Divine Providence: Stories of Protection and Guidance

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come

and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.

Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

A river brings joy to the city of our God,

the sacred home of the Most High.

God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.

From the very break of day, God will protect it.

The nations are in chaos,

and their kingdoms crumble!

God’s voice thunders,

and the earth melts!

 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

the God of Israel is our fortress.

Recently, I was asked to write a devotional on God’s protection. I remembered the times God was faithful to show me how He was protecting me or others in my life. I will share one of them, but I also had to take stock of the times when tragedies have happened. Why wasn’t God protecting those people? Or was He??? Maybe His protection didn’t look like what I wanted or expected. 

Going to Bible college on the opposite side of the country from my home made travel quite the challenge. Plane fairs were too high for this starving college student and gas was less than $1 per gallon. We would pack as many people in a car as possible and rotate seats and drivers. 

If you have driven the I-40 you know the long, dark stretches of road. It was the middle of the night and my turn to drive. We were forty miles from the nearest town, Lordsburg, New Mexico. Suddenly, I noticed the gas pedal was not responding.  My friend questioned why I was slowing down. I was not trying to slow! We were not out of gas. I coasted to the side of the road, where my friend took over behind the wheel. Except he didn’t. The car was running but all it did when he put his foot on the gas was rev the engine. We were not going anywhere. 

This was way before cell phones, and even before the handy little roadside assistance boxes. It was 2:00am. My friend got out of the car and in about twenty minutes flagged down a car. Sadly, the man driving the would be rescue vehicle seemed quite inebriated. That wasn’t gonna work… nope. So the friend waited ‘till another set of headlights approached. Quickly, he realized that the car was packed with a group of guys that… well let’s just say they looked like they were up to no good. He told the three of us girls in the back seat to get down and start praying. We did. The second car was successfully waved on. 

We all started praying. This could get dangerous quickly. Scott stood out waiting for the next car to approach. He could barely make out the headlights of the subcompact car inching down the freeway. They stopped. He explained to the couple and their dog that we were college students trying to get home for Christmas. We needed to get the car towed to someone who could get it fixed and maybe get a ride to the closest town. 

The rescuers took my friend to call for a tow truck while his roommate (who happened to be an expert in martial arts) stayed behind to protect us.  Hours later they all arrived back to the car where we were stranded. The guys stayed with the car until the transmission could be replaced. The three of us girls loaded with our toothbrushes and a spare pair of undies crammed into the back of this miniature car. 

It was hard to be social in the middle of the night, let alone, being squished so tight we could hardly get a breath in or out. But we did talk to this couple, and of course their dog. We found out that they also were students at a Bible college, the one my sister and her husband happen to attend in San Diego. THEY KNEW MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW. 

I don’t even remember their names. I think they actually may have been angels. All I can remember is knowing 100% that God had sent them to us at the very moment we needed them. He loved us so much, he protected us from potential harm with the previous people who stopped and not only provide a ride to safety, but with people who knew my family. What are the “chances” of that? 

With God, there are no coincidences. He had that couple drive by our broken-down car by divine appointment. He had them going in the direction we needed to go and impressed on them to stop and help us.  

Who knows how many angels were hovering over us, keeping us safe. How many times do we not even know how  and when God is protecting us. 

We made it home on Christmas Eve with a new transmission and only one speeding ticket… also given to yours truly! 

It was clear God was protecting us, even from our own foolish selves. We could see His hand of protection. Everything came out okay. But what about when God’s protection doesn’t look the way we think it should. What about the times where it all doesn’t come out okay? 

You can about what God’s protection looks like, even when we cannot see it in this article:

Overcoming Grief with Hope: A Journey of God’s Enduring Protection.

How have you seen God’s protection in your life? It might be hard to see sometimes, but by His grace we are protected under His sheltering wings. 

Parenting Wisdom: Nurturing Godly Children with Biblical Guidance

Raising kids is hard work. Letting them go into the big wide world is even harder. 

From the minute they take their first breath, we are helping to mold our children into who they will become as adults. What we do, what we say, and how we do and say it can impact them for a lifetime. 

In our love for our children, we want to provide for them. We want to make sure they have what we did not. And that may be okay sometimes, but as parents we must have the wisdom to know the difference between need and want, between indulgence and fundamental requirement for life. 

Fortunately, we have been given clear guidance in Scripture in teaching and guiding our children. 

We need to search the Scripture as if we are mining for gold in our quest to raise godly children. 

Sometimes the Lord sends wise and experience people into our path to help us understand the mysteries of child rearing and diligent teaching. They may be friends, mentors, pastors, teachers, or complete strangers. This I know for sure; parenting is not an 18-year commitment, it is a commitment for a lifetime. And we all need help along the way to understand how to keep that commitment strong and healthy. 

I am so blessed the Lord put many people in my path to guide me along the way. And now, I have joined with others who have been on the journey as parents, teachers, and school administrators to bring you some of that wisdom for the adventure of parenting, especially for those entering the new school year. 

“Back to You Back to School” is a collection of wisdom from ten authors who bring practical advice, wisdom, and hope to your through their writings. There is something for everyone, even if you are not in the season of raising children or back to school. 

The chapters include topics such as teaching with an eternal perspective, building authentic confidence (my chapter), and faithful foundations. There is so much more that will encourage, give hope and confidence to any parent or teacher who reads this book. 

“Back to School, Back to You” is available now on Amazon. We would love for you to pick up a copy, and don’t forget to go back and leave a review when you are done.

I pray you will have a blessed ‘school year.’ Whatever stage of life we are in, we are all impacted by the education of our children. I challenge you to pray for all our teachers, the ones in public school, private school, Christian school, and the ones who choose to teach their children at home. They all have enormous challenges and responsibility. Children are our heritage, may it be a bountiful and beautiful legacy.

Searching For Wisdom

If you are looking for a great daily devotional, this is a brand new online resource. Each day there is a new devotional and prayer to encourage you in your walk with God. As one of the contributing authors, I would like to invite you to read along and be blessed. This is my second article, and I would love any feedback.

Seeking God’s Wisdom; Unearthing the Hidden Treasure

Daybreak Devotion Podcast

The Treasure of Worry

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:22-26 (NIV)

What? Why would you treasure worry you may ask. And with good reason. I have to make a confession. Too often, the treasure of worry is what I hold in my heart. 

Treasure is my ‘word’ this year. It came to me as I was finishing up a women’s retreat that I had coordinated. Considering whether or not I would do it again next year, I asked the Lord to make it clear to me what I should do. 

He did. As clear as day, the verse, Luke 12:34 flooded my heart. “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” I looked out at the women, ages 15 to 90, and realized I was observing treasures visible here on earth and treasures that I am “laying up for myself in heaven.” I want to be making eternal investments that cannot be stolen, destroyed or eaten by vermin. 

Fast forward a few months. I received a writing prompt to describe the word treasure. Easy, I thought, I have this one down pat. I started to quote the verse that had flooded my heart back in the fall. I may have even been a little proud that I could answer with confidence what treasure meant to me. It was not wealth, success, or fame. It was what was in my heart. 

In a split second, the question came to mind, “what is really in there, Keri?” As I examined my heart, I realized that I had allowed worry to make its way on to the throne of my heart. Oh, and I have a BIG capacity for worry!

As I go about life and ministry, I tend to pick up heavy stones along the way and add them to my knapsack. I carry them around like a badge of honor. See how strong I am?  I need to worry about my parents, my kids, my granddaughter, my husband, my car, my home, and the list continues. 

Stop it! Sometimes we just need to hear those words. “Stop it.” 

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?” Luke 12:25-26

As many times as I have read the passages in Matthew 6 and Luke 12 about treasure and worry, it never really occurred to me that they are in the same passage. Mmm, I think that may be by design. If we are worrying about earthly things, our eyes are not on our Heavenly Father who lavishes us with good. (Psalms 103) 

Of course, we are given direction for caring for our families and making wise decisions. But worrying about those things will not bring about success. Worry weighs us down like a backpack full of rocks. Unless, you are a geologist, that is a waste of time and energy… and brain space. 

We can release the worry when we realize that God loves us and cares about our children, our parents and our well being far more than is possible for us to do. 

He tells us, “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” Philippians 4:6  God is not on the same timeline as us. We can thank Him in advance for all He is going to do. And then we can believe that He will fulfill His promises found in Scripture:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

What is the treasures you are storing up in your heart? Are you, like me, just collecting worries and burdens that weigh you down? I encourage you to surrender every single worry to Jesus. Ask Him for wisdom. Believe He will give it to you generously. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for all you have provided. Please help me to daily surrender my cares to you and trust that you love me and those I worry about more than I can comprehend. In Your Name, Amen. 

Experiencing Freedom: Overcoming Fear with Faith

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. I John 4:18 NLT

I was struggling. I had taken on every challenge and assignment, gotten every degree and credential my employer asked me to. Yet when my boss called me with the news that my assignment would be changing the next fall, I knew deep in my soul that I needed to say no and step away. 

I prayed. I studied James three about true wisdom being submissive. I cried. I wrestled with what to do. But I was afraid. How would we pay the bills? I thought I had been acting in obedience when I continued my education. So why, after all that I had put in to my career, would God be asking me to leave it behind? Was I having a lack of peace, or was I being discontent?

Looking back, I can honestly say I acted out of fear rather than faith. My husband and I have always said, our paychecks come from the Lord not from man. But when that statement was tested, I kind of freaked out. Out of fear I chose to keep receiving that paycheck rather than believe that God would provide as He has promised in His Word. 

Miserable does not even describe the ten or so weeks I lasted in that assignment. I went in every morning prayed up, and by noon, I was trying to figure out how to word my resignation. I was being held captive by my fear rather than experiencing the freedom my faith in God’s provision would bring. 

