stress of shame at the hands of others. His own son Absolom publicly usurped his throne, causing David to flee his own palace for the wilderness. Yet God was not ashamed to call David a man after His own heart. How gracious of God to remember David for his faithfulness and not his failures and losses! God wants to do the same for us. Like David, we do not have to live our midlife years with a legacy of undeserved shame. In fact, God wants to be our shelter and our confidence no matter our circumstances. The first five verses of Psalm 25 encourage us to address the shame we sometimes feel in four ways: Be honest with God. Consider David's opening words: "To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul" (Psalm 25:1, NASB). Is there anything more honest than holding up our hurt and humiliated souls to the Lord for his examination and healing touch? Honesty with God (and ourselves) about what we are experiencing is the starting point for recovery. Reaffirm your trust in God. Verse two contains David's declaration of trust in God's power to address the shame he feels. These are not just words of hopefulness. David is stating positively that his total confidence is in God and nothing else. How often we say we trust, but we still attempt to solve the problem ourselves! The kind of trust David is declaring is the kind that gives the problem to God and leaves it there. Wait for God to act.   Verse three promises that no one who waits for God will be dishonored. The idea of the word translated "wait" is a sense of abiding in relationship while remaining faithful in hope. For me, this waiting requires daily, sometimes hourly, prayer where I release my shame to God and transfer it to His capable hands. Remain teachable. Sometimes it's hard to want to keep studying the Bible when we are living through a challenging time, but David reminds us in verses four and five that we need to keep learning. Sometimes the challenging times lead to exponential growth if we keep pursuing a deeper knowledge of God. Whether through personal study or with friends in a group Bible study, as we stay in the Word we will stay encouraged. That's just a quick tour through the first five verses of Psalm 25. The rest of the psalm and the other two psalms in this week's readings offer even more encouragement to us. If you are wrestling with shame in your midlife journey, or if you are just struggling spiritually right now, I encourage you to dive into the readings and reflection questions this week as we seek to trust God for His protection and encouragement. Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 25 Read Psalm 25: 1-7 and 11. What requests does David make of God in verses 6, 7, and 11? What bearing might these requests have on David's struggle with shame? How do you think God wants you to deal with any guilt in the past? Tuesday's reading : Psalm 25 Read Psalm 25:8-22. What do you learn about God in verses 8-10? What do you learn about the righteous person in verses 12-14? What does David request from God in verses 16-22? How do those requests align with your heart's desires? Wednesday's reading: Psalm 31 Read Psalm 31:1-8. David declares that God is his refuge. What specific things does David declare God has done for him or is to him? Make a list. How might these acts of God encourage you in your own life? Thursday's reading:   Psalm 31 Psalm 31:9-14. In these verses David pours out His grief to God. Read it thoughtfully and compare David's thoughts to your own. What laments do you have about your own lived experiences? Consider verse 14. How does David's declaration of trust in God answer his own verses of lament? Friday's reading: Psalm 31 Read Psalm 31:15-18. What is David requesting God to do about his situation? Construct a prayer asking God to work in your own life. Finish reading Psalm 31. David finishes this psalm with praise. Spend a few minutes praying these verses to God and praising Him for his goodness and faithfulness. Weekend reading: Psalm 34 Instead of giving in to shame, David boasts in the Lord in this psalm. Read the psalm and put together a list of things that God has done or has promised that you can boast about when shame or doubt threaten to discourage you.

