Blog Archives - The Remarkable Blog

Your turn.

11/30/2018

If you are a true follower of my RPMDaily and have been keeping pace, it will be obvious I am taking a pit stop. I am coming across the line of my forth year. It's time for you to refuel me so I can keep up my RPM's. That being said, what would you like me to write on in this new year? Give me your ideas. Am I to rename my vehicle? Do I need a pit crew change? Just kidding you guys have been the best!

Proverbs 15:22 (ESV) "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Natalie Decker can see the door of opportunity swing wide open as NASCAR desperately seeks strong, female, full-time drivers.

She believes plenty of women could follow her through the door. The 20-year-old Decker won the pole and finished fifth in the ARCA race last week at Daytona International Speedway. An ARCA rookie with a full-season ride in 2018, Decker likes to think women will start flowing into the NASCAR elite ranks.

"There are so many younger girls that are fast, and they are 10 years old, 12 years old and they're racing everything and anything -- dirt cars, go-karts, full-sized cars already, and they're coming up," Decker said.

"They're going to be here faster than we know it."

With Danica Patrick retiring, NASCAR has no female drivers ready to step in and compete. Decker might be the closest. NASCAR's program for potential stars, the K&N Pro Series, includes just one female -- 16-year-old Hailie Deegan, daughter of extreme motorcycle athlete Brian Deegan who made her K&N East debut last week and has very limited stock-car experience.

That being said.....

You all know I love to drive fast. So perhaps, I will become bi-vocational in 2019? I've been known to be involved in some high speed incidents. Yes, I'm just joking but allow me to pull out all the stops. I'm revving up my engine and waiting on you!

There is power in the Light!

11/29/2018

"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" (John 1:4, 5).

In the middle of a snowy cold week it's good to think about Jesus. He is the light and light drives out darkness. When we have Jesus we not only have the light, we become the light. A small child in the big city was looking for a place to get warm. He heard singing and decided to step inside of a church. He heard the pastor reading the scripture, "I am the light of the world...". Afterwards the little boy went up and asked the preacher, "Are you really the light of the world? Because if you are mister, could you come to where I live, because the alley is really dark."

Action Step: Where can you go today that could use some light? Are you wasting what God has put inside of you? Ask God today where He wants to shed a little light, and then be willing to go where He asks.

Comfort in the chaos.

11/28/2018

In an ever changing world we can take security in knowing Christ never changes.

The year is almost over. At the end of the year, people often reflect on what has happened and what they want to change. It is a time of reflection and sometimes a commitment to change for the better is made.
As you look back on this year, you may remember successes and failures, joy and happiness, failed expectations and surprising accomplishments, sickness, health, and a host of other memories. Some things have prompted us to make changes. Other things have forced us to.

But there is still a reason to give thanks. There is a reason to take comfort in an ever changing world. Jesus is the same. He never moves. He is right here. He is with you today. He will never leave you. Just like my grandsons, we can take comfort in knowing He hasn't moved. We can go to Him anytime.

With only two days left in this month of November, let's remember to continue to give thanks with a grateful heart. Let's keep Christ in Christmas by going into December with a firm foundation, that whatever the remainder of the year holds--Christ still holds us. He never changes. There is comfort in the chaos with Christ.

Surviving Cyber Monday. Hangover Tuesday?

11/26/2018

Once upon a time we shopped by looking at the Sears catalog. Then, we started shopping at the local mom and pop stores. Then, as the years went by we started shopping at the malls. Then, we went back to catalogs and now the catalogs are online. Everything that seems to go around comes back again. Don't get so caught up in the "there here" and now you miss the important things; like people, and the reason for the season. People may forget what you purchased for them, as the years go by, but they won't forget-- how you made them feel. Remember what Christ has done for you, and then go do "that" for others. For all of us the "that", may vary, but Christ never changes.

What do you get for others? It seems to be the BIG question. God has the answer. He loves them more than we do.

Action Step: Pray and ask God what He would have you to do for those you love. Then do that. Sounds simple. It is. His burden is always light! We are just to be the light!

God with us? Then where is He?

11/26/2018

If God is with us, then where is He? We can find Him in the least expected places. Most look for Him in church. Others look for Him in quiet solitude. Some look for Him in music or literature. Few look for Him in a manger, but that's where they first found Him. Unexpected places is where God likes to meet us. He can meet us today. I believe that. I expect that. I expect God to meet me in unexpected places.

What seemed unexpected was totally expected. His birth had been prophesied years before it took place. To the wise men He was worth looking for. To those that wanted to plot evil, they tried to kill Him. To those that loved Him, they risk it all to follow Him. They left all. He gave all.

Action Step: Right here at the end of November, and the beginning of the biggest month of the year when we are all preparing to celebrate Christmas, we need to be looking for Him in unexpected places. Let me challenge you to take Him with you when you find Him. The world needs more of Him. Fear not. The world is looking for a Savior which is Christ the Lord. He is the reason for the season, and He brings good tidings of great joy to all people. Look for Him in unexpected places, and when you find Him....follow Him.

Happy Shopping Friday

11/23/2018

When I was a child everything was closed on Sundays and holidays. Now, everything is open. People want to skip the holiday meal with family, in favor of fast food and shopping. We have become a materialistic society at the cost of family and rest. Recreation has taken the place of re-reation, in that we go on vacation and come home more run down and tired, from all the running. The Sabbath was made for us to rest. It was made for man not God. God must have known something about us, we don't know about ourselves. So, what are we to do? Strike a happy medium. What works for you, and your family? How can you do both? Set priorities. Put God first, then your spouse, then your family, then your job and everything else will fall into it's place. Do life the Biblical way.

