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I Hate to Wait

August 21, 2020

I hate to wait. Especially when I’m looking forward to something… like my flight leaving on time. But it’s often while we’re waiting that God gets our attention and gives us our next assignment. This week, let’s play a quick game of Uno as we learn four faith strategies to help us while we’re waiting. 3 Questions and 4 Faith Strategies: 1. On a scale of 1-10 (one being a little, ten being a lot) how much do you hate to wait? Explain why you chose that number. 2. What are you currently waiting for? 3. Why do you think God makes us wait instead of snapping His fingers and working immediately? Here are faith strategies to help you while you WAIT for a breakthrough or better times. W – WORD OF GOD – Search the concordance in the back of your Bible. Look up a word that describes a challenge you’re facing or something you need. For example, you could look up anxiety, stress, love, or hope. A – ASK GOD – Pray specific prayers to God. This will cause you to clearly communicate your needs and heart’s desire. Then when you’re prayers are answered, you’ll know who to thank. I – INVITE GOD IN – Every day brings new challenges. Your faith will grow when you invite God into your problem solving and decision making. T – TRUST – Jesus taught, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, Trust also in me.” ( John 14:1) Trust is relying on someone and placing your confidence in them. Every day at 3PM, I encourage you to thank God for at least one blessing in your life then repeat, “JESUS, I TRUST YOU.”

Comparison is Crap

August 14, 2020

“Where do you live? What do you do for work? Where do your kids go to school?” We live in a culture that’s quick to rank the room: who’s the smartest, the prettiest, richest? It’s been said that comparison is a trap. But I’ll just go ahead and say that comparison is crap! Why? Because it has the power to take our minds to places we don’t want to go. Spiraling toxic thoughts can lead us to envy, judgement, and even self-loathing which makes a mess of our minds. But wait, there is hope! There are two pathways we can take to get away from comparison. The more you take them, the more accessible they become. This week we shift lanes and stop comparing ourselves with others.

Let Go and Blend Your Inner Mary and Martha

August 7, 2020 • Laura Busse

This week, we’ll see what happened when the sisters, Mary and Martha, met Jesus Face to Face right after the death of their brother Lazarus. Martha accused Mary of being lazy, and Mary thought Martha was a little crazy. But the truth is, both of them showed good qualities. When we face crazy times, whether it’s company coming or COVID keeping our kids home from school, we can handle it best when we blend both Mary and Martha together: praying like it depends on God, then working like it depends on us. Here are 3 Circle Questions for you to reflect on, then discuss in a small group. 1. Who do you most identify with Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet or Martha who was busy in the kitchen? Why so? 2. Why do you like it’s a good idea for us to be a BLEND OF BOTH sisters? 3. How can you be the best blend of Mary and Martha this week? Make an action plan and hold each other accountable to it. Thank you for being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call! If you liked this, please share it with someone. And I always love hearing from you about what you’re thinking, so please email me anytime at http://laura@3oclockwakeup.com

Our Walks of Shame

July 31, 2020

What is it about shame and regret that has such a powerful hold on us? If you’re like me, there are some things that are very, very hard to let go of. But letting go is exactly what Jesus wants us to do. He cares more about who we are becoming than where we’ve been. So this week, let’s do the walk of shame together, let ourselves off the mat, and allow ourselves to accept his forgiveness. Here are this week’s 3 Circle Questions to reflect on alone with Jesus and with a few trusted friends this week. 1. Drop the Rock of Shame – Can you think of a “Walk of Shame” your feet have traveled? Where were you? What did you do? Who saw you? In Psalm 34:5 God promises, “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Imagine yourself looking into Jesus’ eyes. What would He say in grace to you? What truth would He also share? 2. Drop the Rock of Regret – God cares more about who you’re becoming than where you’ve been. How does God use our mistakes to make us more like Jesus? What area of your life is He working on right now? 3. Drop the Rock of Un-forgiveness - When you confess your sins to God, He remembers them no more. Why is it so hard for us to forgive and forget when we hurt ourselves or we’re hurt by others? You are forgiven to forgive. How can you take a step of forgiveness this week?