Devotional readings focused on Psalms about Christ for the third week of April. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions Thanks for joining this devotional series during Easter week! Easter is one of my favorite holidays--always has been. But as I think back on Easters past, it's interesting to see how age and perspective has shifted my own experiences of the holidays we celebrate in the United States. Take Halloween, for instance. This used to be the highlight of the fall for me and my brother when we were little. We would carefully plan our costumes and our route to ensure maximum candy! Such joy! At this point in life I dread having that much candy in the house for fear I'll eat it myself. I suppose that makes me a Halloween humbug! Easter is a different story. As a midlife person, I find Easter to be much richer than when I was a child or even a young mom. It used to be all about dyeing the Easter eggs, Easter baskets, a new dress or suit for Easter morning for each child, and husband Jack's ingenuity in hiding the eggs after Easter dinner. But at my current stage of life, Easter speaks louder of the deep hope I have in the grace of God. I still love the trappings and traditions, but the meaning behind them shines through more brightly each year. This year, I happened upon the word hosanna , a curious expression shouted by the happy people of Jerusalem during Jesus's ride from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday. According to some scholars, this word had two meanings. The first comes from one of our psalms this week: Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Pslam 118:25, NIV Psalm 118 would have been sung leading up to and during Passover, so the people of Jerusalem already had it on the tips of their tongues. Thus it is no surprise that this is what they sang as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. But the word itself had developed a new meaning by Jesus's day. We see that in Matthew 21:9 as the people waved branches before Jesus and laid their coats in the dust for the donkey he rode to step on: The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:9, NIV The passage describing Jesus's entry into Jerusalem doesn't record cries of supplication, but cries of rejoicing. Over the years since the psalmist penned Psalm 118, the meaning of hosanna had changed to one of praise for what God had already done and for the salvation He had already wrought in their lives. The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, oil on wood, 63 x 91 cm, after an engraving by Adriaen Collaert after Maerten de Vos. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112167153 I find this dual meaning of hosanna so rich to meditate upon during Easter week. I have good reasons to cry out, " Hosanna! Lord, please save us!" right now in my life. But at the same time, I have every reason to sing " Hosanna! Praise you for the salvation you have already given!" Isn't that just exactly where we live in these midlife years? We are no longer able to step in and solve the problems in our children's lives; we are less hero and more mentor in their stories now. Our parents may have problems too complex for us to solve as well, leaving us with prayer as the only viable option. So we cry out to God, " Hosanna! Lord, intervene in this situation." But at the same time, He has already answered. If we know Jesus as savior, we can see past the problems in our present and near future to the eternity He has promised us together with Him. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, He has defeated death and sin and suffering. So we say "Hosanna! Praise you, Jesus, for the salvation You have provided for me and my family! You have made the way!" In this liminal space between our present plight and the promised wonders of eternity with Christ, Easter takes on a richer meaning for me. Will you join me this week as we read through the psalms that speak of Christ? Together we will explore what He has already done and what He has promised to do. A Soul Brought to Heaven – William-Adolphe Bouguereau, c. 1878, oil, canvas Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 118 , Matthew 21:1-9 , and Acts 4:8-12 What lines of Psalm 118 are found in Matthew 21 and Acts 4? In Matthew, did the people understand who Jesus really was? How does Peter describe Christ in Acts 4? Tuesday's reading : Psalm 22 , and Matthew 27:32-55 Psalm 22, while describing David's own experiences of suffering, also prophesies about the sufferings of Christ. What similarities do you find between the psalm and the passage in Matthew? What promise is made about the results of Christ's sufferings in verses 22-31 of the psalm? Wednesday's reading: Psalm 16 , Acts 2:19-31 , and Acts 13:31-38 While we have already read Psalm 16 in this Daily Focus series, it doesn't hurt to review it because it is known as the "Resurrection Psalm." Both Peter and Paul used this psalm to support their teaching on Christ's resurrection. What promises are made to the one who believes in Christ in Psalm 16? According to Paul in Acts 13, how does the forgiveness of sins relate to the promises of resurrection? Thursday's reading:  Psalm 11 0  and Acts 2:29-39 Psalm 110 celebrates Jesus as the believer's priest and king. Read Psalm 110 and think about the power Christ has to rule over all. How does this change how you think about your own challenges? In Acts 2, Peter explains to the people how Psalm 110 applies to Christ. What is their immediate reaction. Why is repentance the best response to who Jesus is? Friday's reading: Psalm 72 and Revelation 5:5-14 Psalm 72 describes the right and just reign of Jesus over all creation for all time. What are the characteristics of His leadership? In Revelation 5, who acknowledges Christ as King? What will your song be to the King when you see Him face to face? Weekend reading: Psalm 45 , Revelation 19:6-16 and John 14:2-3 Psalm 45 is a song for a royal wedding, but not just for the Jewish kings of old. It also speaks prophetically of the reunion of Christ and His Church in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Compare the Psalm to the passage in Revelation. What similarities do you see? Where do you see yourself on that day? In John 14, Jesus explains to His disciples that He will return to bring them into His heavenly kingdom. How do these words bring comfort to you this Easter?

