Tag Archives: hold on

God knows it’s hard to watch.

As I lay praying this morning, I found myself telling the Lord how very hard it was to watch those I love walk in things that I know are, or will, hurt them. It’s gut-wrenchingly hard. Then, it occurred to me, that God certainly knows how very hard this is. I wasn’t informing Him ofContinue reading “God knows it’s hard to watch.”

Keep on. For those you love and those you may never meet.

Ministry is hard. There has been more than once I’ve wanted to stop sharing about Jesus, and pull away, and just love those who are easy to love and believe what I believe about the faith and the Word. Recently, I’ve been tossing and turning with thoughts of escaping to a desert island, because, asContinue reading “Keep on. For those you love and those you may never meet.”

When the world, or your world is crazy…here’s hope!

I can’t remember what had caused me to fear way back then, I just remember her response. Oh, how I miss my wise friend. She’s with Jesus now. She told me, “When the world is crazy, when you don’t know what to do, draw closer to Jesus. Be prepared to give an answer for theContinue reading “When the world, or your world is crazy…here’s hope!”

His better way for our humble hearts

It was certainly no accident that Jesus was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah when he stood up to read in his hometown synagogue that day. (Luke 4:16) It was supernatural. Can you imagine hearing the voice of the Promised One reading these words? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He hasContinue reading “His better way for our humble hearts”

If all I have is all you desire, I surrender all.

It’s so hard sometimes following Christ. So many times, I’ve wanted the easy road. I’ve wanted to stick my head in the sand and just go with the flow. Walk away.Avoid the conflict.Just keep my mouth shut. Except I can’t. I trust God more than I trust me. I believe Him. I believe His WordContinue reading “If all I have is all you desire, I surrender all.”

In the midst of trouble, sit down.

This week, as I have counted my blessings, I’ve found myself counting again something as a blessing I didn’t think I ever would. Several years ago, our family faced what felt like a true enemy in another flesh and blood person. It all seemed to begin right after we shared our faith with this person,Continue reading “In the midst of trouble, sit down.”

It’s true. This world needs Jesus.

Sometimes when Christians say, “This world just needs Jesus” it can sound like a cliche and a cop-out. It can seem that we don’t really care, or don’t intend to actually do anything ourselves. However, for most,who were lost then found,broken then made whole,hungry then satisfied,hurting then healed,we KNOW it was JESUSwho changed our lives.Continue reading “It’s true. This world needs Jesus.”

Wait. What?

Do you need hope to face tomorrow? Then focus on your sin for a moment. Here’s why —If we don’t understand the depths of our sin, we won’t understand the great love of our Savior enough to be able to confidently trust Him with our tomorrows.Let me explain… Luke tells us, the Pharisees and lawyersContinue reading “Wait. What?”

God hasn’t forgotten. He can’t.

She turned one yesterday. I wrote this a year ago— I held her in my arms 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 theContinue reading “God hasn’t forgotten. He can’t.”

Are the hard days worth it?

If I’m honest, some days I wonder if the really hard days are worth it. I’ve uttered, more than once, when the trouble around me feels deep, “Oh Lord, won’t you just come on and get us.” But then, as He does so often, at just the right time, right when I need it, GodContinue reading “Are the hard days worth it?”

For those wrestling to understand…

Jacob wrestled with God. That’s too much for my mind to even conceive. Except, I’m wrestling. Not in the physical sense, but certainly in that I’m trying to understand what God is doing through some exhaustingly hard things in my life and in this world. I know it’s true that God routinely does things weContinue reading “For those wrestling to understand…”

Is the ground around you being dug up?

Jesus talks of two situations where God’s people die—and asks the question, were these people worse sinners than others who dwelt in Jerusalem and then, He says, unless you repent you will also perish. (Luke 13:1-5) We know this. We know we need to repent of our sins. But right after that, Jesus talks aboutContinue reading “Is the ground around you being dug up?”

You’ll be ok. Even if you stand alone…

The happy, blessed person does not do some things but does do other things. She does not—Walk in the counsel of the ungodly,Stand in the path of sinnersSit in the seat of the scornful. (Psalms 1:1) The happy person makes a conscious effort about who they hang out with, and who they allow to speakContinue reading “You’ll be ok. Even if you stand alone…”

Hard Times. Dark Places.

If your faith is built on only what you can see right now, or feel, or understand, it won’t get you very far. We will face things in this life that don’t make sense to us. Hard times.Dark places. But remember, Peter talked about the prophecy of scripture being as a light shining in aContinue reading “Hard Times. Dark Places.”

When hope seems hidden…

Those who are of the faith, sometimes feel hopeless. Sometimes,circumstances,are so very bad,we even despair of life. We don’t think we can go on. We might not tell our closest friend, but we have even wished we could die. And it’s not because we are feeling so spiritual, just hoping to be in Heaven, it’sContinue reading “When hope seems hidden…”

How many HAIRS are on your HEAD?

How many hairs are on your head? How many do you wipe off your bathroom counters every day? It’s crazy to think just how many hairs fall from our heads every, single day, while others grow in. This makes Luke 12:7 even more special: “but the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Numbered.GodContinue reading “How many HAIRS are on your HEAD?”

Silence. And you don’t understand…

Silence. That day after the Savior had died. The pounding of the nails,the jeers of the crowd,His cries of pain. Now Silent. His body in the tomb. What now? They surely longed to hear His comforting voice. But Silence. They had left jobs, families, everything to follow Him. Now what? Silence. Nothing.But.Silence. Confused, afraid, everyContinue reading “Silence. And you don’t understand…”

Maundy Thursday

No Other Way THURSDAY The day before Jesus would die. The precious Messiah bends down to wash His disciple’s feet then takes the bread and the cup of Passover with the men in the upper room… knowing, full well, He would soon be their perfect Lamb. The Lamb. The Perfect Lamb… soon it would beContinue reading “Maundy Thursday”

Hope. But not in the way they were thinking.

I wonder about that morning after Jesus had rode in on the donkey, after the crowd had cheered and waved palm branches…I wonder, did He look around at His disciples? I wonder, as the disciples still celebrated over breakfast, did he wonder if they remembered what He had told them just a few days before?Continue reading “Hope. But not in the way they were thinking.”