Out of desperation one morning, I prayed a gutsy prayer. I prayed, “Lord, you know my heart. You feel the pain I am experiencing. If you want me to continue on this course I will. But I am weak. Please take this cup from me; not my will, but yours be done.” By the afternoon, He was picking me up out of the miry pit and placing my feet on solid ground.

It was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. It was frustrating. It was humiliating. 

And it was freeing. 

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.

Psalms 40:1-5

When He picked me up out of that pit and placed my feet on solid ground, He gave me time to breathe, time to pray, time to rest, time to think, time to serve my family and my church and time to, “Be still and know that He is God.”  

The joy did not return to me in one miraculous moment. The Lord did not immediately place me in a new job or career. In fact, He slowly allowed me to realize that not one moment of my work experience, education, or training was wasted. He was using everything I had already done to prepare me for what He has next. 

It is so hard, in our society, to believe we must have a purpose that is connected to a paycheck or bank account, and there is something rewarding to working hard and seeing that direct deposit land in our checking account. Be assured though, that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1). Even if we have human employers, our paychecks still come from the Lord. 

My freedom comes in grasping my purpose is honoring God with my whole life, work, home, church and community life. It comes by releasing dependence on my paycheck, unemployment payments and severance amounts. It continues to develop with every choice I make in having faith and as I realize how deep and wide and vast my Father’s love is for me. 

 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19

Where do you need to have more faith? Is it family life, work life, church/ministry, or do you need to just take faith at face value and believe that God loves you and sent His son to be your savior? Ask Him today to help you understand how deep and wide His love is for you and that he can do abundantly above more than you ask or think. 

Dear Lord, Please instill in my heart the understanding of your love for me. Help me to trust that your plans are far better than mine and that you have given me a measure of faith to act upon. You are not the author of fear but of faith. Amen

I would love to hear how God has shown His faithfulness to you. Where have you seen God release you from fear and give you the freedom to have faith in Him?

Finding Freedom in Choosing Faith over Fear

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. 

 I John 4:18 a NLT

I was struggling. I had taken on every challenge and assignment, gotten every degree and credential my employer asked me to. Yet when my boss called me with the news that my assignment would be changing the next fall, I knew deep in my soul that I needed to say no and step away. 

I prayed. I studied James three about true wisdom being submissive. I cried. I wrestled with what to do. But I was afraid. How would we pay the bills? I thought I had been acting in obedience when I continued my education. So why, after all that I had put into my career, would God be asking me to leave it behind? Was I having a lack of peace, or was I being discontent?

Looking back, I can honestly say I acted out of fear rather than faith. My husband and I have always said, our paychecks come from the Lord not from man. But when that statement was tested, I kind of freaked out. I chose to keep receiving that paycheck rather than believe that God would provide as He has promised in Philippians 4:19. “My God shall supply all my needs…”

Miserable does not even describe the ten or so weeks I lasted in that assignment. I went in every morning prayed up, and by noon, I was trying to figure out how to word my resignation. I was being held captive by my fear rather than experiencing the freedom my faith in God’s provision would bring. 

Out of desperation one morning, I prayed a gutsy prayer. I prayed, “Lord, you know my heart. You feel the pain I am experiencing. If you want me to continue on this course, I will. But I am weak. Please take this cup from me; not my will, but yours be done.” By the afternoon, He was picking me up out of the mirey pit and placing my feet on solid ground. 

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
 He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalms 40:1-3

It was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. It was frustrating. It was humiliating.

And it was freeing. 

I realized that I was staying where I was clearly not supposed to be. I was acting out of fear rather than faith. It’s easy to see that now. I don’t know that I had the courage to take the leap of faith I needed to. But I realize now, one of the reasons the Lord allows us to go through those tough seasons is so that next time, we can step out in faith, allowing the perfect love of our Father, who promises to take care of us, cast out the fear. (I John 4:18)

Sometimes, faith pushing out fear looks like we are being pushed right over a cliff. It seems like we are being asked to make impossible or irrational decisions. Courage may evade us; we are afraid to take the leap of faith, and sometimes God gives us a nudge which leaves us freefalling into His arms. He asks us to trust Him. He tells us that he cares for us and will provide all our needs, for His glory. (Philippians 4:19)

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.”

Psalms 118:8-9

God is still showing me His path day by day. He has proven Himself a generous father repeatedly, but I have not achieved perfect faith. My daily prayer is that I would act out of faith over fear. There is such freedom in trusting in the Creator of the Universe to care for my needs rather than my own paycheck, accomplishments, degrees, and credentials. Building faith is a project that has a beginning but has no end.

Like a baby learning to walk, we are constantly being challenged to take another step, growing in strength and confidence with every move.

Where do you need to have more faith? Is it family life, work life, church/ministry, or do you need to just take faith at face value and believe that God loves you and sent His son to be your Savior? Ask Him today to help you understand how deep and wide His love is for you and that he can do abundantly above more than you ask or think.  

Dear Lord, Please instill in my heart the understanding of your love for me. Help me to trust that your plans are far better than mine and that you have given me the measure of faith to act upon. Thank you for being the author of faith and not of fear. Amen 

Finding Freedom in Talking to God

Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything. 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. I Peter 5:7 (NLT)

It was one of those no good, really bad, rotten days. I had had words with my husband. I had a headache. People all around me were being stupid. I needed to let my friends in on the obnoxious day I was having. They needed to know of the injustices and ignorance I was having to deal with. First, I called Ginny. No answer. Then I called Marguerite. No answer. Then I called Marie. No answer. Then, I called my sister. She would totally get my lament. 

She did not answer her phone either. OOOH! What was I going to do? I needed to blow off some steam and fast, before I overheated and exploded. “Hello” came the still small voice. “I am here.” I did not hear it audibly, but my spirit heard God’s voice as clear as Samuel heard it in the temple. 

“You can talk to me; remember I promised to never leave you or forsake you. I want you to tell me all about what is troubling you. I know your heart better than you know it yourself. Give it to me. Let me have it all. And then be still.”

In that moment, I began to pour my heart out to God. I told Him why I was upset, what I thought He should do about it and why. And with each word, little by little, I began to be freed from the imprisonment of the angst I was feeling. In short order, my attitude began to change, and my heart was at rest. 

God knew I wanted to blather to a friend. But in his infinite wisdom, He did not allow me to infect anyone else with my stinky attitude. He did not allow me the pleasure of drawing anyone else into my grumbling spirit. He reminded me that His phone line is always open. He is always willing to talk to me. He knows my mind and heart, so I don’t need to hide what is really going on down there. And you know what? He loves me anyway.

Whether it is a prayer of praise, an attitude change, a deep heart healing, an intercession for a loved one, God hears us. The creator of the universe desires to have a conversation with us. Not just once in a while, but all the time. He wants us to have the freedom to come to Him and call out to Him so that He can show us great and mighty things. 

It doesn’t matter if you are mad at God. He wants you to tell Him about it. It doesn’t matter if you are disappointed with life. God wants you to talk to him about it. But He doesn’t want us to only come to Him when we are sad, mad, or in need. He wants to celebrate with us. He wants us to enjoy His creation and tell Him how much we love Him for giving it to us. He wants us to rest in the promise that we can be free from worry because we can take our cares to Him because He cares for us. (I Peter 5:7)

How do you view prayer? We can tend to think of it as a grocery list we take to the store once a week. In reality, it should be an ongoing conversation with God. The idea of “pray without ceasing” means it is not a daily or weekly chore but an opportunity to open our hearts to the power of God forever all the time. 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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 4:6-7

Heavenly Father, Please help me remember to come to you first. Help me to make my request known to you, the one who hears me all the time and has the power to heal, to forgive, to make right, and to sooth my soul. Thank you for seeing down deep inside me and loving me enough to cover over the yuck with your grace. Amen.

If you were blessed by this or would like to build your prayer life, I encourage you to read, Restore Your Soul with Seven Days of Prayer, Reflections on Prayer & Days of the Week Prayer Journal.

Breaking the Chains of Guilt: Embracing Grace and Redemption

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21(NLT)

I was only five years old. My mom had taken us to visit our friend who also happened to be the local butcher. He loved us girls and always had a treat for us. This time, he handed us each a hot dog wrapped in butcher paper. As we approached the check-out stand, big barrels of caramel candy drew my attention. I mean, it was strategically placed at eye level for this kindergartener to be tempted. What was I to do? I quickly snuck my hand up to the bottom of the pile of sugary bliss and slipped one single little piece of candy in the folds of my wrapped treat from the butcher.

Knowing our generous butcher and thinking myself clever, once I the car, I revealed my spectacular find. I held it up and exclaimed, “Oh look, Mr. B must have snuck this in while I wasn’t looking.” The only problem was, (well there were lots of problems) I am a bad liar, my sister did not have any candy, and my mom knew immediately what had taken place. 

She marched my little behind back in the store and made me confess what I had done. The cashier was quick to forgive. She said, “Oh, it’s okay.” To which my mom directly and adamantly replied, “Oh, no it is not okay!” I was sure I would be paying the price for a long time! I pictured myself confined to my bedroom for the rest of my life, losing my birthday presents and any other punishment this guilt ridden five-year-old could imagine.

I knew what I had done was wrong. The embarrassment of getting caught was enough to make me never steal again. But here is the thing. The cashier offered grace. My mom knew dealing with the sin immediately would impact my future behavior. I was guilty. I was confronted with my sin. I confessed. I was forgiven. And my mom NEVER brought it up again. 

