Hi Friends,

I love Spring. Living in South Florida you have to be quite observant to appreciate it — the changes are subtle. But just a little north the new green is more evident. A couple of weeks ago we drove to Alabama to visit two of our three sons, and there were already little patches of green among the brown grass that looked so eager to push out those early daffodils. I just love it. I love it that it is a whole process too, that God, in His infinite creativity, has ordained it so that every single day is unique. Can you imagine what it would feel like to gift glorious surroundings to someone and have them just bury their face in their phone all day? Let’s get out there and enjoy it, even if you are like me and sneeze your head off more and more with each passing year.

Appreciating God’s creation is good for the soul, but even better is just spending time with God through His Word. How is your 2026 going in terms of your commitment to Bible reading and prayer? I would give myself a solid B. I am keeping up with my reading plan and writing often in my prayer journal. However, my sweet friend Michelle sent me a book that has me re-thinking what I’m doing. The book is A Life Worth Living by Chuck Reinhold. Chuck was extremely influential in Young Life for decades, and was known for encouraging those around him with a Thirty-Day Challenge:

The “Challenge” is this: that we commit ourselves to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ every morning for thirty straight days by reading a portion of the Scripture and asking the Lord to give us something to apply to our lives that day. If we miss a day, then we start over until we meet with Him for thirty straight days. If we do this, chances are we’ll never quit and our lives will continue to grow in our Lord Jesus Christ. During this special time, look for an answer to the question, “What does He want me to be, feel, or do today.” Then write out in a sentence what He wants for us to be that day, as specifically as we can. Then, as we pray for the day and our cares, ask God to help us apply the truth that we learned that morning from His Word. (p. 123)

March 1st would be a great day to start the challenge. I will have a very busy March, getting to see all four kids (yes, I am already claiming Aly even though the wedding isn’t until July) and some other major events, but busyness means we should be more committed to prayer, not less. Martin Luther is credited with saying, “I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer.”

Please join me in doing this challenge. Easter Sunday is April 5th, but let’s see if we can journal every day in March in the way that Chuck Reinhold suggested.

Psalm 119:34-37 says:

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things: preserve my life according to your word.

With Love,

Kristie