Category: Encouragement

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Accepted and Loved

I spent a lot of my younger years trying to please people. I was very insecure in who I was, the way I looked and how I dressed. It was a hard time and I think most of us go through this, to a certain extent, when we are in our teens and early twenties. Hopefully, it’s something we outgrow.

Yet, for some it continues into mature adulthood. Trying to please the boss we sacrifice our own integrity or our families. Wanting to be accepted in the workplace and in our social circle we give in to activities that go against our internal convictions.

Walking free of others’ opinions is a hard thing to do whether we’re 5, 15, or 55. But there is an answer, a solid solution.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:5-7 NLT

Did you see when God decided to adopt us? It was in advance of our coming to Him. It was in advance of Jesus coming to this earth. The Father’s love and desire to see us restored to relationship with Him was the driving force to the plan of salvation.

We are loved and accepted just the way we are! Before we could do anything note-worthy or good, He chose to love us by His grace.

Start the day right – focus on the Father and His lovingkindness. When we know how much God loves us even our worst day is better. What does it matter what others think about us, say about us or do to us, when the Almighty God loves us and holds us in the palm of his hand?

“You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. 2 I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. 3 Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. 4 As long as I live, I will pray to you. 5 I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet. 6 I think about you, God, before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. 7 You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. 8 I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalms 63:1-8 CEV

We are loved and accepted. Our heavenly Father provides us with all the support we need!

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Be Heart Happy!

Last night we had a wonderful time with friends. Our hearts were full and so were our spirits. We laughed…alot!

Laughter is good for the body and the soul.

“A happy heart ·is like good medicine [L brings healing], but a broken spirit ·drains your strength [L dries up bone].” Proverbs 17:22 EXB

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 MSG

It’s good to have our hearts filled with joy. Left unchecked sorrow and sadness can elevate to discouragement, and disease. Dis-ease. Dis-courage. To lose courage and be ill-at-ease can leave the body and the mind drained and bone tired.

“…Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10 ERV

Every one of us will have troublesome situations. That’s just part of living on planet earth, however, we are not left to our own devices. We have God’s promise that end result will be good.

“Praise the Lord, because he is good. Praise his name, because it brings such joy!” Psalm 135:3 ERV

The Bible teaches us how to handle hardship. David faced Goliath, Daniel encountered a lion’s den, the disciples thought they would drown at sea, Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed. But they all came through victorious because they placed their trust in God.

God doesn’t create the problem but He does provide the victory.

“ We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,” Romans 8:28 CEV

Having a merry heart and trusting God is a choice.

No one knows what this year of 2023 will present to us, but we can make the determination of how we will handle each situation, the simple and the difficult, the good and the adverse. We can choose to trust God to handle every circumstance, to be at work for our good. He will strengthen us and fill our lives with courage and joy.

Choose to live well – live with a merry heart!

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Overwhelmed

Have you ever taken the time to sit quietly and think on God’s goodness? When I do this I am overwhelmed!

We need to contemplate, as the song says, “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”!

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT

I heard the testimony of a young evangelist 40 years ago. He had been invited to speak at a gathering during the Jesus movement of the 1970’s. Speaker after speaker stood and gave testimony to God’s saving grace. They told of drugs, homelessness, imprisonment, alcoholism, severely depression. Then it was his turn. The moderator said to him, “Tell us how you got here.” He said I quietly answered, “On the bus.” Everyone laughed.

He then went on to tell the crowd how being raised in a Christian home he had never strayed, but God had kept him, giving him strength to overcome the temptations that so many others had experienced. He said the miracle of being kept from a life of sin was just as great as being delivered out of that lifestyle.

I hear people talk of how God protected and delivered them in dangerous and life-threatening situations. I am so thankful for the miraculous deliverance of my friends and family, but I am just as grateful that Dave and I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles without a “close call” or an accident. That too is miraculous!

The children of Israel saw the miraculous power of God deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, provide food from heaven, and then bring them to the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey.