The confession gave me the freedom to not continue in the suffocating guilt. I know, it was ‘just’ a piece of candy. But God in His goodness, dealt with my sin and allowed me to learn a big lesson from a ‘little’ sin, so I did not have to carry the weight of a much heavier guilt later in life.

Scripture tells us that if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9). And when our hearts understand the gravity of that sin and are truly repentant, He tosses that sin as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) Like my mom, He never mentions it again. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When we are in Christ, there is no condemnation. That means He takes away the guilt and replaces it with grace. (John 1:17)

Sometimes the only one we need to make things right with is God. Other times we may need to seek the forgiveness of another. Guilt can be a tool used by God to spur us into repentance and restoration. However, that same tool can be used by the enemy to steal our peace, to destroy relationships, to tear us down and view ourselves through guilt rather than the grace and forgiveness given to us through the blood of Jesus who paid the price for ALL our sin. 

You may be thinking, “you only stole one little piece of candy, what is the big deal?” Sin is sin to God. His grace is bigger than that stolen piece of candy and it is bigger than the most heinous crime. The Apostle Paul was a murderer and called himself “chief of sinners.” Yet God called him, redeemed him, forgave him, and used him in transforming the world through his writing of a predominant part of the New Testament. 

Are you carrying the burden of guilt for some past failing? Do you need to seek forgiveness from someone to put the guilt to rest, or can you like David, say, “against you only Father have I sinned?” I encourage you to allow the precious gift of grace relieve you of the blight of guilt on your soul. Every time that sin or failing pops into your head, surrender it to the Lord. Take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ and put it behind bars forever. 

Live in the freedom offered through the gift of forgiveness.

Heavenly Father,

Please heal me from my sin and guilt. Forgive me for ____________. Please lift the weight from me. I place these burdens at your feet and ask you to cleanse me from my past failings. Please help me to honor you and trust that you have the power to heal and forgive. In your precious name, Amen

Finding Freedom in the Truth of Jesus: A Revolutionary War for Your Soul

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:31-32,34-36 (NLT)

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

“American Heritage Day” at school brought many famous Americans from all walks of life and time periods. I was proudly dressed as Sacagawea, guide to Lewis and Clark, and had diligently prepared my speech.  Sure my character and speech were the best, I thought I would win first place, at least in the third grade, maybe even the whole school! Until I heard one of the sixth graders give their speech, “Give me liberty or give me death.” After that speech, I was ready stand and fight for my freedom. 

Standing on the precipice of freedom, Patrick Henry declared, “Give me liberty or give me death.” However, few of us know the words he spoke immediately before this statement. He declared that the colonists were in chains of slavery to England and, referring to the Revolutionary War, he stated that it had already begun and, “we must not be idle.” 

Remaining idle would lead to continued slavery and probable death. His words became a battle cry into the war and repeated throughout the centuries.  

There is another revolutionary war taking place. It is not one that is recognized in the history books or world timelines. It is not one that is taking place in a foreign country or on our own domestic soil. It is the battle for the hearts and minds of every citizen of this world.

The Prince of the Power of Darkness is holding the world captive in the chains of sin, guilt, and discouragement. The enemy wants us to believe the lies that say we are okay without God; we are enough; we are self-sufficient; or that we are worthless, have no purpose, and our lives don’t really matter. Remaining idle will result in continued slavery and sure death. 

The King of Kings wants us to believe we are loved, He is enough, and His grace is sufficient to win the battle raging in our souls. In the ultimate revolution, God gave His only son, Jesus, to death on the cross, so that we might have eternal freedom from the chains of sin and the consequences we deserve. 

Jesus died on the cross, so we might have that freedom, but He did not stay there. After three days, He was victorious over death and rose from the grave. He paid the definitive price for our freedom. And now, he goes before us and fights the battle in our place. He wants us to know the Truth and be free.

In John 14, He tells us He is the “Way, the truth, and the Life.” And in John 8, He assures us that if we know the truth, (He is the Truth) The Truth will set us free. When we belong to Him, we will be free from the power of sin that leads to our eternal destruction and be given a place in the Family of God and an eternal home in Heaven. 

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.  He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. (NLT) Ephesians 1:7-8

Do you feel enslaved by sin, fear, or guilt? Today, let God win the revolutionary war for your soul. Ask Jesus to break your chains and give you the freedom that only He can give through the power of His death and resurrection. If you have already asked Jesus to be your savior, I encourage you to surrender the battle on a daily basis. Allow the power of God to be made perfect in your weakness.

Dear Jesus, I want to have all the freedom your salvation offers. Please forgive me and replace the chains of sin by binding my heart to yours and becoming Lord of my life. In Your Precious Name, Amen

She is Clothed With Strength and Dignity

Lessons From the Moms in My Life

“Sing louder,” Grandma Bonebright directed as she gently pushed my sister and me closer to the bedside of Granny Thompson. She wanted to ensure this dear 101 year old saint could be blessed by the sweet melody of “Jesus Loves Me.”

We sang all of the sweet Jesus songs we could think of, always being encouraged to sing louder and get closer. I still remember the soft- hands of Granny Thompson reaching out to hold my hand.

Even though her eyes were not seeing her physical surroundings, they were still the window to her soul. The joy of the Lord beamed from the inside out as the light of the world shined through her.  

My grandmother did not make a big deal about it. She did not preach to me about why I needed to serve. She gently and quietly just set an example of godly living and self-sacrifice.

I have been so blessed to have a heritage of Christian women in my life. As early as I can remember, my Grandma Bonebright involved me in and set an example of Christian acts of service. Whether it was taking a meal to a sick person, doing somebody’s laundry, or singing to Granny Thompson or other “shut-ins”, Gram planned her life around meeting the needs of others as her service to Christ. 

As the MS set in, my Grandma Bonebright was afraid to go out in public for fear of falling or causing an accident. The last time I remember her driving was when I was in Jr High. She picked me up from school and headed out onto the freeway. We topped speeds of 20 miles an hour, and that was with me sliding over and putting my foot on the gas! 

Dear Grandma was transitioning from the servant to the one being served and needing care. A few of her friends were not too shy to come around. But most of the women she had served along-side of were absent in her time of time of need. They were afraid of hurting her or embarrassed at her inability to take care of herself as she once had. Sometimes she could not make it to the bathroom in time, and so, sometimes her house smelled a little funny… For those who could not get over their own uneasiness with Gram’s condition, they missed knowing one of the most wonderful ladies with a most godly, gentle, and quiet spirit. 

She taught me, from her recliner and wheelchair, how to cook, how to serve, how to love my neighbor as myself. I learned compassion, patience, and true joy of serving through practical experiences of lifting, transferring, schlepping wheelchairs, bathing and grooming, cleaning her house, shopping for my grandparent’s groceries and cooking them their favorite foods until they no longer needed the foods and trappings of this earthly life.  

One of the greatest blessings of building this kind of a relationship with my grandmother is that she knew me well. She knew my weaknesses, my strengths, my likes and dislikes, but more than any of that, she knew how to pray for me. I am confident that I was one of the main beneficiaries of her prayers. She did not always know what my every need was, but she daily placed me and my needs at the throne of our Savior. 

She is clothed with strength and dignity, 
and she laughs without fear of the future. 
Proverbs 31:25

In several scriptures referring to older believers or wise women we see the word dignity. One of my greatest challenges is protecting the dignity of the grandmas. There is nothing dignifying about having someone else have to take care of your personal needs, dress you, bathe you, feed you, and tell you what to do. As I meditated on these scriptures and what I would be sharing, I thought about what dignity must really mean. 

  1. a formal, stately, or grave bearing: he entered with dignity
  2. the state or quality of being worthy of honor: the dignity of manual labor
  3. relative importance; rank: he is next in dignity to the mayor 
  4. high rank, especially in government or the church
  5. a person of high rank or such persons collectively

I like the second definition and the description of the word origin. It implies that dignity does not come from being “haughty” or even “private” but in being worthy of honor and accepting of one’s role in life, like Paul being content in whatever state. I will probably continue to try to protect our grandmas’ dignity, because I think that is honoring to them and to God, but also because we live in a sinful world that despises being inconvenienced or uncomfortable. 

When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

One time I heard Grandma Willis (my mother-in-law) “teaching” in her sleep. What an amazing and encouraging teacher she must have been. In her dream, as each of her students brought her their work, she told them how hard they had worked and how beautiful this or that was. She also guided them gently and lovingly in correcting their behaviors or schoolwork. God can use even these moments to teach us, moments that we might, as humans, lead us to worry about one’s mental or emotional state. 

So many times, we might wonder why God allows a saint like Grandma Bonebright or Grandma Willis journey for so long on this earth. But when these little lessons are brought to light, we can rest assured that God knows what He is doing.

My daughter once called me from Virginia her first year in college. She was getting really educated! I was excited to hear what she was learning. However what she told me was not about her scientific studies or nursing practice. She exclaimed, with great enthusiasm, (paraphrased) “I know what Grandma’s ministry is. Her ministry is to pray for me, and I need that a lot! I am so fortunate to have someone so close to God, be so close to me.” 

Not too much later, we went to visit my mom’s mom in Washington. Before we left, Grandma Sandy, grabbed my daughter’s arm and pulled her close. She said “take a look around this room and know that there is not a day that goes by that you do not have a lot of people praying for you. Sometimes it takes me a while to get to you because my kids and grandkids need A LOT of prayer, but you do get prayed for every day.” Now Grandma Sandy is interceding for us in Heaven alongside Grandma Bonebright and Grandma Willis.

So many times, we are just too busy to even notice when there is a learning opportunity. We often don’t engage our aging fellow believers in conversation for fear of being uncomfortable or weighted down by their burdens, or we may even think that they don’t have anything meaningful to share. 

