This past week, while my four-year-old granddaughter and I interacted, the TV played in the background. In the middle of our giggles, she let out a loud gasp, and then tapped my arm. “Nana, did you hear that?”

Her tone told me she was about to say something profound (often only a grandma can appreciate).

I got down on my knees and looked in her little face. “Hear what, precious?”

That guy on TV said “God” and he wasn’t praying.

My heart did a cart wheel. That blue-eyed little gift from heaven remembered, understood and recognized when Exodus 20:7 was disobeyed.

“Come here,” I drew her close in a tight hug. “So proud of you for knowing that’s not how we please God.”

In my feeble, human way, I just about leaped with joy at her ability to understand. But, amigos, how much more the God of the universe must be pleased when we choose to obey His precepts?

In this crazy busy life we lead, and in these problem-filled days, the “How to please God” is hidden under the pile of the to-do list.

But how refreshing it is to reach the oasis of calmness. Please click to experience God’s refreshing.

And in that sliver of peace from the chaos, the longing to please God should whisper, “[Lord] Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands” (Psalm 119:73).

Father, I confess, often my level of understanding hasn’t reached the depth of obedience. Thank you for reminding me of the diligence you expect in obeying your instructions. I turn my guilt to repentance and rejoice for the new awareness and desire to please you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

• What ways do you know to please Him?
• How difficult is to obey all His commandments?
• Have you found the freedom that comes when obeying Him?

Janet

Author, Heather Bauer gives a unique twist to his influence. Bread is the Devil is the title of her book about dieting. And she discusses it on this segment on CBS’s “The Talk.”

But no matter how silly, humorous and innocent we want to make him, the truth is Satan really exists. His presence in this world is as real as eating too much bread and butter brings on the next dress size.

Are you falling for those lies right now? His deceiving whispers: what you thought was wrong is really right. And what you know is offensive to the Lord is really okay.

Not to worry. No matter what Satan might bring our way. We have victory by following the diet of all diets—refrain from consuming his lies, from tasting his tactics, and swallowing his crafty ways.

Even Jesus encountered Satan when he audaciously tempted Him. But the Lord, master in victory and powerful with wisdom, triumphed by killing his lies with the sword of truth.

So, why can’t we do the same? Could it be because we’re weak, vulnerable, or helpless? Or want to dismiss that Satan, the evil one exists? But are we weak? Or maybe, this notion is another one of Satan’s lies?

What to do? “Take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:10).

Father, I rely on your power to triumph over the forces of evil. The powers that bring negative thoughts, sorrow, fear and worry. I recognize the devil does exist, but I claim victory because of the power that’s in me through your son Jesus. Amen.

• What lies have you believed?
• What truth keeps you on God’s path?
• Are negative notions ruling your life?

I would love to hear from you, please comment here.

Janet

I plopped on a chair by the hotel window and glanced at my two college friends. “Okay, how about we listen to a song from The Carpenters?”

“Sure,” Jeanne said as she keyed her amazing gadget to find just the perfect song.

While she did this, my friend Patti began the song, knowing the lyrics as if she heard them yesterday. Actually she does this with any song, any group popular in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

What a perfect blend of friends! One who could access song in seconds and the other who knew the lyrics.

With each catchy beat, the three of us brought back those days when bell bottoms and straight hair were the thing.

But the few hours of fun flew way too quickly. And while the melody of “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” lingered in my own head, hubby and I headed home, going back to reality. Heading to face today. Expecting the life of now.

But woo hoo! That life holds a better combination. A perfect blend that shines in my heart and delights my soul.

The exquisite blend of love and reassurance. It’s the formula, divine and true that brings peace to storms, brings logic to life and gives a colorful hue to otherwise insipid moments.

It’s the answer when we ask, how to find true love. It’s the blend of love and reassurance—both tucked in the Valentine card God signed with His promise.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again…” (Jeremiah 31:4).

Father, when life is broken, desires echo with emptiness, and we wonder how to find true love, your reassuring commitment soothes the anxiety and your reminder brings a new song to my life. Thank you for the love no one else can give and the promise no one else can keep. In Jesus’ name I thank you. Amen.

• Whose promise of love fills your heart?
• Whose love do you count on?
• Does Jesus’ love rule your life, attitude, and outlook?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please comment here.