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 18, 23 and 118 for the fourth week of March. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions I anticipated that the empty nest years would be a season of freedom, renewal, and creativity. This wasn't just my imagination. Books with titles like . . . Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife or Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next or The Wonder of Aging: A New Approach to Embracing Life After Fifty . . . promised excitement and fulfillment in this stage of life. I'm not saying that hasn't occurred, but sometimes I feel more squeezed than liberated by this season. Maybe that's why we are called the sandwich generation. We are trying to balance the demands of our own lives with the needs of our children and our parents, while still finding time to enjoy the grandchildren (if that blessing has been bestowed) and our spouse. We may even feel that the top and bottom buns of the sandwich get all our attention, but the middle--us!--is falling to pieces, squished out, and dripping everywhere! Midlife Distress The feeling of being pressed into a small space where freedom of movement and choice is restricted shows up in Psalm 18 when David uses the word distress in verse 6. In Hebrew, the word translated distress literally means "in a tight spot." In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into His ears. (Psalm 18:6, NIV) Since Psalm 18 is David's recounting of God's faithfulness throughout his life--he was likely in his late 60's when he wrote this song--David probably meant both literal and figurative tight spots when he used the word distress in this verse. He certainly had experienced many physically tight spots while hiding in caves from King Saul. But later, as king of Israel, David experienced the kind of emotional anguish that squeezes the hearts of parents and leaves them frozen by grief: the rebellion, sin, and even death of his own children. A cave may be a tight spot, but nothing presses the life out of a parent more than watching their child walk a path of recklessness and self-destruction. Relief! What did David do when he found himself in distress? Over and over in his life, he consistently cried out to God for relief. Throughout the next 39 verses, David recounts the response of God to his pleas for help. In extravagant metaphors, David pictures God responding with elemental chaos, riding furiously on a cherubim to come to David's rescue. Here's just two verses to whet your appetite for more: Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. (Psalm 18:12-13, NIV) Interestingly, in the last half of the psalm David circles back to the sense of distress, of being in a tight spot, that he began with. In verse 36, he declares that the result of God's intervention in his life is space and freedom: You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. (Psalm 18:36, NIV) In other words, God answered David's prayer and provided him a place where he could walk easily without any impediment that could trip him up. His steps are unhindered and sure, "like the feet of a deer" (verse 33), capable of climbing to great heights with no danger of slipping. That sounds like freedom to me! Finding Freedom How do we find for ourselves this sense of freedom and surefootedness, especially when we find ourselves in a season of midlife that chokes the life out of us? I see a few principles in this Psalm that may help us to find respite and liberation in the Lord. First, we must know who God is, not just objectively, but who He is--or offers to be--to us personally. David recounts this in the beginning verses of Psalm 18: God is his rock, shield, and stronghold, and he declares his personal love for God. Secondly, we must cry out! We must admit that we can't rescue ourselves. We are well and truly stuck without an intervention from above. Thirdly, we must remain faithful and humble toward the workings of God in our lives. David describes himself in proper perspective to God in verses 25-29, and from his description we can infer that David didn't resent the challenges that God brought into his life. Instead, he accepted them as God's good plan and depended on God's strength to see him through. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. (Psalm 18:25-27, 29, NIV) Finally, we must intentionally maintain an attitude of praise. According to David, all dramatic rescues and subsequent successes are clearly attributed to God and not himself: He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. (Psalm 18:47-48a, NIV) I don't know what you are feeling today, friend. You may be enjoing the wonder of aging or the excitement of reimagining your life for a great second half. Or perhaps you find yourself in a season of mundanity where you can't quite put your finger on what's less than satisfying about your life. However, you may be going through an unimaginable ordeal right now. What I do know, and what we will dive into this week, is that our God loves us and hears us when we cry out. He is just waiting to ride to our rescue--we have only to ask. As you peruse the Bible readings this week, reconnect yourself afresh to the God who loves you. Let Him know what's troubling you. Praise Him for His greatness, and then watch to see Him move. He will deliver you as surely as He delivered David. Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 1 8:1-29 Reflection Questions: How would you describe your relationship with God. Would you use the same words as David does in this song? Write down some of the phrases that are similar to how you relate to God, and then choose a few phrases that you would like to work toward. Take some time to pray through these phrases and ask God to draw you into a closer relationship with Him. Tuesday's reading : Psalm 18:30-50 Reflection Questions: Read through this passage, God’s instructions to the people of Israel on how to stay faithful to God down through their generations. Which warnings might apply to you? In what ways are you teaching the words of God to your children and grandchildren? Take a moment to brainstorm a few creative ideas for sharing more of God’s word with your family members. Wednesday's reading: Psalm 118 Reflection Questions: This psalm recounts God's victory over the enemy nations that surrounded Israel. Notice verses 5-7. What precedes freedom according to this psalm? Now focus on verse 17 and 18. Can you relate to feeling like you have been spared from death? Continue reading, and write down what grateful people do after being rescued. Spend some time in praise to God, either through singing, praying, or writing. Thursday's reading: John 16 Reflection Questions: In this passage, Jesus is teaching about the tight spots the disciples will soon find themselves in because of their loyalty to Him. Who does He promise as a guide through these difficult circumstances? Make a list of all the things the Holy Spirit offers to believers in verses 7-15. What does Jesus teach about the love of the Father in verses 23-28? What promise does Jesus make in verse 33? Friday's reading: Galatians 5:13-26 Reflection Questions: Paul gives us a stern warning in this passage on what not to do with the freedom we have in Christ. What are some of the activities and attitudes listed that can send us back into tight places with sin as our captor? What are the attitudes and activities that align with spiritual freedom? How does the Holy Spirit guide us into these practices? Weekend reading: Psalm 23 Reflection Questions: Savor the words of this familiar psalm. How do you relate to the word picture of green pastures near quiet waters? Have you ever been in a place like that or is there another metaphor you would use to describe being shepherded by God if you were writing a psalm like this one? Verse 4describes what could be a tight place: the valley of the shadow of death. What does God provide (verse 5) in the middle of that awful place? How might you experience the provision of a banquet table of God during a hard time? What feeds your soul? Sources: Gurion, Michael. The Wonder of Aging: A New Approach to Embracing Life after 50. 2013. Available here. Hagerty, Barbara. Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife. 2017. Availble here. Savage, Jill. Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next. 2019. Available here.

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 17 and 78 for the third week of March. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions My family has a standing joke that comes up nearly every time we are together. Please don’t be offended, because our collectively warped sense of family humor finds this funny, but the kids always tease us about needing to be frugal so that they can inherit our vast wealth. “Vast wealth” is in itself laughable, but we always respond with, “We have a plan to spend every last penny and enjoy ourselves in our old age! There will be nothing left for you, so you had better plan ahead!” While we may have a little something to bless the kids with when we go, there is another treasure trove of vast wealth that we would like to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. It is not a hoard of material wealth; it is a spiritual heritage. Psalm 17 may not be the obvious passage to choose when discussing a spiritual heritage, but as I read through it, a contrast emerges between two types of people and the legacy they leave their children and grandchildren. David begins (verses 1-5) with a statement about his own integrity and walk with God in which he declares that, although not without sin, he was led a life of faithfulness and virtue before God, and he calls on God to attest to that fact: Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. (Psalm 17:3-5, NIV) Just to be able to say what David says—and have your children agree—is an incredible spiritual heritage. A life like that creates ripples of goodness down through the generations to come. My own grandparents’ stories served that purpose in my life. In their eighties, my father’s parents wrote out their life stories, printed and bound