“‘I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. 14 ‘So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.'” Joshua 24:13-14a NLT

Never downplay what seems ordinary when compared to the miraculous. The person who has had a miraculous healing from a life-threatening disease prays for a life of ordinary good health.

The Bible uses the illustration of sheep and the Good Shepherd on several occasions. One story is of a shepherd who went out to find one lost sheep. That sheep needed rescuing; it needed a miracle. However, there were 99 sheep who weren’t lost but had been living under the shepherd’s overwhelming, never-ending, precious loving care.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

“ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack…Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Psalm 23:1, 6 AMPC

We all need to take time to be overwhelmed by the ordinary, everyday, protection and provision of God’s love. It’s miraculous!

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As We Begin

In the beginning…a New Year, a blank slate, a clean page, a new horizon, a fresh start. How many more clichés can I come up with? You get the point.

Does this year start any differently than those in the past? High expectations are easily replaced by disappointment unless the beginning has a solid foundation.

God is the master of beginnings.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 KJV

“In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God.” John 1:1 CEV

The best way to start this new year is to have God in your beginning! God the Father and His creative power is here to fill your beginning. And God the Son, Jesus, the Word, is here as our example of what life is like when we depend upon the Father.

Oh and one more verse.

“But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.

27 I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn’t like the peace this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.” John 14:26-27 CEV

The Holy Spirit comes to remind us of what the Jesus taught us about our relationship with the Father. That relationship will bring us peace and freedom from worry. Our heavenly Father desires for us to be worry free. The angels who announced the birth of Jesus said, “Fear not”. The angel who came to both Mary and Joseph first said, “don’t be afraid”. When the storm came up on the sea and the disciples thought they would drown Jesus said, “fear not”.

When God works in our lives He brings peace, not fear.

What a great way to begin this year and it’s a great way to walk through each day. In the beginning is God and He promises to bring us peace.

Happy New Year!

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One More Gift

Some of you have been reading the advent devotional I wrote several years ago and today you’ll read the last chapter and then you’ll probably put the book away until next year. But I want you to know there’s one more gift I’d like to share with you before the year ends.

Last night I pulled my covers up tight, tucked myself in and began to thank the Father for the many wonderful gifts He has blessed me with over the years. As I was thanking Him for filling my life, I heard myself say “thank you for making each day a gift”.

For 10+ years I have been sharing daily the goodness of God on Facebook and the last 5 years I have also been writing this blog. Each day I wake up knowing that there will be something in the day that I can embrace, each day is a gift of His love.

“Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17 CEV

But my life wasn’t always filled with this awareness.

I grew up in a Christian home and gave my heart to Christ when I was very young. However, as a teenager my relationship with the Lord lacked relevance. I became more concerned with pleasing people and being accepted by them than I was with the Lord. My first year in Bible College I became so despondent that I attempted to take my life.

That’s when the love of the heavenly Father became real to me. That’s when I came to know that each day is a gift from God. He wasn’t just some stories I had been told in Sunday School and the Bible wasn’t just words on the pages of a book.

“…’Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. 69 We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.’” John 6:68-69 CEV

My relationship changed. I saw myself the way He saw me. With all of my faults and my failures, my Father loved me unconditionally. There was nothing I could do to earn His love and there was nothing I would do that would keep Him from loving me.

Each day His word gives me the gift of life!

“ I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. 12 You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. 13  You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

Each day is a gift – a gift of hope and a gift of help!

As this year ends and we look to 2023 we have no way of knowing what things will come our way but we have the Father’s promise that our future will be filled with hope.

Each day is a gift from the Father – a gift filled with love!

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Rough Roads

We had a great time taking the family to the Polar Express in Williams on Tuesday. It was one of those “memory makers” that we, grandparents, hope to make with our grandchildren.

We had hoped for some snow so the kids could also make their first snowballs and possibly a snowman. When we woke yesterday morning the cars in the parking lot at the hotel had a nice little covering of snow. What we didn’t realize was that the road which led to home was snow packed.

Making snowballs in the parking lot was fun for them. They giggled as they made their slushy projectiles, lobbing them at their mother and siblings. All the while Pappy and their Dad were making plans on how to navigate the roads.