Next I craft my entry in my prayer journal, eat my breakfast (at my desk) which includes an apple, a bowl of quinoa with a little almond milk, honey and cinnamon, followed by a smoothie.

At 8:00 on the dot my phone rings and I begin interpreting—for judges in NY, emergency rooms in CA, Insurance companies in TX. I take call after call for 8 hours. And during my breaks, I craft a blog or reply to emails.

At 4:30, calls stop. I spend a few moments with the Lord. Then back to the keyboard, to write articles, stories, reply to tons of emails and reply to my readers, arrange media interviews and prepare for speaking engagements. And except for the time hubby and I take 20 minutes to eat dinner around 9:00 PM, I’m working on the computer till midnight.

Then I push myself away from my desk. And with my brain mush, I am about to fall asleep while buttoning my PJ’s.

I didn’t think I lived the vida loca, yes, crazy with work till I got this email from my college friend:

“First off, I need to apologize for not keeping in closer touch with you. Actually, we’ve been running around Ft. Myers since we’ve arrived here at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club (la-de-dah, don’t cha know!) Take yesterday; Steve and some friends played golf here at Heritage Palms, a friend and I went shopping. We had lunch, I came home, ran for an hour (I had a big lunch!), showered (Boy, did I need that!), went to dinner, and had to get home in time to catch ‘Glee’ and ‘Parenthood’ on TV (I love those shows!). There was my day!”

What? Are you kidding me? Lord, what’s with this. Did you see her day…and did you see mine? I stomped at the unfairness.

Then, as God spoke to me in a divine, stern, mighty voice, He said: “Chill, chica.”

I had become the Latina version of Martha. While Mary sat at Jesus feet taking in His love, spellbound by His words, Martha huffed. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Only one thing is needed? No wonder finding balance for my life was lost in the hard drive of my life. No more. This chica saw the light. Finding His balance was healthier, better and wiser.

Father, I praise you because you bring balance to my days by showing me what is needed. You put order to my tasks, calmness to my work. It’s that perfect balance that helps me say, “all is well with my soul.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

• What takes up most of your time?
• What has you frazzled?
• When do you bring the balance Jesus expects?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please comment here.

Shocking, talented, daring, vulgar, gifted? No matter which describes her, she has to still answer the question: How to define your identity. According, that is, to this article in this Wall Street Journal interview:

“Since dropping out of the University of Michigan and moving to New York with $35 in her pocket, the woman christened Madonna Louise Ciccone has adopted a dizzying array of identities: the sexpot Material Girl; Esther, the Kaballah enthusiast; Queen Madge, the Anglophile.”

Wanna be like Madonna? Many are when it comes to defining their identity. Questions rumble: who am I? The search for identity is more common than Super Bowl parties.

And when the cheering is over, the winning team goes home with their prize. But in the silence of night, the search for identity still runs through the football field of the mind.

Until God scores the touchdown for humanity by answering the nagging question, How to define our identity.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Madonna has fame, but we have firm reassurance– of who we are, and whose we are.

Father, thank you for giving me the identity as your child. Thank you that I can live a Jesus-centered life. To love you back. To accept your abundant provision. To settle in your comforting arms. To breathe in your healing power. And to expect the riches due to your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• What expectations do you have as His child?
• When did you claim your identity?
• Do you ever question to whom you belong?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please comment here.

Imagine that. Me, this silly chica being sunshine to someone. That was an undeserving yet humbling comment.

For a fleeting moment confidence, reassurance and a bit of self-satisfaction began to grow in me.

But how silly that is. Allowing one comment to bring my mood way up. And I know myself. Should someone hint the slightest critical notion in my direction, that same confidence dashes to the basement?

Why do we do that? We innocently find confidence, a little strength, and reassurance in others’ comments. But, sadly that habit is like looking for sun rays under the bed. Not the right place.

God said, when we’re weak, lonely, confused, when down and discouraged, His grace is sufficient. (Please check out this video for some inspiration: http://bit.ly/zFr0kQ.)

Times when no one notices. No one looks at us with approval. Nobody cares. And no one around acknowledges—His grace is sufficient (see 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank you that it’s in your grace where we find confidence. In your provision is where our reassurance is found and Lord thank you that you are sufficient for all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• How high is your confidence lately?
• Where does your security come from?
• In whom do you trust for the reassurance you need?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please comment here.