A while ago, I decided to start making notes on the amazing treasures that Grandma Willis had to share. I would like to share a few of them with you:

One time, when I stopped to see Grandma Willis, I commented that the trees outside her window were beautiful… She replied, “Yes they are, when I see the trees, the remind me of the strength of the Lord.”  She was a tree planted by the river. This experience led me to Psalm 92: 12-15

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.   For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.  They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

Another time she told me: “Every day when I wake up, I wonder what the Lord has planned for the day.”Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

On her 90th  birthday she prayed… “Lord help us to do more and better for you each day.”

And later said, “I don’t know why the Lord chooses to keep me here on Earth, but I guess my work is not done.”

I too, have questioned what the Lord has for me to do… On one particular day, He gave me this verse: John 6:29 (NLT) Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” I pray my life reflects what I believe and the One in whom I believe.”

It is so wonderful when our children FINALLY see the lessons we have been trying to teach and live… My daughter called me one day from college. She said, “I understand James 1 so much better because I see you and daddy put it into practice by taking care of Grandma.” Practicing true religion is taking care of widows and orphans in their distress and by keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.

I can never remember a time in my life when I did not have an older believer, often a widow, that I was participating with in ministry. Whether it was my grandparents, neighbor, my mother-in-law, and now my own parents. 

I have seen the impact of their seemingly invisible ministry and, I have to say, it grieves me when we see them as “no longer active” in their walks with the Lord or we dismiss them as old and not” as useful” anymore.  My challenge to you is, if you are not seeing this, if you are not experiencing this, then go looking.  Seek out those who have gray hair, drink in their wisdom.  Go for a walk, take them to coffee or treasure hunting, LISTEN to them.  You would be surprised how much they may be ministered to if only you allow them to minister to you.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I try to take time to step back from the daily chores and reflect on the impact my mother had on me and that I have had on my own daughter. One of my earliest memories is going to church as a family. Learning to love Jesus was at the top of Mom’s priority list for her girls.

Memorizing Scripture was a daily practice.

Cooking… well, she says she just got out of the way when I entered the kitchen, except the time that she had to rescue me from the eggbeaters that had wrapped my waist length hair in them all the way up to my forehead. Arriving to my pleas for help, she just calmy unplugged the offending appliance and unraveled my hair and sent me to the sink to wash out the cake batter.

Respond don’t react were words that she repeated to me often, especially after I became a mother. 

In a college writing class, I was required to write a ‘descriptive’ paper. I didn’t even hesitate. My descriptive paper would be on a virtuous woman. My mother would be my muse. If you read Proverbs 31, and you know Mom, you would agree. There has not a day gone by that she has not worked hard. She has supported her family spiritually, emotionally, and financially. She sewed so well that she even made my dad’s suits.. I drew a picture of what I wanted for a wedding dress, and she made it without hesitation, exactly as I had dreamed. Her children call her blessed. She fears the Lord. She deserves to be honored and praised.

I once had a friend ask me, “What would you say to the person who believes it impossible to be the Provers 31 woman?” I told him that I would agree. We have a far higher standard to live up to. We are to be like Christ.  None of us can, on our own, live up to the standard set in Proverbs 31, but with God’s help, we can be who He created us to be and use the gifts He has given us. 

Take time to read Proverbs 31 for yourself. Who do you picture? Take time to honor that person this week.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31&version=NIV

NEW BOOKS!

Good Morning Friends,

You may have noticed that I have been a little absent here lately. It hasn’t been because I have not been writing though! 

I just got back from an amazing retreat where I had the privilege to speak on the topic of restoration. I loved sharing this message of hope with the ladies in attendance.

I am also so excited to announce that I have completed two projects which are now available on Amazon. 

The first is “Restore Your Soul with Seven Days of Prayer”  which is available as a paperback with journal pages or a Kindle book. This book is a short devotional that provides the reader with solid encouragement in moving from the overwhelm to confidently brining your requests to the throne of God. I guide you through my daily prayer journey and invite you to cultivate your own system for developing a productive prayer life. 

The second project is “A Girl Who Wanted to Be a Princess.”  

A few years ago, I was asked to speak at a women’s retreat on the topic of being a “Daughter of the King.” As I sat down to prepare, I thought about my journey as a believer and the sanctification process the Lord has brought me though, and this story was born. 

From a very young age, I knew that I loved Jesus, but it was my sweet kindergarten Sunday School teacher who told me about giving my heart to Him. While I have never doubted His love for me, I have struggled with pride, with shame and guilt, and with a feeling that I was on my own. 

Fortunately, The Holy Spirit was given to us to be a helper and guide in all things. He has never left me or forsaken me. He has become my King, my Father, and my friend. 

This story is my testimony of God’s grace in my life and the journey I have been on as an adopted daughter of The King, written as a fairytale, but, in reality, is a true narrative. 

With each truth from my life there is an accompanying verse to help further explain and guide discussions with your own children, grandchildren, or students as you read this story to them.

At the end you are encouraged to write your own “Princess Story,” your journey into the Kingdom.

As an added bonus, one of my former fifth grade students, now all grown up, has beautifully illustrated the story with pictures that draw the reader into the heart of the adventure. 

Even though this story is written as a children’s book, it will serve as an encouragement to readers of any age. 

Soon a Companion Coloring Book will be available as well. The Kindle version is also a work in progress. 

I hope both of these books as well as my older devotional, “Teapots and Power Tools,” will be a blessing to you in your walk with our Savior. 

Love and Good Works

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds!”

Thanks to my friend Carrie Arii for this thoughtful Valentine devotional.

Today we will celebrate a holiday that started in the 1400s, and though love was the theme of the day, there are many stories of how it came to be.  

It’s true!  There really was a St Valentine; well actually there were three of them and several theories about who was the one associated with our modern celebration.  The holiday started with giving cards and has grown to flowers, candy, cards and other gifts all to commemorate our love for a special someone!  It has evolved into a holiday which also celebrates friendship. 

Although the giving of gifts is one way to show love, I was reminded that the Bible tells us love is so much more than romantic feelings or familial affection; there is something much deeper.  

This week, I have not been able to get Hebrews 10:24 out of my head!  “Let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds!” (NIV)  

Jesus always showed love. Consider the Woman at the well and how He loved her, no matter her unfortunate circumstance.  He expects no less from us, and He tells us this is how people will know we are His disciples.   By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another! John 13:35 NIV

If I show love, His love shines through everything I do.

Love is not just a good idea or suggestion.  Jesus commands us to love.  This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you! John 15:12 NIV. Just as I have loved you!  How much did he love us?  To the cross…  Wow! Let that sink in a minute!  

Wait, we must love even when others are against me?  Even when they are not like me?   

Yes to those questions and any other excuse not to love.  Jesus commands us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Sometimes it is not easy, but it is always required.

We are told to love fervently and from the heart, from the deepest part of our beings.  Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart I Peter 1:22 NIV.  

The definition of fervently means with great intensity of spirit, passionate!  Whoa!  I am to love my brothers and sister in Christ with great intensity of spirit!  I recently went to a Toby Mac concert. The people in the audience were extremely intense with their expressions of worship; with all of their being!   We need to love others with that intensity! 

I see now, we don’t get a pass for not loving. We can’t say “it’s not my gift.”  Oh, but it is everyone’s gift, and it is required!  We know the basics of love. Now consider HOW to spur one another on to love and good deeds.  

We must first prepare ourselves show love.  We need to be following and communing with the Lord, reading his Word and praying that He will help us show love. We should be so full of Him that his spirit overflows from our hearts into the hearts of others.  We can’t give love if we don’t know love.  Get to know God, because He is love!

How can you encourage someone today?  Do you know someone who  needs a text or a phone call?  Is there some need that you can meet for coffee or a walk? 

We may miss many opportunities to show love when we rationalize a 101 reasons why we can’t do X, Y or Z.  

My husband is a great example of jumping in and doing!  He looks for opportunities to help!  Many times, he has been late getting home because he stopped to help someone in distress on the side of the road!  Frustrating for me at times but I know that it was better for him to follow God’s leading and stop and help.  Responding to those promptings God gives can result in great blessing both for you and the recipient.  

Overscheduling our days or filling them with unnecessary activities can prohibit the blessing of spending time with others to spur one another on to love and good deeds.  Is there someone in the church you would like to get to know more?  Invite them to lunch or have them over to your house. Plan a park date or a walk. 

Is there a young lady that needs guidance?  Or a new believer?  We can invite them in to share our love of crafting or other talents that God has given us. I have a friend that invites a couple of ladies over at a time to make lemon curd. It’s a great time to talk because you have to stir the curd for what seems like forever!  This gives them something to do with their hands while their hearts are being refreshed and knit together. 

You don’t have to plan an eight-course meal to show love and spur one another on to good works.   The point is spending time together and showing love.  

We can offer to help with community and church events, take someone under our wings, and help them learn what is required to make the event happen.   Modeling responsibility to them will hopefully help them to become responsible and more confident in the gifts God has given them… spurring them on to love and good works, help them to find undertakings that will complement those gifts and talents. 

So, what did I learn about how to spur one another on to love and good works this week?  It should flow naturally (or supernaturally I should say) as I spend time in the Word, getting to know God and His unconditional love.  Then I will be an example of love to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  It’s all about life together!  Doing the things of life with others when God’s love overflows through us!  You really get to know a person by spending time with them.  They need it and so do you!    

I encourage you to ask God to daily guide your schedule and routines and to bring others into your path that you can spur on to love and good works by the way you love them. 

Destination RESToration The Cost and Value of Restoration

This is the final installation of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first nine segments, I encourage you to do so. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest. DR Refine & Replenish, DR Tools for Restored Relationships. DR Restoration for the Weary Soul.