Ignore the Lies and Labels

July 24, 2020 • Laura Busse

When was the last time you stood face to face with someone who told you you’re not enough? Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Not skinny enough. Not rich enough. It hurts right? This week in our Face to Face series, we look at the Samaritan woman at the well and see how she may have been misjudged - both by the women at the time and by ourselves, as modern day readers. But despite that judgement, Jesus looked past her labels, allowing her to walk with confidence into the plans God had for her. God wants you to do the same!

Love Notes From Your Liquor Cabinet

July 17, 2020 • Laura Busse

Did you know that Jesus’ first miracle in the Bible was to turn water into wine? A lot of wine. Some scholars estimate it to have been 180-200 gallons. Maybe Jesus was trying to show us that he could be just an average guy when He wanted to… I read the other day that when COVID -19 started shutting down the US in March 2020, alcohol sales increased by 55%. Sales of it online went up 243%. So…even if you don’t have a relationship with alcohol, I bet someone you care about does. I certainly do. And at times it’s been a little too close for comfort. This week, I sit down and exchange a few words of affection with a few bottles of booze. See if you can relate.. Real, Raw, & Relevant Questions: First, read John 2:1-10, then answer: 1. With alcohol sales up 55% in the US, it’s timely to ask ourselves. What is your relationship with alcohol? If alcohol wrote you a letter or text message, what would she say? What “Ah-ha” does this note reveal? 2. Jesus turned water into wine to bless the people at the wedding. What do you need Him to multiply or bless in your life during this time? 3. When Mary said, “Do whatever He tells you.” the servants obeyed His every word. When has God told you to do something and you obeyed? What did that experience teach you about yourself and God? I encourage you to continue reading through the book of John this summer. Here’s our reading plan: July 10th - Week One – Chapters 1-3 July 17th – Week Two – Chapters 4-6 July 24st – Week Three – Chapters 7-9 July 31th – Week Four – Chapters 10-12 August 7th – Week Five – Chapters 13-15 August 14th – Week Six – Chapters 16-18 August 21st – Week Seven – Chapters 19-21 Thanks so much for joining me this week! If you liked this, please share it with a friend. The more people we reach out to, the closer we get to our goal of: Everyone, Every Nation, Every Day - Giving Thanks to God at 3PM

Face to Face

July 9, 2020 • Laura Busse

Thanks for joining me at the Ethol Harold Trailhead on the Walker Ranch Loop in Boulder, CO! Today, we start a series I’m calling Face to Face. It’s about what happens when ordinary people, like you and me, stand face to face with Jesus. We’ll be looking at people in the book of John, but what happened to them can just as easily happen to us when we “look Jesus in the eyes.” It’s a face to face encounter that will change our lives forever! 3 Circle Questions Please reflect and talk about these 3 questions this week with a few friends. Please read John chapters 1-3. 1. Review John 1:14. Why do you need both grace and truth? 2. Read John 1:35-50. In verse 43, how does Jesus call Philip? Think of a time in your life when Jesus called you to follow Him. Where did He take you? How were you changed by the experience? 3. Read about Jesus’ first miracle in John 2:1-11. What did Jesus reveal that day to His disciples? How has Jesus been revealing His glory to you lately?

Join me in the 3 O'Clock Challenge for the next 5 days. I promise it will improve your outlook and i

July 3, 2020

Join me in the 3 O'Clock Challenge for the next 5 days. I promise it will improve your outlook and ignite your faith! Watch this to learn how.

The "Ah-ha" Moments That Change Our Lives

June 27, 2020 • Laura Busse

When you walk close to Jesus, you can expect that God will give you new insights and a few “Ah-ha!” moments. It’s in these moments when you see Jesus more clearly or hear God’s still-small voice. It can ignite an unstoppable faith and change your life. God is searching the earth looking for people like you & me who want to see Jesus more clearly and hear His voice. Key question – When God is searching, will YOU be found by Him? Here are this week’s 3 Circle Questions: 1. ILLUMINATION – Think of a time when God made something completely clear to you. Share when, where, and how it happened. 2. COMMUNICATION – On a scale of 1-10, how much do you need to hear from God? Why so? 3. DIRECTION – Make a list of all the ways God can lead us in His direction. Then circle 2-3 you believe God wants you to focus on this summer. Please share this video with friends. Invite them to join us as we give thanks to God every day at 3M – that’s a great way to grow our love for Jesus! Thanks! See you next week… but not at 5am!

