Matthew 5:3-4 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” NIV In my devotions this week, I relate how God returned Joy to my life in various ways: friendship, travel, nature, giving to others, and having a purpose. There are so many ways to experience the rich life God has intended for us and I pray these words of mine will help others who are seeking Joy in their life. I have gained a new perspective on joy this year as I mourn the …
The Joy of Renewal
Psalms 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The first spring after my husband’s passing brought fresh reminders of my loss. His favorite past times were all around me. When our sons were young, Ken was a soccer coach. He embraced the game fully in spite of having never played it himself. When our grandchildren came along, he enjoyed the comfort of the sidelines as he watched our younger son coach his boys. Ken also loved baseball and was a pitcher for his high school team. …
Honor God in our Relationships in the Church
While we wait for Christ’s Return – Honor God in our Relationships in the Church We should demonstrate good spiritual health in our relationships within our churches by showing honor and respect to our leaders. “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you and to regard them very highly in love because of their work …” I Thess. 5:12-13 Annually, October has been suggested as Pastor Appreciation Month; however, appreciation for your pastor and staff can be acknowledged any day, any month. We …
When Jesus Comes To Get Us
Remember when we were kids and our generation had phrases we used a lot? Right on. Groovy. Far out. Peace. Those were the best phrases! Lol I think every group of people who have had such phrases believed in them at the time. For months I have been hearing a phrase over and over again “When Jesus comes to get us”. And you know what? It’s time to believe in that phrase for our season as believers. Oh beloved, when Jesus comes to get you and me… The Lord wants us to live by that phrase. He wants us to …
Learning to Sit with Grief
Learning To Sit With Grief and Be Okay with It i’m not always the best at knowing how to handle grieving. i’m honestly kind of awkward in those situations and rarely know what to say. but i’m learning how to sit with people in their grief. i’m currently working as a personal care assistant and sitting with an elderly lady is a lot of what my days consist of. there’s days we talk, and days we’re content with sitting in the silence. for someone who’s lost so many people in life as she has, grief often cast its shadow over her …
A Psalm for All the Days of Our Lives
Are you old enough to remember the Florida Orange Growers TV commercial from the 70’s? It featured folks of various ages and stages of life pausing in their day to drink a big glass of cold, refreshing orange juice and then declare: juice – It’s not just for breakfast anymore! That commercial came to mind as I studied Psalm 23. Inspired by the Floridians, let’s coin our own phrase: Psalm 23 – It’s not just for funerals anymore! (And it really never was!) While it my be the most-quoted passage for funerals, this poetic Psalm provides truth for every …
The Hope
We went to visit my aunt yesterday. She is so ready to go home from rehab. She was sure she was going home today. While we were there, she was convinced that surely tomorrow would be the day. After we left, I got the message that Thursday would be her day. She will be living, hoping and waiting for Thursday. Scripture comes to mind – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. I get it don’t you? Sometimes we can so focus on what’s going on around us that we …
Sheet Changing Day
We’ve all found comfort in daily busy-ness. But now God is calling us to find our comfort in Him alone. Yesterday was sheet changing day. That meant the pillow cases as well. So that meant that all the pillows were in the floor without cases. When I went to put the fresh sheets on the bed I also put pillow cases on all the pillows and placed them back in their spots. I evidently got the right pillows on hubby’s side of the bed. He slept fine. But I must have picked the wrong pillows for my side. I …
Comfy Nest Being Torn Up?
We had an old helmet in our garage that had been the recipient of a nest each spring for many years. For some reason the helmet was taken down. But there was another helmet left on a motorcycle after a ride a month or so ago. Right on cue, a feathered friend came looking for the helmet for a nest and since the old helmet was gone, they attempted to choose the newer one for their babies. Unfortunately for momma bird, that idea was squelched and the new helmet was cleaned out and brought inside. No baby birds in the …
Out of the Comfort Zone
One of the privileges God has allowed me in my life is the opportunity to give women a platform and then watch them step out in faith and obedience when God places something on their heart. This month I have that privilege once again. Grace Workman joins us as guest poster for the month of March and I know you will be blessed as she shares her journey of trusting God through the road bumps and detours that comes with change and transition. I can definitely relate, and because change is hard I’m sure many of you will too. Let’s …
Even A Sandwich
Even A Sandwich It’s always true that it’s a small world. One of our nurses was born and raised in a town near where we live. Her dad owned the local teenage hangout that all of us went to back in the 70’s. You could say we hit it off. Yesterday I was looking online thinking about supper. I thought about ordering something and having it delivered to me. I saw Jason’s deli and remembered how good a muffuletta sandwich is. But then I thought how silly it would be to have just a sandwich delivered …
Trust the Master
“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:1-3) Anxiety rises as fear threatens to destroy our hope. We become afraid of an objectionable outcome. We want what we want … without problems … and we want it now. We pray, but fear of the undesirable causes a cold paralysis of our faith and seizes our prayers. Can we …
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