“Without God, we have the ability to manufacture character, but it’s counterfeit and cheap.  We can produce love, but it’s conditional; happiness, but it’s temporary; peace, but it’s circumstantial.”
— Jeff Kinley

Some days I just need someone to give me concrete examples of things, like love, happiness and peace. I don’t always have to agree with the examples, but they get me thinking, get me wondering, like Kinley’s words this morning. I can look out in the world and see examples of love, but is that love unconditional? And peace, but is it a peace that transcends the moment?

So I need to look inside myself and ask God to be the source of my character, of my love, of my happiness, of my peace. Of my joy. He wants to be, should be, but it is up to me keep tabs that He is my wellspring. There will be times when He is not, daily it seems, so I need be sure to keep realigning myself. Coming back to Him. As

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5, NIV

One of Lori’s favorite quotes is this one from Winnie-The Pooh –

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
— A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

That should be the picture of me and God. Always checking in.