them, and gave them to their grandchildren to serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness. Can I do the same for my children and grandchildren someday? If I hold fast to Jesus, I can! But if I don’t, if I wander off and live only for my own pleasures, there is no spiritual heritage in store for my descendants. David discusses this in verse 14, one of those difficult passages for translators to put into English. According to Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on the Psalms, this verse might be better translated “‘May they have their punishment in full. May their children inherit more of the same, and may the judgment continue to their children’s children.’” In other words, the effects of sin can trickle down through the generations as a legacy of negative stories and consequences. This idea of generational sin can be found in Exodus 34:7 and Numbers 14:18 as well. The idea isn’t that God punishes children and grandchildren for their ancestors’ misdeeds, but that personal decisions always create by-products. Even if I think that a particular decision only impacts me, the wrong decision sets a spiritual butterfly effect in motion for those around me. Of course, the opposite is true as well: if I choose to follow God faithfully in one small thing, the trickle down effects of that decision can bless my family for generations to come. In fact, in Psalm 17 David doesn’t claim that his greatest achievements are his most valuable legacy for his descendants. He could have mentioned his forty year reign, his restoration of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, his unification of Israel as a nation, or God’s promise that his descendants would always reign on David’s throne. What is David’s most important accomplishment in Psalm 17? He tells us in the final verse: As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence. (Psalm 17:15, BSB) David’s legacy is simply this: that when he dies, he will enjoy being in the presence of God forevermore. What better inheritance could we leave our own families than a relationship with God and the hope of an eternity with Him? As we read through this week’s passages, let me encourage you not to think of big accomplishments that you can point to in your own life. Most of us have few of those. Instead think small, think gentle, like the brush of butterfly wings. God Himself speaks to us in a still, small voice, and we can follow His example as we speak or model His truths to our family members. Who knows what multitudes of blessings a life of consistent small obediences can generate for our children and our children’s children? Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 17 Reflection Questions: Take a moment to evaluate your walk with the Lord in this midlife season. Are the effects of your daily decisions passing down good things to your children and grandchildren? Verses 1-5 offer us a good list of categories for this evaluation. Tuesday's reading : Deuteronomy 6 Reflection Questions: Read through this passage, God’s instructions to the people of Israel on how to stay faithful to God down through their generations. Which warnings might apply to you? In what ways are you teaching the words of God to your children and grandchildren? Take a moment to brainstorm a few creative ideas for sharing more of God’s word with your family members. Wednesday's reading: Psalm 78:1-39 Reflection Questions: This Psalm extols the blessings of passing our faith along to the next generation, by telling the story of God’s people, Israel. Verses 6-8 list the benefits of generational transmission of faith. List out the benefits, then mark the ones that your family needs most right now. Write out a prayer asking for God to bless and develop your family in those areas. Thursday's reading: Psalm 78:40-64 Reflection Questions: These verses describe God’s judgement against Israel when they forgot about Him and how He had miraculously saved them from Egypt. How have you seen the hand of God work in your family to bring family members back to Himself? Write out a prayer for those family members who need to turn to the God who loves them. Friday's reading: Psalm 78:65-72 Reflection Questions: In this last section of the Psalm, Asaph describes the golden age of Israel under the rule of David. What characteristics of family leadership did David display? How could those characteristics apply to your role in your family? Weekend reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Reflection Questions: Paul opens this chapter with a discussion of Timothy’s spiritual heritage. Who does Paul mention in Timothy’s spiritual family line? Who is in your spiritual family line? Paul instructs Timothy in passing on the faith to his own spiritual descendants in verses 6-14. Which of Paul’s instructions resonate with you and the needs of your family members? Sources: Wiersbe, W. W. Be Worshipful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He is. Available at https://www.amazon.com/Worshipful-Psalms-1-89-Glorifying-Commentary/dp/1434767396