I am a bargain hunter. My husband likes to remind me that it is only a good deal if it is something you need or really want and find it for a great price. But there is something very satisfying about finding an old beat up piece of furniture and recreating it into something beautiful and useful, especially if it ends up being a gift for a special friend.

Isn’t that how God is with us? He finds us all broken down, worn out, sometimes we may even think of ourselves as worthless. And then He makes something beautiful of our lives.

A good restoration show reveals the price of the house or project before restoration. Often, we get to know the origins of the house, when it was built, maybe who lived there before and how much it cost at its original construction. The cost of the restoration is given. The value of the finished project is revealed. Then, with oohs and awes, the finished work is unveiled.

Our Original Purpose and Value

Before our world faced the fall in the Garden of Eden, we were a beautiful and perfect creation. God’s plan for us was for us to reflect His beauty and commune with Him in the Garden and rule over the earth. Had there never been sin, there would not be a need for restoration.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.Genesis 1:26-27 ESV 

The Cost of Our Restoration

Restoration projects almost always cost more than originally projected. I have scars on my knuckles from run away sanders. I have friends who have lost blood from injuries during projects gone wrong. The injuries leave scars and maybe remind us of a lesson. But rarely do they cost the life of the one doing the restoration

Because of sin, we have become worn-out, torn down, and in need of restoration. Our only hope for restoration comes through the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection. He willingly suffered and paid the ultimate price for our complete restoration. All He wants in return is our hearts.

 He was despised and rejected—

A man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
 

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.
    

He was whipped so we could be healed.

Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
 

Unjustly condemned,
He had done no wrong

But he was buried like a criminal;

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants. Isaiah 53

That is us, we are the descendants, the redeemed and the restored.

Our Restored Value ~ Priceless

When we are an object of God’s restoration, we become His children who stand to inherit the Glory of our Heavenly Father, the Maker and Restorer of the Universe.

Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. Romans 8:15-17 NLT

Our Abba Father, our maker cares so much for us that He even knows how many hairs we have on our head. This statement is made to assure us that God cares about every detail of our lives, because to Him, we are priceless.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.Matthew 10:29-31 ESV

Project Complete

We know that God is always working in our lives and will be until we are with Him in Heaven. But there is a ‘project’ that is completed at the time of salvation. We are complete in Him, but He does not want us to just put the finished product on the shelf and let it collect dust. He wants us to continue to grow and use the gifts He has given to us to help build the Kingdom and restore others.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:6-10

The Master’s Touch Makes us Priceless

We have a violin that has been in our family for over 100 years. My husband’s mom was the last one who played it, probably more than sixty years ago. It is useless in the shape it is in. But it serves as a reminder of the beautiful, even painful as it was, life that she lived. 

I would like to close this series with a song that tells us of a violin that was thought useless until the Master put His hands on it. The dusty old relic suddenly became a priceless instrument in the hands of the Master Artist. Friends, we might feel like the violin that is battered and scared, but with His touch, our lives become priceless. 

Daniel Collier – Touch of the Master’s Hand

Songwriters: John Kramp

The Touch Of The Master’s Hand lyrics © New Spring Publishing Inc.

Heavenly Father, Help us to be restored in you and recognize the value you see in us, so that we will be effective using the gifts you have given to us to help build Your Kingdom. Amen.

If your life needs restoration, I encourage you to, first reach out to the Master Builder who values your life more than anyone else. Then reach out to a friend who can support you through the restoration process. I am also honored to pray for you.

If you have enjoyed this series, please feel free to share or comment. I would love to hear how God has restored your life.

Destination RESToration Restoration for the Weary Soul

This is part nine of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first eight segments, I encourage you to do so. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest. DR Refine & Replenish, DR Tools for Restored Relationships.

What restores your soul?

Prayer?

Worship?

Fellowship?

Quiet time?

Feet in the sand?

Rest?

A good book?

A hike in the mountains?

Time with friends?

Laughter?

In my quiet time recently, I read this verse, that I have read hundreds of times, but somehow, it jumped off the page at me as something I needed to pay attention to.  

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9

I was not necessarily feeling weary at the moment, but it is something I struggle with often. I thought to myself “How, indeed, do people not become weary?” So, I posed the question on social media.

People told me they were praying for me, which I will always receive, but others had a variety of some practical and some spiritual/biblical wisdom. Most of the wisdom could be summed up in a few simple thoughts… Keep your eyes on Jesus, don’t try to do everything (or anything) in your own strength; and be patient in waiting for and seeing the results.

I am a DIY kind of person who is extremely observant of what is going on around me. I see all the squirrels… bunnies, birds, lizards and flowers too. I am a getter done kind of gal. I attack a project like a starving person attacks a long awaited meal. You can see why I would struggle with the previous advice. 

We all get weary. We all take our eyes off  Jesus. Many of us are taking care of loved-ones. Others are in the season of raising small children. Some are doing both. Others are faced with uncertain finances or job situations. Many have challenging relationships within and outside of their families. Some are suffering physically and others emotionally. 

It was after a friend’s 4th or 5th stroke and another’s encounter with an exploding tent trailer and my own need for a restored spirit, that the Lord opened my eyes to this verse: 

 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. I Peter 5:10

I read this verse to myself over and over. Then I read it to anyone who would listen. What a gift God’s Word is to us … an ever-present help in the time of trouble. One of the most restorative processes is to be led to particular Scriptures allowing them to wash over us and sink in to our souls. Scripture, time and time again, reminds us of how much God loves us, cares about our trouble, gives us rest, gathers our tears and restores our souls.

When I think of Soul Restoration, the beautiful Psalm David wrote in realization and worship of who God is comes to mind. 

Let’s read it together:

The Lord is my shepherd;He is my guide through life.
I shall not want. He is my provider.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He Gives me REST.
He leads me beside the still waters. He refreshes me.

He restores my soul; He is always in the process of restoring me.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness. After rest, he spurs me on to action.
For His name’s sake. Restoring me and guiding me brings Him glory.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; He is my protector and comforter in the face of life’s greatest sorrows and challenges.


Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. I can be confident in my walk as He is warding off the evil attacks.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; He is taking care of my physical needs in the face of that evil.


You anoint my head with oil; He heals me and has set me apart for His work.

My cup runs over.He blesses me with more than I need so that I can share with others, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. He cares for and tends my weary soul with love and goodness.


All the days of my life; He is with me, not just sometimes but all of the time.


And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I can abide in Him now, here on earth, and can look forward to my eternal home with Him in Heaven.

Meditating on these words brings my focus to the One who can restore my weary soul.

What are some of the things you do to feel restored? 

Sometimes we are too tired to rest, that bone weary tired that sleep does not fix. Sometimes we just need to stop… be still. Admittedly, this is one of my life’s greatest challenges. So my encouragement is not telling you what you need to do, but sharing with you, what I need to do and inviting you to do the same.

Rest

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Even in the valley of the shadow of death). Psalm 4:8 ESV 

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God. (He makes me lie down in green pastures) Psalm 46:10 ESV

Pray

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me) Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

The Invitation

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (He leads me in the path of righteousness) Matthew 11:28-30 ESV 

Does that restore you?

In our world of instant gratification and desire for immediate results and relief, we are called to wait on the Lord. I encourage you to take advantage of the rest that He offers through His word, worship and holy restoration.

If this has been an encouragement to you, please feel free to share or comment.

There is one last installation in the Destination RESToration series, which will be here, by God’s grace, next week.

Destination RESToration Ten Tools for Restored Relationships

This is part eight of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first seven segments, I encourage you to do so. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest. DR Refine & Replenish.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NLT

How many of us, when we hear that verse, think, “Well I have tried, but that person will just not cooperate” or “If I try to restore that relationship, that person will have the power to hurt me again.” 

People are complicated.

Humans are fallible.

Navigating relationships can be like navigating a dinghy in ferocious storm in the middle of the vast, powerful, and mysterious ocean. 

Sometimes we have done all we can to live in peace, and the relationship is still not restored. And sometimes, because of the damage done to the relationship in the past, or state of an individual’s heart, we have to pray for that person to be restored to his or her Creator and surrender them to the Master Builder and Healer who can work miracles. 

There are times when a relationship can be restored with a simple apology or conversation. Other times, there is a breach in a relationship because of a stupid misunderstanding, miscommunication, or wrong perception about what a person thinks. 

We are given direction for this type of restoration in Matthew 18:15-17. Go to the person who has offended you. If that does not work, take another believer to speak with that person together; If that still does not work, bring it to the elders of the church. 

Regardless as to whether the offense or breach in our relationships are rectified, we are very clearly told that it is our responsibility to forgive, to not let the sun go down on our anger, Ephesians 4:26-27, to take every though captive to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5.

I have to just add here, that I believe forgiveness is not as much for the one we need to forgive, but for the sake of our own hearts. We must forgive others so that we can have a restored relationship to our Father, Matthew 6:14-15. We must forgive so that we do not let the seed of bitterness grow in our hearts, our hearts that determine the very course of our lives. Proverbs 4:23

Sadly, forgiveness does not always lead to a restored or healthy relationship. Many great books have been written on this. One of my favorites is “Forgiving What You Will Never Forget” by Dr. David Stoop.  It may be necessary to forgive and move on. Dr. Henry Cloud has written a plethora of biblically based information in his books on Boundaries. Both address the process of forgiveness but also the importance of guarding your heart, mind, body, and soul. 

While forgiveness is probably the most important tool in the process of restoring relationships, Scripture and wisdom give us a whole toolbox full of the tools we need and instructions for use. 