The weather and road apps didn’t give us the full story. We talk with the hotel desk clerk, and she said her managers had come from Flagstaff and they didn’t report any problems, so we loaded the kids in their car, we got in the truck and headed out.

The first several miles were fine. Driving slower than normal but nothing too concerning. And then – well the roads got worse, no ice but snow packed ruts narrowed to one lane and it was very slow going. It was that way for the next hundred miles. (The picture was taken when the roads got better.)

As we reached the lower elevations the snow turned to rain and the roads were open again. Our daughter text me saying, “This is why I’m glad we no longer live in the snow”. Amen to that.

Those roads reminded me of a Scripture.

“A voice is calling, ‘Make the way ready for the Lord in the desert. Make the road in the desert straight for our God. 4 Every valley will be lifted up and every mountain and hill will be brought down. The turns in the road will be made straight and the bad places will be made smooth. 5 Then the shining-greatness of the Lord will be seen. All flesh together will see it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:3-5 NLV

These are the words of prophecy that were given about the ministry of Jesus.

When life seems to be full of twists and turns, rough and rocky places, we can depend on the Lord to make the bad places smooth. The power of God in our lives will make crooked places straight; turn struggles into strength and battles into triumph.

Keep going even though the path narrows and the way seems constricted. It may be a difficult road to navigate but when we keep your eyes on Him we will see the path clear and His shining-greatness will be revealed.

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Anticipation

We should be living every day with a sense of anticipation – not fear, but excitement for the wonderful things God has planned for us!

This morning I know three small children who are waking up with anticipation. I hope their folks are too. You see, Dave and I gave the gift of experience to our youngest daughter’s family for Christmas. Today we will drive to northern Arizona, early evening we will board a train for the Polar Express experience.

The weather forecast is calling for snow this evening and tomorrow. It will be a day filled with firsts. A first train ride, not just a first for the littles but for Dave too. And a first for snow for the little ones! The excitement is building – that wonderful sense of anticipation!

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

Anticipation: Always be full of joy and don’t worry about anything! That is our instruction from God the Father.

This morning I was reminiscing about the last 10 years. We have had numerous moments of anticipation: the sale of our home in Montana, our return to AZ, births, weddings, home goings, cancer treatment, back surgery, full-time RV leaving. Yes, there has been much anticipation and there are new ones for 2023.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5 NLV

Remembering the past and looking forward to the future should heighten our sense of expectation. Young David, the shepherd, remembered the Lord’s help in killing a lion and a bear and so it increased his anticipation of success when he went out to face Goliath.

Moses reminded the Israelites on how the Lord had delivered them from Egypt, opened the Red Sea, and fed them with manna. These events of the past filled them with hope of God’s continued provision for their future as they entered the promised land.

“ I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 NLV

As we remember the past it should give us great anticipation for our future. God is faithful to a thousand generations – He is the Father of strength and victory. Be full of joy and free of worry as you anticipate the year ahead!

(There will be no blog tomorrow morning. I want to focus on my time with family.)

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Is It Over?

The piles of torn paper and empty boxes is a scene that played out in millions of homes worldwide. The joy and the laughter, the hugs and kisses, the thank-yous and oooh’s and aaaah’s are still fresh in our memories.

Face-to-face conversations and loving words exchanged over the phone were all added bonuses of the day.

I’m sitting here this morning recalling the texts, the sounds of loved ones voices, the snuggles, all the details of the day and I imagine Mary did the same.

Every one of us mothers can remember what it was like to wake up the day after one of our children were born. We spent time going over in our heart the emotions of the day, those that came to visit and once again holding that tiny child in our arms – counting every finger and toe. Kissing the top of their head, holding them tightly and marveling at the life of one so small.

Imagine what must of have going through Mary’s heart that morning after Christ’s birth. She was in a stable, with a man who had showed her unconditional love and holding a child in her arms who was God’s gift to mankind. How blessed – how in awe!

“ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” Luke 2:16-19 NLT

The life ahead of Mary was new and uncharted territory. She had never been a mother or a wife before. So much about her life was changing. Her Son was the promised Messiah! How do you raise the Son of God? Yes, there was so much to ponder. She would need to be dependent upon God for His help and instruction.

What will we “ponder” today? Is it the travel home, the new job after the first of the year? Maybe there will be a medical procedure that you’re dreading.

Is Christmas over and now we go on with the daily routine or will we be like Mary and realized that we need a greater dependence upon God for the days ahead?

Let’s take time to be thankful that Christmas has life changing, glorious meaning for every day of the year!

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In Need of Assistance

I wish I could say that I learned things on the first try but that just wouldn’t be the truth. Learning is a process!

I love to cook and bake but I am no chef. I’ve had some epic fails in the kitchen and I have learned from them. I never really learned to play piano the way I had hoped even though I had years of lessons and practice. Career choices and relationships have also been by trial and error.

Yes, learning is a process but the key to the process is having a good teacher, a wonderful counselor!

“ This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be ‘Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.’” Isaiah 9:6-7 ERV

It’s best if we want to know something to ask an expert. Many are willing to offer advice – some of it’s wrong, some unsolicited, some unhelpful, but the advice of an expert is always spot on.

Jesus came to be an expert advisor on daily life.

“Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16 ERV

He understands our weaknesses; He was tempted in every area that we will be, and He was victorious in everything He did. Who better to go to for help?

Just the other day I was talking to Dave about something, actually, I was complaining. I had only gotten a couple words out of my mouth when I was hit with such a strong conviction that I was doing wrong and I knew it was time to hush, immediately.

“So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us.” Hebrews 10:22-23 CEV

God knows how to get my attention, not to punish me but to correct me. He wants me to keep a clean conscience and a pure heart. Nothing profitable is accomplished by complaining. With His instruction, His advice, as my Counselor I certainly learn to do things in a better way with a better outcome.

It would be foolish not to listen to the instruction of the One who knows the beginning and the end. The One who is omniscient, who knows all and is willing to be my Counselor.

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.” James 1:5 CEV

King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom. God told him he asked for a good thing. We have also been given a gift, a Wonderful Counselor, His name is Jesus!

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So Much to Do

(First off, will everyone join me in saying thank you to Stephen and Tom for getting my website back up? Stephen helped identify the problem and Tom took that information and contacted the right people to get it corrected. Thanks guys, you both are wonderful!)

Last night after Dave went to bed, I stayed up thinking about things that still need to be done before Christmas. Still so much to do, not necessities, but things I want to do.

There’s baking for friends and family. Our youngest grandson is expecting cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and I’m wanting to make goodie plates for friends. Still have two days of work so everything will have to wait until Tuesday.

Then I thought about Mary? What was she thinking, how much did she still have left to do those last few days before Jesus was born?

I’m sure Mary was a list maker. When the angels announced His birth and the shepherds tended to His manger the Scripture tells us that Mary pondered all these things in her heart.

“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ” Luke 2:17-19 NLT

There were so many memorable events in Mary’s pregnancy, I know she must have had a plan for those days leading up to His birth. She knew her son would be no usual child. For before His conception, she knew He would be special, she knew she would give birth to the long awaited Messiah.

 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:30-33 NLT

Her first child, the Messiah, was about to be born but first she was going on a 100 mile trip. She had to pack, food needed to be prepared, laundry needed to be done. How long were they going to be gone? She needed “stuff” in case the baby was born before she got back home. No Mom or midwife to help! Can you imagine the evening conversations with Joseph as they stopped on their trek?

“Can you do this?”, she might have asked. “I’m going to need your help; I won’t have anyone else to assist me. We don’t know anyone in Bethlehem. What if the local Walmart is closed? Where will we get diapers and onesies?”

Yes, Mary was the mother of the Messiah, but she was also a teenager, first-time mother, and away from home.

Our preparations over the next week fail in comparison to hers. Our loving heavenly Father who sustained her and took care of every detail also has our days planned. He will sustain, protect and provide.

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 NLT

Don’t let the concerns of life steal your peace!

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