Our hearts were made to long for God to be with us. Perhaps, that’s why even unbelievers find themselves drawn to the wonders of Christmas-time. But this world has a way of telling us all, that God is not with us. The evil one tries to convince us He doesn’t exist or just doesn’t care.Continue reading “Are you drawn to the Wonders of Christmas time?”
Tag Archives: be encouraged
Are you about ready to give up?
His fame spread like wildfire. The Teacher. The Healer. The Miracle Maker. The crowds pressed in. Jesus gets in Simon’s boat, they back out from land, and the Savior continues teaching the crowd from the water. Simon is tired. He had fished all night and came up empty. I wonder if he dozed off duringContinue reading “Are you about ready to give up?”
It’s one thing to read about it, entirely another to experience it.
There seems to be an intimacy with God that can only be understood through the lens of trials and pain. It’s one thing to read about God’s faithfulness, but entirely another to walk with Him daily and see Him faithfully carry you through things you never imagined you’d ever get through. It’s one thing toContinue reading “It’s one thing to read about it, entirely another to experience it.”
Church Basements -Holy Places
Our family lost a great one this past week—Uncle Larry. As we sat in the same basement of the same church, my sweet mother-in-law reminded me of these words God had laid on my heart as we had gathered to bury Larry’s sweet wife three years ago— They are holy places.Church basements. As I walkedContinue reading “Church Basements -Holy Places”
Right now! He is at work!
Love.Consolation.Hope.Grace.Comfort. Yes, I’ll have a heaping helping of each. Right now.Especially now. And this is just what our Father gives His children. His well never runs dry. Paul penned words of this blessing to the believers being persecuted in Thessalonica. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has lovedContinue reading “Right now! He is at work!”
To remember in your hard things..
What’s your “this”? As Paul famously sat imprisoned for the faith, he knew “this” would turn out for his deliverance through prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19). He needed prayer and he needed the Holy Spirit to earnestly hope he wouldn’t be ashamed, but that Christ would be magnifiedContinue reading “To remember in your hard things..”
I will praise you in this storm.
Before a horrific storm hit my life, my affection for Jesus was short-lived. Oh, I’d call on Him here or there when I had a problem; but I remained in control of me. When the storm came, every false idol, every bit of sinking sand was washed away; and I found Jesus to be faithful,Continue reading “I will praise you in this storm.”
Soap Bubbles
I cried with two different people just yesterday. I spoke with several others dealing with hard, stressful things. I love them all. My heart hurts with each of them. My heart hurts with things of my own. I want to fix every problem.I can’t. I want to take away the heartache.I can’t. I want toContinue reading “Soap Bubbles”
Have you noticed this in your life?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) My NKJV commentary says, this is not a definition of faith but a description of what faith does. Hebrews 11, could be entitled, “Faith Does” and gives us example, after example of those, who, because of their faithContinue reading “Have you noticed this in your life?”
Scary circumstances?
When I look at my circumstances, I’ve been fearful and worried; but when I turn my eyes to Jesus, when I remember His faithful promises, when I trust Him again and again, my faith grows stronger. Paul talks about Abraham’s faith. He pens his letter emphatically assuring his audience of new believers (both Jew andContinue reading “Scary circumstances?”
Famous Tragic Endings and Quiet Keep Goings
August 16, 1977, I was sitting in a car with my mom when the news came over the radio—Elvis Presley had died. Forty-seven years ago today and I still remember watching my mom being visibly upset. I was only eight but quickly became obsessed with this famous person who had died so tragically, so young.Continue reading “Famous Tragic Endings and Quiet Keep Goings”
I need to read these words today…
I needed to read these words from the old preacher-teacher, Oswald Chambers, today (pictured with his daughter)– “Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutelyContinue reading “I need to read these words today…”
I’m concerned about our country. But I’m not without hope!
There is so much evil in this world. A recent poll said, nearly one in three Democrats hoped the bullet would have taken out our former president. What? How far have we fallen? And though most Republicans I know do not wish their political opponents to die, they are compromising on issues of life andContinue reading “I’m concerned about our country. But I’m not without hope!”
The world is hard. The Bible is God-breathed to help us.
Even when Jesus walked the earth, there were those who pretended to be righteous. They wanted to deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor. They wanted to catch Him in something so the government could contain, control, and ultimately condemn Him. But He perceived their craftiness (Luke 20:23). And so should we!Continue reading “The world is hard. The Bible is God-breathed to help us.”
Real LOVE silences the lies
Since we were children, the enemy has been whispering to us about what’s wrong with us, where we are lacking; and he continually tells us we are woefully unworthy. He surrounds us all with distorted, neon images of worldly perfection. Everywhere we look, from magazines covers to social media posts, the evil one tries toContinue reading “Real LOVE silences the lies”
Keep on, there’s a HARVEST!
In an attempt to flee temptation, I decided to drop off the extra box of yummy doughnuts from this weekend’s company to my skinny, sugar-loving mom. As I was leaving, she asked me to wait so she could read to me what she had just learned from her book on Revelation. Her almost eighty-year-old fingersContinue reading “Keep on, there’s a HARVEST!”
Day In. Day Out. Worth It!
Like many of you, I have the Bible on my smart phone, but there is just something special about “my” printed copy of God’s Word. Holding it in my hands, I remember the days when I underlined the pages, some of them wrinkled from my tears. It’s a history, tattered, highlighted, and written-on of JesusContinue reading “Day In. Day Out. Worth It!”
When my heart feels faithless.
I was already late to the women’s ministry meeting as a glanced at the church sign as I drove quickly by. “One prayer can change everything”. “Well, Lord,” I thought, “I’ve prayed about a thousand times about_____and nothing has changed.” I surprised myself. Oh, me of little faith. And here I was speeding to myContinue reading “When my heart feels faithless.”
He hasn’t forgotten. He can’t.
I held her in my arms yesterday for the very first time. She’s tiny. Smaller than we expected but, oh, how that little one has filled my heart. A grand baby.A grand daughter.After quite a scare,safely here. And this morning, when I awoke, she joined the others, the ones I love so dearly, in myContinue reading “He hasn’t forgotten. He can’t.”
“Tell them what you read.”
“Tell them what you read” Ben prodded his brilliant, but humbly reserved wife, Katie, as we sat at dinner on our back porch last night to, “Tell them what you read”. How my heart hoped it was good news given all that has occurred in our country, and especially in a New York courtroom thisContinue reading ““Tell them what you read.””