Often, a simple, heart-felt, “I’m sorry, will you forgive me,” statement is enough. There might be a little sting from an unthoughtful word or action, but other times, there is a lot of work to be done. Some restorations are necessary due to years of neglect or misuse. It is important to approach all of these with wise counsel and humble preparations. 

Let’s talk about how we can pack our toolbox with the necessary tools for these monumental restoration projects. 

Ten Tools for Relationship Restoration

  1. Prayer is the most powerful tool in the toolbox. It is available to everyone all of the time. It requires very little instruction for use. It is like the power strip in which every other one of our tools will be connected and have the power to do the work for which it is intended. This is where we must start before we embark on any restoration journey. We need to pray for our own heart to be pure and for the person with whom we need restoration to also have a heart of forgiveness, humility and reconciliation. 

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:13-16

2. Repentance can be a tough place to start, but we are directed in scripture to get the plank our of our own eyes before we attempt to get the sliver out of our friend’s eye, Matthew 7:5. We have all heard the old saying “It takes two to tango.” This is almost always true where restoration is necessary. So before we go to our brother, sister, friend, husband, or wife with an expectation of restoration, we need to be on our knees before the One who died for our sins, asking Him to give us a clean heart. Psalm 51:2

3. Humility will bring far greater results than pride. If we go into a restoration get-together with pride in our hearts, we are already defeated, because we are going in with a sinful heart.  Having humility in our hearts helps us to be adorned with the other tools necessary for restoration. 

    Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 NLT

    4. Honesty can be a tough pill to swallow, and it can be equally hard to speak the truth to someone with whom we need restoration. Scripture tells us to speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15, so that we can live a righteous life and do the work God has called us to. We are also called to help restore our brother/sister back into right living and that requires honestly confronting sin but doing it in love, humility and gentleness, Galatians 6:1

    5. Forgiveness is a necessary tool in the process of restoration. We already spent some time discussing this earlier, but it would be good to note that not only do we need to offer forgiveness to others, but we need to be willing to receive it as well. There is an undeniable blessing in receiving forgiveness first from our Father and from our fellow sojourners. Psalms 32

    6. Gentleness will yield far better results than harsh words. Think of restoring a relationship like restoring the fine finish on a priceless heirloom. Taking a hammer, harsh chemicals and steel wool will only ruin what has taken years to perfect. We know that harsh words stir up anger, but gentle words are healing to the soul. Proverbs 15:1  Even the prophet Jeremiah asked the Lord to correct him but said, “please be gentle lest I die.” Jeremiah 10:24.

    7. Understanding is a tool that must be used in tandem with all the other tools in our proverbial toolbox. It is something that comes when we are quick to listen and slow to speak, James 1:19. If we are gentle, humble, compassionate and full of mercy, we are far more likely to be understanding when the need arises in the restoration process.

    8. Patience is not a tool that is easily utilized. We, by nature and by our ‘immediate gratification’ culture want results immediately. We do not want to wait for the paint to dry or the cement to solidify before we start adding ‘stuff’ to the project. In relationship restoration, often there has been years of hurt or misunderstanding. Trust may have been lost. It is necessary to be patient in the immediate conversations, being quick to listen. (James 1). But is even more important to be patient in the healing process. We cannot expect, short of the work of the Holy Spirit, to have immediate restoration results when the destruction has happened over days, weeks, years, or a lifetime.  James 1:2-4, 12  

    Better to be patient than powerful;
        better to have self-control than to conquer a city. Proverbs 16:32 NLT

    9. Protection can come in many forms. When I am working with wood, sanders, and saws I have to wear gloves and goggles. In the same way, before we begin a relationship restoration, we need to don the protection described in our instruction booklet for life. We need to put on the “Whole Armor of God” described in Ephesians 6:13-16 NLT

    Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

    10. Wisdom is the tool of knowledge of how to use all of the other tools in the toolbox. James 3:17 tells us, “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” And James 1:5 tells us if we lack wisdom to ask God for it, and He will give it to us generously and without judgement. When God gives us that wisdom, He expects us to rely on Him for it, in faith. 

    Depending on God to give us the tools to use and relying on Him to give us the wisdom in knowing how to use them will make our relationship restoration go far more smoothly than if we try to fix things in our own power. His power is made perfect in our weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And when I am weak, then am I strong, only through His power.

    Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

    There is nothing like a good toolbox or tool bag to contain my tools. I carry one in my car at all times. You never know when you might need a hammer, screwdriver, or wire cutters. I like to think of LOVE as the toolbox that contains all the above-mentioned tools. It holds everything together in one place. It makes the tools all work together more efficiently. It makes the process more desirable and bearable. It is what we are told to do in 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

    What are some other tools that you might find helpful in relationship restoration? Where do you find them in Scripture? 

    Is there someone you need to pursue for restoration? 

    What is one step you can take today towards that goal? 

    I hope this has been an encouragement to you. Please feel free to comment, share, and join me back here for the final two installations in Destination RESToration.

    Photo credit, Pixel free photos.

    Destination RESToration Refining and Replenishing

    This is part seven of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first six segments, I encourage you to do so before you move on to this section. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest.

    Often, we seek the Lord. We have our quiet time. We spend time in God’s Word. Our hearts are in the right place. Maybe we have had a beautiful time of rest on vacation or a spiritual retreat. And then it hits. The spiritual attacks. That restored finish gets a little banged up. We begin to feel the weight of the burdens threatening to crush us. The enemy loves to beat us up, and his timing is uncanny.

    But God’s Word tells us to not lose hope. That we are renewed day by day when we keep our eyes fixed on Him and not on the trials that tend to leave scars and dents in the polished surface of our hearts.

    Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

    Because we are in a spiritual battle, there is always a need for renewal and restoration. In the restoration process, after demolition, after preparation, after removal of the debris, there is a refining process. There are still rough spots to be smoothed, slivers to be removed and polishing to be done. 

    Our Master Builder is always busy at work refining our lives. He uses a variety of techniques to protect us, polish us, and bring our countenance to a beautiful shine that helps us to better reflect His Imago Dei once again.

    Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”.

    Think of good friends as finishing sandpaper and part of the refining process. It’s good to have a friend that can say the tough stuff to us and hold us accountable, friends who can speak the truth in love. That friend can also pick us up when we fall. Friends must earn that place in someone’s life but they are essential to our spiritual refinement.

    Too often, we are afraid of this part of restoration. We hold back the truth for fear of damaging a relationship or hurting one’s feelings. Honestly, when I have spinach stuck in my teeth, I expect my friends to tell me of the offending vegetable. It is the same with sin, struggles or obstacles I may be oblivious to in my life. I want my friends to call these things to my attention and help smooth the rough spots in my finish.

    Trials, accountability, refining fire are all part of what builds and shapes us, refines us. No matter how much Krud Kutter, sand paper, or other refining tools, the trials and tribulations we have face may leave scars. Some scars can be smoothed away, but others leave an indelible mark. Those scars serve as reminders as to where we have been and how we have been restored. His scars are a reminder of the price He paid for our restoration. His finished work. 

    After the removal and refining steps are done, occasionally we need to replenish, put on a new coat of paint, rub in some oil, or protect the masterpiece with a polyurethane finish. This is one step that may often need to be repeated. 

    Depending on the type of wood, exposure to the elements, and use, it usually needs a treatment of oil on a regular basis. It refreshes the surface, protects the fiber and grains, and it can bring back the beauty of something that appears worn out and past its prime.

    God is so good. He uses circumstances, friends, His Word, worship and rest to refine us. He smooths out our rough spots, puts us through the refining fire. But He does not stop there. He replenishes us. He anoints us with oil just when we are starting to feel dull and are losing the ability to see His reflection in our finish. He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit and covered us with his protective care.

    There are around twenty scriptures regarding anointing with oil. The purpose ranges from the priests being set apart for sacred service to healing of the sick. One of the most well known Scripture of all times is Psalms 23. Verse five says, “He anoints my head with oil.” This anointing comes toward the end of the passage after the psalmist has walked through the valley of the shadow of death. It is a symbol of healing, refreshment, provision, and protection.

    We are his finished masterpiece and he has covered us with his beauty for our protection and to help us reflect His image. 

    How do you need restoration? Do you need a little touch up, or do you need to dig deep and get all of the crud out of the cracks and scars this world has left you with?

    Reach out to a friend who can help polish and refine you.

    Ask the Lord to help you get rid of the old junk and restore your soul and anoint your head with His oil.

    Meditate on His word. Joshua 1:8

    Listen through the Psalms. YouVersion Bible App for your phone

    Let Scripture be the healing balm for your soul that you need. Psalm 103:1-6

    Wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31

    Depend on Him to finish His work in you. Philippians 1:6

    Take a walk or look out your window and appreciate God’s creation. Job 12: 7-10

    My prayer for you today is this:

    And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21

    There are as many restoration projects as there are people on this earth, and we have barely touched the surface. There are two more installations in this series: “Tools for Restoring Relationships” and “The Value of Restoration.” With God’s grace, I will have them here for you in the next couple of weeks.

    Please feel free to share this post with someone who may benefit from it.

    My Basket of Christmas Goodies

    Merry Christmas Friends,

    If you are like me, this month is too busy. We forget where we put our favorite recipes. We forget to have our prayer time (the whole reason for the season) or don’t spend as much time meditating on God’s word as we need to. We may have grand plans, but time just seems to speed up and the tasks multiply at a mind-numbing speed. And before we know it, the new year has begun, and the rat race has started all over. 

    In my quiet time, I have been asking the Lord to restore unto me the joy of His salvation so that it can overflow into the people I interact with, including the grocery clerk, the “customer service” people on the other end of the phone (This one may be the hardest. They can’t see my eyes rolling, but God does.) my neighbors, my children, my parents, and my husband. I hate it when I get irritable and respond without grace to any of the above.  