ACTION STEP: So, today enjoy your family. Set your priorities and then enjoy life! Shop with God first and you will always get the best deals. Shop with your spouse second and your family third and the gifts you buy will always be appropriate. You will stay within your means because your priorities are right! We can never loose doing the right thing! Happy Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving

11/22/2018

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

From my family to yours Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy those you love, and may your hearts and homes, be filled with His love and abundance.

The delivery of the Turkey

11/21/2018

I don't know about your house, but our house "Turkey Time" is close to "Delivering Baby Time". Were not looking for the bag we packed to take to the hospital and grabbing up all we need, making phone calls and rushing the dog to the neighbors, but it is almost as traumatic. My husband looks for roaster, lifts the turkey out of refrigerator with the same panic look of a father-to-be and says, "I don't think it's thawed enough, put some water in the sink. Do we have a towel to lay across it?" Then, with a crinkled brow he says, "This one may have to cook all night. I'm not sure the roaster lid will close over it? Do we have any of those turkey bags?" By this time the drama has mounted to a small thunderous earthquake in my belly, as I begin to join in the "what if's" of the infamous "Turkey Time:.

Without doubt the turkey will be fine. We will all decide if it's too dry or just right. We will all eat it regardless. Those of us that had a hand in it (literally) will be a bit prejudice. By the time all the bellies are full and the pumpkin pie is half gone, the consensus will in, "This Thanksgiving was perfect". After all who hasn't delivered a perfect baby. (yes, I know many of us but we still thought they were). So, relax. Enjoy the journey to the table. The table time only last maybe an hour for our family. Perhaps, for your family it may last longer. But, let's all face it, takes a lot longer to prepare the meal than to consume the meal. Just saying...

ACTION STEP: This year, before you dive into dinner, give thanks for the journey. Give thanks for the person/persons who went to great lengths to insure your favorite dish. Give thanks to the person/persons who put each place setting down with everyone in mind. Give thanks the turkey birthing was successful for yet another year. Just look around. See the goodness of God. He truly delivers more than Turkeys, He delivered us!

What you doing guys?

11/20/2018

It's our "Tradition" to gather as a family the Monday before Thanksgiving, and bake cookies. It's a day we put on our calendar, and then guard it from being stolen by the world around us. It's not one of those TV sitcoms, where we drink hot chocolate, and play Christmas carols, and the kitchen stays spotless, as we all bake these beautiful cookies in our best attire, hair in place. Nope. We fight over whether music is on, or off, one is listening to their phone, the other screaming what did you say, over two little boys wanting the same toy. It's hair in a bun, sweats and bad breath. It's flour every where. It's "You made the batter too thick," or "It' too thin". It's a beautiful mess. I love it! We take turns figuring out whose going go play with the boys, while the other one checks the oven, and whoever has a free hand, washes the same measuring cup for a third time. It's precious.

When my girls were little, it was just as hard to bake cookies. I was a trying to juggle life as a young mother that had no concept of time, a husband that worked long hours, and a tight budget. Instead of making baking fun, I made it work. Now that I am older, I make it fun. I call out for pizza for dinner, and take time out to hug, make pancakes in the middle of baking cookies, and tickle bare feet.

Hugging and watching Nemo on the couch, while trays of cookies bake in the oven, one daughter runs home to scrub her floor, the other daughter runs out for a quick appointment for work, my husband finally gets his shower, the littlest grandson runs over to me smiles, reaches for me and says, "What you doing guys?" He melts my heart. He wants in. He wants to be a part of the big mess. He wants to know he matters in the midst of the chaos. I scoop him up and set him beside me. Now, he's on one side of me and his big brother is on the other side. There are dishes in the sink. The dishwasher is running. The convection oven is baking one batch of cookies, while the oven is baking two more trays. I rehearse what my littlest grandson says, "What you doing guys?" His words carrying far more weight than his chubby little baby feet, just for a moment I hear God. "What you doing guys?" He wanted in too. He wanted me to know, He was there, in the midst of it all. He just wanted to be part of it all. God the creator of the universe just wanted to be with us. He wanted to hang out. Wanted to be close. He wanted family time too.

Action Step: "What you doing guys?" In all the hustle and bustle of the season ask yourself, "Where is God?", because He wants in too. He wants you to make a place for Him.

Is the Amalekite spirit at work in our lives?

11/19/2018

1 Samuel 15:15
Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we utterly destroyed."

All of us have given ourselves over to the dark side at least once in our lives, or at least I have. This spiritual blindness is caused by a lack of fear of the Lord. When we compromise we are essentially putting what we want above what God said. Saul did what he wanted, not what God told him to do; and he thought he would be able to get away with it. Compromise has a hefty price tag. When the devil was done with Saul, he had Saul fall on his own sword. What Saul should have used to kill all the Amalekites, the devil instead had him use on himself.

ACTION STEP: What was the last thing God told you to do? Have you done it? Why not? Today, repent and go do what He told you do do. If this has become a habit ask God for mercy and repent. If you can't remember the last thing God told you to do, it may be time to spend some time in His presence. Seeking God always results in finding Him.