“Okay,” she said, “we’ll order that and split it.”

We chatted while we waited, our mouths watering for that delicacy. No doubt, it would send our taste buds soaring with delight.

Didn’t happen.

I took a bite and, whoa! My taste buds frowned. The spice burned more than a little. I took another bite. This time my tongue screamed with anguish. But being the silly chica that I am, I thought I could handle it. I took another bite. This one set my lips on fire and my esophagus sizzled. My eyes watered and a hellish heat surge through me.

I gasped, looked toward my friend. And, she too, sniffed and gasped. Her torture was similar to mine. Even after the huge gulps of water, frantically fanning our blistered tongue, nothing could ease our torment. We’re talking, nada.

With our gastric system in flames, we just about tackled the waitress as she went by. And in a not-so-shy tone, we begged for some rice. After eternal moments, we came back to half-normal state.

Friends, you’re laughing? But you’ve done that same thing; when guilt sears your soul. We all have done something in life that just set our conscience on fire with guilt.

And to our dismay, unable to get rid of that guild, sleepless nights taunt at us. Each reminder of whatever it was that ignited that burning guilt keeps us tormented.

Here’s the cure:

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone” (Psalm 32:5 [NLT]).

Father, I long for that freedom for what I did, failed to do, didn’t mean to do or intentionally did. I welcome the cure and the way your mighty Word eases the searing guilt. When I wanted to get rid of guilt on my own, I couldn’t but your power and Word erased it from my soul. In Jesus’ name I thank you. Amen.

• What guilt has weighed on you lately?
• Can you identify it, face and give it to the Lord?
• How does that freedom feel?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please leave your comment here.

“So, sorry,” I said to the producer.

The inspirational videos we filmed this past Saturday needed to be done just right because of its potential outreach. And when I fumbled on a word during the shooting, I cringed. No doubt, we had to “take it from the top” again.

But then the producer gave a quiet chuckle. “Don’t worry,” she said, “I can take the best of all recordings and edit to create the one that will sound just fine.”

I grinned with relief.

She was taking God’s approach. When observing our life, He takes the bad, the good, the messed up, the lousy, and the great and, molded in His hands, He creates a life that is, indeed, fine.

So amigos, why do we fret when disappointments disrupt our days? No doubt, it’s part of the shooting in the film of life.

For example, when disappointments leave us discouraged and dizzy with confusion. And an invitation to a pity party slips under the door of our heart—time to take action.

Here are five steps to ditch those dreaded feelings that come with every disappointment:

1. Someone said disappointments are God’s appointments. Clever but true. When we’re let down, God is up—up to something. Often, something bigger, better and more wonderful.

2. Disappointments always bring friends of negativity, self-condemnation. (If only I should have’s and also insecurities. But using Jesus’ broom, we can sweep them all out with one swoop of His truth.)

3. When disappointment strikes, time to fight back. The best weapon: gratitude. Think back to ways God had brought results that exceeded our expectations. Gratitude cancels a destructive attitude.

4. Disappointment is a test. An exam to see how strong is our faith. Better put—where do we place our faith—in circumstances or in the King of the universe?

5. Be confident because when God is filming in the studio of His love, He’s taking all the flaws, glitches, mistakes, disappointments and editing them to show us that in the end, a life that is just fine.

He is the divine producer, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Father, thank you for the workmanship you have prepared. Thank you for your design that is bigger than the setbacks of life, greater than the disappointments we experience, more profound than the times we mess up. Show us, Lord, to see beyond the glitches of life to gaze at the larger plan for our life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• What is the biggest disappointment you have faced lately?
• How can you see beyond it?
• What has God’s Word promised you?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please leave your comment here.

Don’t you hate to cut these people off? They’re trying to earn a paycheck just like you and me. I feel bad…but feel worse if I should spend time on the phone when I could be doing meaningful things; like crafting a blog for you.

I don’t like to take surveys, but I do like to read the results. Check this one out:

“Zillow’s fifth annual most-desired and least desired celebrity Neighbor Survey…here are the results: Tim Tebow and the Pitt-Jolie family were the top two celebrities most desired as neighbors. The ‘Jersey Shore’ cast and Charlie Sheen were the least desired neighbors.”

That got me thinking. Although I’m no celebrity, I wonder what kind of neighbor I might be.