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 16, 37 and 131 for the second week of March. Meditation Skip to the Bible readings and reflection questions There is something special about wrapping up in a fuzzy blanket in front of a roaring fire and just soaking up a moment of contentment. Husband Jack and I love to escape to a cabin in a snowy wood and enjoy a weekend of coffee, stars, and conversation because it restores our sense of peace and well-being. I always bring a big velvety blanket along so we can warm up after a hike or a star-gazing session. Those weekends away do us so much good! But at some point, we have to pack up and drive home, back to the big city bedlam. On the way home we often discuss how to find contentment in an environment where we aren’t innately comfortable—we both grew up as free range children in small towns and we love the wide open spaces. We have brainstormed quite a few city survival techniques: walk at the nearby park, bike some of the trails, take advantage of the multicultural dining options, visit the free museums, appreciate the convenience of nearby shopping centers and the variety of entertainment options. There is much to be thankful for and to celebrate about our particular city, and we take seriously God’s direction to His own exiled people in Jeremiah. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7, NIV). In the end, however, the best technique we have found for city survival is cultivating the Christian discipline of contentment. David’s Psalm 16 paints an idyllic picture of contentment for me: Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5-6, NIV) When I read this Psalm, I picture myself sitting on my broad front porch and looking out over a spacious, grassy field where birds and butterflies flit about under a blue sky. But that’s not even close to how I live at the moment! My view from my tiny backyard balcony is of a busy road with honking horns, screeching tires, and muffled music from cars waiting at the traffic light. How do I find these boundary lines pleasant and delightful? David tells us the secret further on in the psalm: I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. . . (Psalm 16:8-9b, NIV) Contentment starts with our focus. If we look around at what we dislike, or seek what we think we are missing, we will never find contentment. But if we keep our eyes on Christ, we can live lives of steadfast fulfillment and joy. I’m finding that the practice of pursuing contentment in Christ is even more essential in the empty nest years. It is really easy to picture a midlife season that I think I would like more than the one the Lord has ordained for me. I always imagined our kids living within a few hours’ drive so I could babysit the grands and serve up hearty Sunday dinners on my big front porch. While that’s not the life I am living at the moment, I know that the God who is always with me also knows what’s best for me. This week, as we explore together the practice of contentment, pay special attention to how the presence of God in our lives is the key characteristic of a life of peace and fulfillment. You probably had your own expectations of these midlife years. When those expectations aren’t met, can we respond with faith and trust in God’s good plan? Yes! We can because He is our faithful guide and companion on the way He has mapped out for us. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11, NIV) Readings and Reflection Questions Monday's reading : Psalm 16 and Psalm 37 Reflection Questions: How are you feeling about the boundary lines that God has drawn for your life in this season? Psalm 37 addresses some of the circumstances that might cause us anxiety and discontent. Which ones are currently affecting your ability to find contentment? What encouragement do you find in Psalms 16 and 37? Tuesday's reading : Ruth 1 Reflection Questions: In this passage, Orpah decides to return to what is familiar but Ruth chooses to follow Naomi’s God into an unknown future. Which woman do you relate to in this season of life? How could you rephrase Ruth’s declaration in verses 16-17 to reflect your own commitment to follow God? Wednesday's reading: Philippians 4:4-13 Reflection Questions: This passage is Paul’s manifesto on contentment. What daily practices is Paul recommending for developing inner contentment? Which ones are you already practicing? Which ones do you need to work on? Thursday's reading: Matthew 6:19-34 Reflection Questions: In this passage, Jesus discusses some of the things that cause us anxiety. Make a list of all the things Jesus says we should not worry about. What does Jesus say we can trust God to provide? What should we focus on instead? Friday's reading: Colossians 3:15-17 Reflection Questions: What does this passage say about the peace of Christ? The message of Christ? The name of the Lord Jesus? How might focusing on these three things help us cultivate contentment? Weekend reading: Psalm 131 Reflection Questions: How might you rediscover or develop a child-like faith in God and His sovereignty in your life?