The Rollercoaster Ride of Friendship

June 18, 2020 • Laura Busse

We all know Jesus was a great teacher and a great leader. He was the son of God, after all… But did you know Jesus was a great friend? Which says a lot, considering what His “band of brothers” was like. He had: Peter, James, John, Philip, and Andrew – Hebrew school rejects who were now fishing for a living. Matthew – a tax collector, which means stole money from his people. Everyone hated him. Simon – a Zealot – basically a politician… enough said Thomas – a pretty negative doubter. Kind of like Eore on steroids Judas – a thief who ultimately betrayed Him. But He still loved them… and many, many more. This week, I want to challenge you to prioritize your friendships, like Jesus did I want you to TELL one friend you still care: Here are four steps that spell TELL. • T – TIME – set a time to reach out to a friend you’ve lost touch with, put it on your calendar, make it a priority. • E – EFFORT – schedule the call, zoom, coffee, walk, or a visit. Put in the effort to reconnect your hearts and minds. • L – LOVE – let her know you’re sorry for the distance. Ask her questions about her life to catch up to current times. Actively listen without distractions. • L – LAUGH – share stories, reminisce about the good times, laugh about how silly you were, how much you’ve changed or stayed the same. So who comes to your mind? Which friends have you lost in the busyness of life? Who would be surprised to hear from you this summer? Go ahead TELL her you still care and would like to find the time to reconnect. Only God knows the number of our days. Let’s cherish today and prioritize friendship like Jesus! 3 O’Clock Circle - Two or more together sharing real life and relevant faith. Watch this week’s video. Then discuss these 3 questions in your circle. 1. How does our pace of life distance us from friends we genuinely care about? What other obstacles stand in the way of prioritizing friends in your life? 2. List sometimes you’ve experienced mountain tops - joyous times with friends. What about the valleys? Can you recall walking through some difficult times with a friend. 3. Reach out this week to one friend you’ve lost track of. How will you tell her you care? What’s your plan? Write it down and stick to it. Thank you for joining me in the mountains. See you next week! TAKE CARE MY FRIEND!

Killing Giants

This week, we learn a little more about David, and how we can model his techniques for successfully defeating our Goliaths. Here are 3 questions you can wrestle with this week. I encourage you to read David vs. Goliath in 1Samuel 17. Then reflect on these questions personally and with a circle of trusted people. 1. Every day we face giants in our lives. Maybe your giant is anxiety, insecurity, body image, anger, or unforgiveness. The list of giants is long and very personal. Take a moment and ask yourself. What giant is stopping me in my tracks and blocking my spiritual growth? 2. Once you’ve named your giant, it’s time to tap into God’s supernatural power given to you through the Holy Spirit. Think of a time when God fought a battle for you. You won, but you’re confident it was because the battle belonged to the Lord. There’s power in remembering how God came through for you in the past. Ask yourself, when have I seen the Holy Spirit at work in my life? Share you real life story and watch your confidence soar! 3. Knowing you show up on the battlefield with the power of the Holy Spirit, visualize what the victory looks like. Then ask God to give you the stepping stones – each step of the way to defeat your giant. That might mean calling to make a counseling appointment, or studying forgiveness in the Bible, or linking arms with a friend who’s fighting the same battle. What’s your first step toward victory?

How To Know Where We Should Go

June 5, 2020 • Laura Busse

This week, I get to talk with Mary Carol Kolbenschlag, Co-founder of Discover Pathwaze, about how we can best figure out our direction amidst life’s many challenges and distractions. Discover Pathwaze has worked with hundreds of young adults to filter through the confusion, stress, and uncertainty of their college application and career process. Mary Carol shares her insight and wisdom, giving us THREE KEYS to discovering the best paths for us, and the young adults in our lives. This is so helpful, no matter where you are in your journey. Join us, along with one loud airplane, a couple big bugs, and a barking dog, for this powerful conversation in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. 3 Circle Questions Here are three questions you can reflect on and discuss with a circle of friends or family. 1. What are strengths you feel God has given you? How are you currently using these strengths in your life? 2. Who is someone you look to be your guide and help you discover the plans God has for you? Are you helping to guide anyone else? 3. Prayer Challenge – Ask God to lead you down the next path He has for you. Like Abraham, take the next step of faith and GO! Pray for young adults you love and ask God to help you be their guide.