Here’s the measuring stick: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

As myself? Gulp. We’re talking lots of loving. So, did God really mean that extreme kind of love? Guilt, I admit. I don’t even know the neighbor next door. Not really. I guess I could say I love them by leaving them alone?

Correction chica, God seemed to say to me. The neighbors aren’t always those that share the yard, but those who share the universe with us.

Here are three ways to know if you’re a loving neighbor.

1. How kind are you to telemarketers who interrupt your dinner, taking surveys or selling their stuff? (2 Timothy 2:24).

2. How do you react when someone slapped your senses with unfairness? (Matthew 18:21-22)

3. How do you react to that co-worker who makes you crazy? (Micah 6:8)

Tough questions. But while we’re in our own world, our own house, watering our own yard of peace, without warning, God has pop quizzes, sporadic tests and one final exam: Did you love your neighbor? Really love him?

I’ll try to be a Tim Tebow kind of neighbor so more people will want to be near me. And I’ll start with the next person who interrupts my day with annoyance. How about you?

Father, thank you for the circumstances to test my commitment to you. Grant me wisdom to know the reaction, use the words and apply the love you teach. In Jesus’ name I ask.

• Who’s driving you crazy today?
• How successful were you in resolving the situation your way?
• Have you tried God’s way to love your neighbor?

Janet

I would love to hear from you, please leave your comment here.

After I called someone to take my place and teach ladies’ Sunday school, I dragged myself out of bed, head throbbing, chills and aches all over. I tightened the belt to my robe and shuffled slowly to the bathroom, looking for a glass to gargle with salt water.

I had already met my once-a-year cold for the year a couple of months ago. And now when my plate of tasks overflowing, back in bed again. UGH!

Then God’s outpour of love began. My friend Cindi took over, “No worries,” she wrote, “I’ll take care of that.”

And she did. All the technicalities on this end were in her hands. Then my friend Kimberly called and prayed for me, gave me practical advice. May called from Panama and poured her sweetness over the phone, my precious Mama made chicken soup. My daughter-in-law found some amazing herbal tea. Her mom dropped off some natural cold capsules. Hubby hugged and spoiled me.

How can a chica stay sick with all that lovin’?

By the third day, health smiled at me, I was ready to salsa my way through my tasks. But before I tackled the first one, I had to do an unpleasant thing—swallow a great big pill of reality.

This reality: When I’m well, I plop on the driver’s seat of life and press the accelerator. With my Latina head out the window, shouting, “Out of my way, got things to do.”

What a goof. No wonder, going at that rate, I’ll smash into illness, pride, or disaster. And often all three.

Here are five questions to ask and answer so we can not only avoid such calamity, but relish in a balanced life:

1. When we’re well, free from pain or discomfort, what is our approach? Is it gratitude and appreciation? I vote for taking a break: stop and pause to smell—not the roses—but the richness of God’s blessings. (Psalm 71:14-15)

2. Whatever task our nimble hands are crafting or activity we’re plunging into, is it something that will bring glory to God? Is the purpose one that will cause Him to smile and be pleased? Are the motives honorable? (Proverbs 16:1)

3. Is God’s wisdom driving our thoughts, actions and decisions we make in those sweet moments of health? (Proverbs 16:16)

4. What is the reference point to choose whether a task is a priority or not? Is it God’s Word and His precepts that decide what should take precedence? And, what order will bring the guarantee of a rich life? (Psalm 119:1-2)

5. And most importantly, do we carry His promises engraved in our heart so with our healthy voice, vibrant, heart, energized spirit, we can shout to the world that God is alive. He’s well. He’s in control. He’s observant. He’s ready to receive us as His own through His son Jesus. (Psalm 19:7)

“It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand [Lord], your arm, and the light of your face, for you have loved them” (Psalm 44:3).

Father, thank you for humbling me in my flawed ways. When healthy, it’s not my tasks, accomplishments or success that brings balance to my life. But it’s your love that extends through the gift of life, the treasure of health, and the blessing of you living in me that ushers victory, true happiness, joy and balance. Use my healthy moments to bring glory to yourself. In Jesus’ name I ask.

• How are you feeling today—emotionally, spiritually?
• Are God’s promises carrying you through the difficult moments?
• How will you use your healthy days when they come back?

Janet

I would love to hear from you please leave your comment here.