THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE FEELING OF LOSING YOUR FOOTING.
I should know. I’m an expert at the slip-and-fall. In the rain with flip flops that have lost their tread. On frozen snow in hiking boots that are supposed to have grip. Even in my kitchen when I’m wearing my slippers. (Why are they called that???) Then there was that time I trekked out across some sand to grab a bucket and ended up knee deep in drilling mud.
In those times we are NOT in control, and we know it. We take a few steps, falter, and realize we are going down.
Suffering can be like that—but there is no humor in it.
We all walk through suffering. Sometimes it feels so dark and deep we can’t see what’s ahead.
🎵I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (Ps 40:1-2)
Our road seems slippery, and we may feel we have no hope. But God is near, and He hears our cries. As we draw near to Him, He gives us a new perspective and firm footing. He also gives us a song of joy amid our suffering.
🎵 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. (Ps 40:3)
This song of praise is for the express purpose of encouraging others who are suffering so they too can draw near to the Lord and experience His peace and the abundant life He came to give.
This is how a watching world comes to know God. They see our suffering. But they also see a heart that trusts God during it. A heart that is not bitter, but one that sings for joy.
Do you know a fellow sufferer who willingly shares their song of joy? How has their example encouraged you?
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Today marks James’s first birthday after losing him last summer. He loved the color blue. So, to honor him today, I “tied a blue ribbon around our old oak tree.” Oh, how I miss him.
I'm thankful that James knew Jesus Christ as his Savior. Therefore, I do not grieve as those who have no hope. One day we will celebrate together. In the meantime, I'm headed to Baytown to be with my parents and my sister. We are going out for lunch!!
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Happy Heavenly Birthday, James. I love you!!
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AS HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT, GOD HAS **SET YOU APART** ➡️ FOR HIMSELF!!
Wow. That's powerful.
Do you have something very special that you keep in a special place -- just for you? (I'm not talking about hiding those special cookies. 😉😂)
I love coffee mugs. But certain mugs are different than the others. One was a gift from a special friend. One looks a lot like one my grandfather let me drink from when I visited my grandparents. One is from Disney, and I don't let ANYONE use that one!
Yes, these are "just things." But they are special to me, and anytime I pull one of these mugs out of the cabinet, I remember why it's special. Why it's different from the mugs that match my dishes.
In the Old Testament, “set apart” means to be ...
=> distinctly different.<=
You are God’s faithful servant. He made you distinctly different from everyone else—for His purposes. God’s purposes for you are distinctly different from anyone else’s.
In the New Testament when we read the words “set apart,” they have the added meaning of being sanctified, or holy.
God created you => to be holy for holy purposes. <=
One such purpose is to be a messenger of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)--showing others how they can be reconciled to God. What a privilege we have to be His messengers!
My prayer for you is the same as that of Paul's at the close of his letter to the Ephesian church:
Whenever you speak [or write], may God give you words so you will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel and that you may declare it fearlessly, as you should. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Be blessed today as you proclaim the gospel of peace to a world that is crying out for it!!
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✨ What other holy purposes has God called you to?
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PSALM 15 IS SHORT, YET JAM-PACKED WITH GOODNESS.
Tough goodness, but goodness all the same. I had to include all of it in my images. Scroll through the pages so you don't miss any of it.
When I journaled through this Psalm, I was knee-deep in the edits for my Bible study, STANDING FIRM IN CHRIST: Biblical Principles for Fighting Spiritual Battles. Edits from my awesome editor and edits from my sweet friends who wanted this Bible study to be its best.
Let me tell you, allowing trusted friends inside your writing world is scary! It's a good thing, but it can also sting. As I read through the psalmist's words, God brought a principle to my mind. You know the one--what's in our hearts shows up in our words (and even our thoughts!!).
Psalm 15, explains that the *blameless person* enjoys a close relationship with God, and describes this person in detail.
This person SPEAKS TRUTH FROM THE HEART. In other words, it's not just the words this person speaks, but the response to difficult words! I wrote the following in my journal:
"A blameless person's speech is wholesome. She doesn't just not curse--she encourages. AND she accepts criticism without being critical."
Wow. That can be hard to do. Receiving edits can be a challenge. But what about when someone who cares about you confronts you (in love) about a difficult life issue?
How we respond to criticism is a test of what's really in our hearts.
When our hearts are tender and match up with God's truth, our lives are built on a firm foundation that will never be shaken.
✨ What other truths can we remember to keep our hearts tender instead of tough and critical?
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OUR THOUGHTS OF GOD ARE NOT GREAT ENOUGH. -- J. I. Packer
The Scripture focus for Chapter 3 of ENJOYING INTIMACY WITH GOD, is Isaiah 40, which holds many favorite passages, including:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NIV)
Isaiah 40 is lengthy, but oh, so beautiful. It was written to encourage Israel after her discipline (captivity in Babylon) was completed. God wanted them to know that He was fully worthy of their trust.
It is an interesting contrast. It describes man’s utter weakness—and God’s transcendence. But this God who is so other than anything we know, LOVES **US**. The God who made the universe, who holds the oceans in His hands, who never grows weary—is our friend.
Sanders shares the first verse from “How Great Thou Art.” It is fitting.
O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
In what ways, as you move forward to serve our King, do you need to fully depend on God?
I've been on somewhat of a social media hiatus--working tirelessly with my husband on some much needed household repairs/updates. Finding my way and rhythm back into this special world is a bit overwhelming!
Let's remember, God goes before us and strengthens us for all He calls us to do.
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Yesterday marked 30 years of loving this man!
According to tradition, the 30th anniversary is the Pearl Anniversary. I don’t know exactly why, but I surmise it’s because of how a pearl is formed inside an oyster.
A grain of sand, or some other irritant, finds its way inside. The oyster produces a substance that coats the irritant, eventually forming a pearl.
Irritants are plentiful in marriage. Tim & I have certainly had more than a few. Some of our own making, some we didn’t ask for. But God has been gracious and merciful to us. He has taught us how to love each other through them. He has taught us how to forgive when the irritant is something one of us did to cause the other pain. We are still learning.
You could say love and forgiveness have formed in our marriage a string of pearls.
There is no one else I’d rather walk this life with. Tim is God’s precious gift to me.
I love you, Sweetheart.
💞 What have you found that makes a difference in your marriage? That keeps you connected to your spouse? 💞
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THIS GIRL AMAZES ME! She came over early so the Tim-Man could change out her tie rods. Well, the other day she purchased the right tools (including jack stands and a hydraulic jack) and replaced her strut and spring coil assemblies and the sway bar links ALL BY HERSELF!! Her daddy was SO PROUD when she showed him.
This is so beyond me. But I am a proud mama! Happy Birthday, sweet girl!! We love you!!
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Claudia and I put together James’s Christmas arrangement. Still missing him like crazy. Yet we rejoice that James is celebrating Christmas with His Savior.
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