    Here are some of the ways I love to worship even in the midst of a crazy busy season:

    • Get up early and turn on the Christmas lights and have time with Jesus while the house is quiet.
    • Watch a sunrise or sunset.
    • Every time I see a Nativity scene, I thank God for giving us His son. 
    • Listen to the accounts of the Nativity in Matthew and Luke on the Audio Bible App 
    • If I am feeling lonely, I reach out to someone who needs some love.

    What do you do to remember the reason for the season? I would love to hear from you. 

    If you were to visit my home right now, you may be served leftovers or cheese and crackers. But they would be good leftovers. What I have to offer you here are some good leftovers from the past few years of blogs. If you wondered about any of the recipes I have shared before, they are in one of these links. If you need to get your heart focused on the true meaning of Christmas, there are some good reflections below. 

    Whatever you are doing today, I encourage you to slow down. Take a deep breath. Remember the beauty of what Jesus did for us by coming as a baby, living as a human, dying on the cross, and being raised from the dead to give us all new life. 

    Meditations on Christmas: 

    What Are You Doing to Prepare for Advent

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2022/11/30/what-are-you-doing-to-prepare-for-advent/

    Seeing His Splendor and Majesty in Christmas

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2022/12/07/splendor-and-majesty-2/

    Mary Knew What God Was Asking of Her and She Still Said “May it be unto me as you have said.”

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2022/12/12/did-mary-know/

    God has Given us a Gift; We Only Need to Receive it.

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2021/12/07/open-the-box/

    Recipes and Reflections of Christmases Past:

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2020/11/17/scones-skivers-and-hospitality/

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2020/11/23/scones-skivers-and-hospitality-part-two/

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2022/05/05/grandmas-cranberries-and-cinnamon-rolls/

    Note: I am not using the Bridgeford frozen bread dough anymore as their recipe has changed. Here is a link to a yummy bread dough that works great for the cinnamon rolls. https://smittenkitchen.com/2021/10/old-school-dinner-rolls/

    https://kerilynnwillis.com/2022/05/06/grandmas-cranberries-cinnamon-rolls-part-ii/

    Have a blessed Christmas. See you here in the New Year. 

    Epidemic of Loneliness A Biblical Response

    He will place the lonely in families…

    It should come as no surprise, that on the heels of the pandemic, in which we were institutionally isolated, there is another crisis looming. The epidemic is loneliness. It is such a predicament that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued an advisory with steps that we should take to combat the impact of this potentially deadly malady. You can read the whole advisory here, but a word of warning, it is eighty pages long and might leave you feeling sad or even… lonely.

    Surgeon General’s Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation – PDF

    The Holiday season is notoriously one of the loneliest times of the year. But it does not only reserve the months of November and December to wreak havoc in the lives and hearts of people throughout the world. It is a plague that can assault us at strategic and unexpected times in our daily lives. 

    It is a weapon in the hands of the Enemy, but it is a powerful invitation from the Almighty to run to Him and be held in His comforting embrace. 

    Note: At the time I first wrote this article, the Surgeon General had not released his study or recommendations. I have, since, included some of his information on the subject and how we as a church and individual believers should respond. 

    I don’t want to get too preachy here or even remotely political, but this loneliness is a direct result of the destruction of the fabric of our society, faith and family.

    Throughout history, the core of our social functioning has been the nuclear and extended family and our church families. And throughout history, the Enemy as struck out at these institutions with vehemence. 

    In my woeful thinking, it has NEVER been this bad. But if you study history, really it has been worse. The difference, I think, is the masking of this “crisis” by the use of all forms of media. 

    Social Media would make us believe that individual worlds are all rosy, while mainstream media is clear that the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket. Why can’t we just all tell the truth? This may be a redundant question, but the answer is, because very few know The Truth (John 8:32). Truth has become relative and so people have become like waves tossed about on the ocean. 

    Loneliness is not a new struggle. 

    In my senior year at a large Christian college, I was a dorm prayer leader. I had a regular group of eight to ten college girls who would come to my room twice a week for devotions and prayer. Twice a year the leaders would choose a topic and the girls could go to whichever prayer group with the topic they thought would be most beneficial to them.

    I was speaking on loneliness. There were ten groups and a total of seventy to eighty girls in the dorm. I expected maybe five or six to show up. After all, how could someone be lonely in a dorm of eighty residents, at a Christian college with upwards of 4,000 professing Christians? 

    Twenty girls showed up to my relatively small dorm room. They were sitting on my roommates’ beds, on the floor, on the sink and desks. I had to turn girls away and do a second session. Every one of those girls expressed that they were in the loneliest season of their lives. 

    The prophet, Elijah, running for his life, cried out to God, “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” I Kings 19 It was in his utter loneliness and despair that he heard God’s still small voice, a whispered assurance the God cared and that he was, in fact, not alone.

    Can you imagine how lonely Job was when his friends pummeled him emotionally and his wife told him to curse God and die?

    Can you imagine how lonely Jesus was in the garden and His disciples fell asleep when He needed their support the most, or when Peter completely denied even knowing Him?

    In his report, the Surgeon General has a list of recommendations to combat this epidemic. As believers and as the church, we should know, the Great Physician has already given us the remedy. The six recommendations by the Surgeon General are listed below with some ideas on how we as believers and as a church can respond. 

    Strengthen Social Infrastructure:

    The Surgeon General:

     “Connections are not just influenced by individual interactions, but by the physical elements of a community (parks, libraries, playgrounds) and the programs and policies in place. To strengthen social infrastructure, communities must design environments that promote connection, establish and scale community connection programs, and invest in institutions that bring people together.”

    The Great Physician:

    Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

    Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to weave a community so that we will not be easily shaken. Throughout history much of that support system was the church being the hands and feet of Jesus. 

    The church as a whole is facing a new challenge. We may have become weary in well doing and have dropped the responsibility of our “neighbor’s” well-being (spiritual, emotional, and physical) fall into the hands of the government and healthcare industry. That, my friends, is a scary thought. 

    Even as I am writing this, I am convicted and challenged as to how I am caring for my “neighbor.” How am I staying connected? How am I helping provide for their needs? What structures or outreaches is my church doing to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our hurting world?

    Enact Pro-Connection Public Policies:

    The Surgeon General

     “National, state, local, and tribal governments play a role in establishing policies like accessible public transportation or paid family leave that can support and enable more connection among a community or a family.”

    The Great Physician:

    Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

    Our churches (and the individuals within our churches) need to be drawing people in to encourage them and motivate them. We need to rely on the gifts He has given us to minister within the body of Christ and outside of our church walls. We need to love on the widows and orphans (James 1:27), welcome the hurting and lonely (Matthew 22:8-10) and feed the hungry (Matthew 25:35-36).

    Mobilize the Health Sector:

    The Surgeon General:

     “Because loneliness and isolation are risk factors for several major health conditions (including heart disease, dementia, depression) as well as for premature death, health care providers are well-positioned to assess patients for risk of loneliness and intervene.”

    The Great Physician:

    A cheerful heart is good medicine,
        but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.     Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

    We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said,
        “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”     Psalm 126:2 (NLT)

    Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
    I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.     Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

    God places the lonely in families… Psalm 68:6

    The National Library on Medicine has written a lengthy piece on the benefits of laughter.  You can read it here: The Laughter Prescription.

    The Great Physician knew we would need to laugh when He created us. The best thing about laughter as a prescription is that it is free, needs no prior authorization, produces immediate results of uplifted spirits, physical energy and renewal, and it actually lowers blood pressure. 

    The health care industry does not prescribe laughter, and it certainly does not make me laugh! But have you ever been with friends and had to sit down right on the ground because you were laughing so hard? I have, and I know that laughter is just what I needed to “feel better.” 

    Reform Digital Environments:

    The Surgeon General

     “We must critically evaluate our relationship with technology and ensure that how we interact digitally does not detract from meaningful and healing connection with others.”

    The Great Physician:

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

    May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer… Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

    Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29b

    Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:4-5

    Countless friendships have been ruined by thoughtless words on social media. Families have been divided. Unfair comparisons are made, and jealous thoughts perpetuated. People of all ages, all over the world are addicted to TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other media outlets that falsely fuel self-worth or self-loathing. 

    There is an old saying, “You can’t legislate morality.” And really, it is true. We can only legislate our own hearts and minds. We cannot look to social media as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who will not condemn us or elevate us in our own minds. But He will help us to see ourselves and others through the lens of His redeeming love and grace. 

    We can use social media as a means of connection and ministry, but we cannot let media and the Enemy use it as a weapon of mass destruction to our character and to the moral fiber of society. 

    Deepen Our Knowledge:

    The Surgeon General:

     “A more robust research agenda, beyond the evidence outlined in the advisory, must be established to further our understanding of the causes and consequences of social disconnection, populations at risk, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost connection.”

    The Great Physician:

    For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

    The Surgeon General suggests that further research needs to be done to understand why people are lonely and what can be done about it. I have to say, right now, I feel like face palming my forehead and saying, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?”  

    Do we really need to spend billions of dollars to see that we have taken our eyes off Jesus and put our own selfish souls on the throne of our hearts? 

    I have days when I am terribly lonely, missing my kids, missing my friends, maybe having a bit of a self-pity party. I will call one and then the next, then the next, and no one answers. Those moments are when I realize I need to quit focusing inward and reach out to Jesus. 

    He is always available. Always wants to chat. Always wants to show me the way to go. Always shows compassion and comfort. And as 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

    Cultivate a Culture of Connection:

    The Surgeon General:

    “The informal practices of everyday life (the norms and culture of how we engage one another) significantly influence the relationships we have in our lives. We cannot be successful in the other pillars without a culture of connection.”

