"Stay Ready, It's Only Halftime"

Hi all! First time in Texas. Enjoying time with family and grandma. Having lived in Michigan almost my whole life, I don't see much of this that often:

(Palm trees in Houston.)

After a long day, I got to read Luke 12, and it is full of great topics. One of them is about spiritual readiness (vv.35-40). 

This really hit me because as much as I want to control my circumstances, I can't. The only thing I can really affect is my state of preparedness for when something happens. On these family trips, it's easy for me to have a complaining spirit and blind myself to the bigger picture of resting and investing love in my family that God is calling me to. 

Spiritual growth and stewardship is a matter of attitude (vv.45-46). Like in this picture, you can either focus on the ugly, messy parking lot below, or the beautiful things above:

(outside a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio.)

It's easy to not have the right perspective and slack spiritually in the context of our community, too. Love takes faith, but it's also hard work! Through this chapter, Jesus is giving me words of wisdom not to become blind to the bigger picture, but to keep my head in the game - it's only halftime!

I hope and pray that God will help us find rest in Him to approach the upcoming season refreshed and recharged. Not deflated, like this poor guy:

("Tiny," at Dallas-Ft. Worth airport. That's his index finger, folks.)