This Is How We Fight Our Battles

May 29, 2020

What battles are you fighting right now? Where in your life do you need to see victory? How can you be best equipped to fight the good fight of faith every day? This week, we learn how each piece of the ARMOR OF GOD protects us in our fight. And let’s face it, we are fighting spiritual battles, big and small, every day. We can sure use the help. After you watch the video, here are 3 questions to reflect on, either by yourself, or with a few friends… 6 feet apart… To better answer these questions, please read through Ephesians 6:10-18. 1. Why do you think the full armor of God protects your head, heart, hands, and feet, really your whole body? 2. Which piece of the armor is easiest for you to put on every day? Which one is the most challenging to put on? Why so? 3. What battle are you fighting this week? How can the full armor of God help you fight your battle?

Walk and Talk With God

May 22, 2020 • Laura Busse

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. – 1Corinthians 2:9 During the past two months of COVID-19, what have your eyes NOT seen that you wish you could have seen? Maybe you miss seeing a paycheck being deposited into your checking account. Maybe you missed a graduation ceremony or your favorite team taking the field. For me, I missed seeing my daughter in Nevada over Spring Break and my mom and step-dad last month in Arizona. All my trips have been canceled. All my summer plans are still unknown. I sure yours are too. So much is still unknown, right? We don’t know when churches will gather again on weekends or sports teams will begin to practice. We don’t know when schools will open or when we’ll ever be able to plan a vacation. It’s now, in a time with so many unknowns, that I share our final Holy Habit – WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD. This week’s message challenges you to WALK AND TALK WITH GOD this week. You’ll learn how to start, what to say, and laugh with God along the way. Here are three conversational starters to spur you on as you WALK AND TALK WITH GOD. 1. God, my eye can’t see the future but I can see my blessings today. Here are the things I am most thankful for… 2. God, I want to hear Your voice and know the plans You have for me. I do love you. What is the next step of faith You have for me? 3. God, only You know how long this current crisis will last, while I wait how can I learn to love you more?

Lessons From Your Dirty Laundry

May 16, 2020 • Laura Busse

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. -Psalm 103:8 I hope you’re all hanging in there. By my count, this is Week 8 of the “COVID 19 Shut Down.” For 8 weeks now, you’ve been in cooped-up in close quarters with the same people. There’s no escape. We’re able to pick our friends but when it comes to FAMILY and this quarantine…we’re stuck with them. This week’s Holy Habit is vital to your survival: FORGIVENESS. Take a tour with me through some of my dirty laundry, minus the smell, and I’ll teach you 5 Steps I’ve found to be essential for my forgiving others, and myself. Here are this week’s 3 O’Clock Circle Questions: 1. If you hold onto a grudge and refuse to forgive, what are some negative consequences you and others experience? 2. If you practice the Holy Habit of being QUICK TO FORGIVE, who benefits? How so? 3. Review our 5 Forgiveness Steps. When someone hurts you, walk this way: • Give thanks to God for good times you’ve shared and how many times you’ve been forgiven. • Pray a special blessing over the person – one you’d want spoken over you. • Step into Their Shoes – See things from their perspective and grow compassion in your heart. • Forgive – Every time you feel the offense or think about it, ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive again, and again, 70x7 times forgive. • Take Action – How can you walk in forgiveness? Pick up the phone. Write a loving note. Make a favorite meal. Ask God what He’d want you to do then do it. Step out in faith! Remember - Taking these steps of forgiveness will set YOU Free! It’s worth the work it takes. In the meantime, I hope you’ll remember to be QUICK TO FORGIVE every time you do your laundry or someone you love dumps all their dirty laundry on you. See you next week!

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