Husband Jack and I recently moved into a smaller home closer to where he works. While we immediately loved the short daily commute, we soon became frustrated with playing moving box Tetris! We thought we had downsized enough before the move, but when the moving truck arrived, our new garage quickly filled with things that wouldn't fit in the house. Over the last two months we have sorted, sold furniture on Facebook, dropped off hundreds of items at the thrift shop, and driven pickup loads to the local trash facility. However, deciding to sell an extra uncomfortable couch was the easy task. The more difficult struggle has been dealing with sentimental items. As I talk with friends, I realize I'm not alone in this struggle. Many of us carry the blessing--and the burden--of family heirlooms through much of our adult lives. For years I have had a large teacup collection. Some were gifts, some were souvenirs, some were family heirlooms, and there were enough cups and pots for 24 people to sit down to tea. Once, when moving into a new home some years ago, I came downstairs just in time to hear this conversation: Daughter: What are we going to do with all these tea things someday? Are either of you going to take them? Daughter-in-law 1: Not me! Daughter-in-law 2: Me neither! Me (laughing): Hey! I'm not leaving earth anytime soon! Hands off the tea cups!! I stil have fun teasing the girls about planning for the distribution of my teacups, but the overheard conversation also provoked some deep thinking about who or what I was collecting the tea things for. I’m sure there are exceptions, but Millenials and GenZ largely don’t value sentimental objects the way older generations do. We can debate whether this is a positive or negative development, but it's still something we will eventually need to grapple with as we age and find we need to downsize. Not only that, but a leading narrative in our culture right now is minimalism, a concept of living simply and less expensively in order to prioritize bigger experiences outside the home. In a minimal or simple life there is less room for heirlooms, both in terms of space and in the time required to care for them. I understand this idea if only on the basis of housekeeping: I hate to dust and long ago eliminated most of my knickknacks! But I have kept a few special items with stories that link me to my childhood or significant life experiences. Some I am willing to dust and are kept out on a shelf, and others are put behind glass in a cabinet. Of course, the challenge is choosing what to keep and what to let go. I have read a lot about this in books and articles on minimalism, and each one has a slightly different perspective. So, for what it's worth, here's my metric for making tough decisions about curating my favorite things: You have permission to lighten your load. One of the beautiful things that happened while moving in to our latest home was that my mom came to help with the unpacking. She was emptying a box that contained some heirlooms, and while unwrapping her own childhood doll that I had inherited as a little girl, she said, "I give you permission to get rid of Polly Pigtails!" I'm thankful that she was able to express that to me personally, and I have been able to extend that permission to other items that I found in the process of unpacking. But the reality is that we already have permission to decide what to do with things we own. Because they are things! They aren't people. Yes, they represent people and memories and good times with family, but if they become a burden that keeps us from making new memories with people right now, then it is a good thing to let them go. For me, the emotional burden of owning too much stuff that I didn't regularly use was a valid reason to let some go. Keep things you can enjoy now rather than holding onto everything that represents past joys. My teacup collection is down from twenty cups to four favorites: two are gifts from my husband, one is from my mother, and one is inherited from my grandmother and was handpainted by a relative years ago. There are just enough cups for me to have tea with my grandchildren or a few close friends. If more grands come along, I can always add more, but that is all I need right now. Since I can't keep hold of the past, I have found it freeing to choose to keep a few representative items rather than to trying to accomodate all of the mementos of the past in too small of a space. I've extended this practice to things like good dishes. My take? If I'm not using it now, it needs to go if there's no plan on the calendar to use it in the future. A friend recently pointed out that the good silver I inherited from my grandmother could actually go through the dishwasher. Grandma probably used it five times in her life, and I hadn't improved on that record since I received it. But when we moved into our new place, I put the good silver in the silverware drawer, and we are using it in our daily lives. Rewrite your vision of the future to focus on time rather than treasure. Like my grandma who lived through the depression, I used to squirrel away useful items for "someday": jars, craft items, party decor, you name it. Now I recycle and donate because I realize I can't plan the future down to the level of detail where I use all those little scraps in a meaningful way. Instead, I'm planning a future where I stockpile time and energy to spend with people, especially family, because my time is the greatest gift I can give. The gift of time comes without an obligation to find a place to store something or a need to dust or maintain an object. But it does build memories and a shared experience of life. And if we need some dishes or crafts or decor items in those moments, I'll happily go borrow or buy them! How do you make decisions about what to keep or let go? Let me know in the comments below!