    The Great Physician:

    Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approachGod’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

    Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself… Galatians 6:2-3

    See also Hebrews 10:23-25 

    We are not created to be alone. We are created to be in a community. Some are extroverts and finding community is no great challenge. Others are introverts and have to intentionally work to establish friendships and a community in which they can be transparent and supported. 

    The most apparent extroverts who are surrounded by people all of the time can be lonely and ones who are viewed as introverts who “don’t need” much social interaction can be drowning in a river of self-isolation. 

    Scripture is given to ALL of us, introverts, extroverts and those somewhere in the middle. It directs us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. It tells us to encourage one another, hold each other accountable, pray for each other, and love one another. 

    While there are many dangers of loneliness, there can also be benefits to it as well. These bullet points and verses are provided as a means for further study and reflection on the pitfalls and blessings of loneliness. 

    Dangers of Loneliness:

    • Loneliness can be masked – We can be with hundreds of people daily yet be lonely.
    • Isolation can be dangerous – There is no accountability, the wrong kind of noise or narrative can be present in our heads. 
    • We can become lazy in our relationships and communications.
    • We can become too self-focused. 
    • What danger do you face in your lonely times?

    SEVEN BENEFITS OF LONELINESS

    Sometimes the Lord will use loneliness to help us rest, even when we are resisting it. Reflecting on God’s goodness and blessing in our lives can dissipate the feelings of loneliness.

    REST

    • Be still and revel in who God is (Psalm 46)
    • Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
    • Our God who never sleeps or never slumbers gave us an example of resting. Did you know 14% of creation was spent in rest.
    • Resting in Jesus should help us stop the busy and self-destructive noise in our heads. Take every thought captive 2 Corinthians 10:5

    REFLECTION

    • As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart Proverbs 27:19
    • Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  Psalm 34:8
    • God also gave us the example, in creation, to look back and reflect on what we have done. In our case, good and bad, so that we can give glory to God and also take satisfaction in a job well done (Galatians 6:4-5) or make course corrections where needed.

    RENEW 

    RESET PRIORITIES/REDIRECT PRIORITIES

    • What treasures are you gathering? Luke 12:34 – where your treasure is there will your heart be… 
    • Are you seeking God first? Matthew 6:33
    • Are you a  Mary or a Martha? Are we too busy doing “stuff”… even if it is good stuff, is it the right stuff? Are we looking at all the stuff and not our Savior? Luke 10:38-42
    • Let us throw off anything that hinders us from running the race (distracts us from God’s will which is to glorify Him in all we do) Hebrews 12

    RESTORE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER 

    •  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16
    • Psalm 51:12 – restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and renew a right spirit in me.
    • Restoration takes communication and commitment. Our Father wants us to lay it all out there for Him. He knows our hearts anyway; we might as well get his feedback. 
    • Search the scriptures, pray more, read a book with a message of God’s love and faithfulness.

    REACH OUT

    To Jesus and to someone who needs a friend.

    • Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Psalm 25:16
    • In looking outward, you may meet the need of someone, even an angel. Hebrews 13: 1-3  

    RECONNECT

    With new connections and with others who are already in your circles. 

    • “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.”
    • Hebrews 10:23-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
    • Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
    • Psalm 133  How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
    • Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

    Finally, I Peter 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

    What can you do today to reverse the effects of loneliness in your life? How can you help someone else out of the pit of loneliness? How can we, as a church and as individuals, respond to this “epidemic of loneliness” in a God honoring and healing way? 

    I would love to hear your ideas and feedback. Maybe together we can be a part of the cure to this devastating epidemic.  

    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Amen

    Destination RESToration: Remove Rinse and REST

    This is part six of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first five segments, I encourage you to do so before you move on to this section. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter.

    REMOVE THE CRUD

    If you have worked on a restoration project that requires sanding and digging out the layers of crud built up over the years, you know there will be a lot of debris on and in the vicinity of your project. It can be a real mess.

    In the same way, removing the remnants from years of hurt, sin and bitterness from our hearts and lives can be a messy, yet it is a vital part of the restoration process.

    And like the old song says “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

    RINSE AWAY THE DEBRIS

    After sanding and digging out that crud, it’s essential to clean away the debris. Dry brushing and vacuuming is good, but it usually will require a good scrub and may be a full-on fresh water wash down.  

    Titus tells us that, When the kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy, he saved us through the WASHING of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

    And If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

    …Wash me and I will be white as snow; Cleanse me with hyssop. Psalm 51

    It’s important to get rid of all “crud” in our lives so we can accurately reflect the image of God and not let any of our debris mar the finished work in our lives.

    The previous steps of the restoration process can be painful. Sometimes we have to dig in and keep at it, but after the recognition of the need for restoration, the repentance, and the cleansing, we need to rest.

    REST

    I know, by experience, that if I start the next phase of a restoration project before it has “rested” there will be a problem. Either the glue doesn’t hold something together, the color is uneven because the wood didn’t dry properly, or the stain/paint rubs off on my clothes because I didn’t give it enough time to dry. What a pain it is to have to start all over again.

    I may have a problem being patient…

    Too often, we confess, go to counseling, or restore a relationship and check it off the list like we are ready to move onto the next activity.

    Rest really is not a four-letter word, not even a suggestion or a good idea, but a command from God, and it is an essential part of the restoration process.

    Just like our physical bodies, our souls need time to rest and recover. God does not need us to hurry up and move on to the next thing.

    Did you know that almost 15% of the Creation timeline is God resting? This is from a God who does not sleep or slumber. He rested to enjoy the fruit of His labor and to set an example for us.

    Throughout scripture we are told to rest, to have a Sabbath, to be still. God even gave directions for letting the ground/soil rest every seven years for one year, about 15% of the time. Why is it so hard to realize that we need to slow down, rest and be still? 

    Psalm 37:7  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 

    He created us. He knows what we need, and REST is at the top of the list. 

    We are working towards eternity. God is not rushing us. He does not expect a 17 year old to have the wisdom of a 60 year old. He does not expect a brand new Christian to have the same knowledge and understanding of Scripture that He expects a mature believer to possess.

    He doesn’t expect a brand new believer to be an elder in the church. He does not require us to go through trials, hurt, grief, mountaintop or valley experiences without rest.

    Even Jesus escaped His crazy, busy ministry to rest. Once, He was so tired He fell asleep on a boat in the middle of a storm. And when His weary disciples were terrified and ready to abandon ship, He commanded the sea by saying “Peace, be still!”

    And He tells us in Matthew 11, “Come unto me you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.“

    Fortunately, He is the Master Builder. He is the architect, carpenter, and restoration expert. He designed and knows the plans for our lives.

    If you feel like you have messed up God’s masterpiece, don’t worry, He is in the business of restoration. He has all the equipment and knowledge to restore your masterpiece to its original purpose and beauty and He has all the time in the world… literally.

    What debris is cluttering your heart? I encourage you to allow Jesus to remove it as far as the east is from the west and restore your soul.

    As we enter this holiday season, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and take time to rest so that we do not become “weary in doing good.”

    What can you say no to this season? Will you choose to be like Mary and sit at the feet of Jesus? How can you choose to rest today?

    I hope you are enjoying this series & hope to see you here next week for the next installment. Please feel free to share or comment.

    Destination RESToration: Call the Carpenter

    This is part five of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first four segments, I encourage you to do so before you move on to this section. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God.

    I have watched more than a few YouTube videos on how to make a variety of repairs. I occasionally call someone with more knowledge or wisdom than I have to guide me through a process. Sometimes it is a simple task, others… not so much. 

    As I was building a table for my backyard, I was struggling with the legs, getting the angle right, attaching them properly. I kept hearing a voice in my head, saying “call the carpenter” or even phone a friend, while the independent, know it all was telling me “I could do it myself.” 

    Dropping the would be table legs a dozen times trying to hold them just so, I got slivers, bruises and abrasions from hitting large pieces of lumber on my shin… multiple times. OUCH!

    You may have heard the old phrase, “measure twice, cut once. I measured ten times and cut at least four different sets of legs and still didn’t get it right.

    But I completed the table “all by myself,” then promptly realized that one side was an inch higher than the other. Ugh!!!  I then remembered the scripture about two working better than one… Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. Oops…

    I definitely needed another set of hands while building the table. I contemplated what to do next. Do I take it apart??? Do I cut a bit off here or there? Then the voice started again… “Call the carpenter!”

    Already having made a mess of things myself, I called my uncle, a master builder, not just a phone call but a video call so he could guide me through what I needed to do.

    In about 10 minutes I had it fixed.

    However, the way I fixed it left a permanent, sloping reminder that had I asked for help to begin with, from the carpenter or from a friend, (I mean I do have a German engineer living next door, for crying our loud!) I would not have had to make the correction after all of the hard work I had originally done. 

    Isn’t that how we are in life, so often, too proud to ask for help. We don’t consult the Master Builder who knows the original design for our lives. We try to function independently of him and one another within the body of Christ.

    We know this is no way to achieve success. The simple truth is found in Psalm 127; Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

    We don’t want to ask for help or let anyone see our flaws. We make a mess of things and ask for help after the fact. Or worse, we make a mess and then just try to hide so no one will discover our failures. UGH… and Numbers 32:23 tells us “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

    Scripture gives us the encouragement as to where our help comes from:

    I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2

    We don’t read the instruction booklet He gave us with such clear guidelines for building our lives. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3;16

    Why, why are we so stubborn?

    Because building a God honoring life and subsequent restorations require the recognition of our depravity, dependence and need for repentance. It requires humility… and we are a proud people who need the debris of pride and self sufficiency removed from our hearts. 

    My prayer for myself is that I seek God first, that I “call the Carpenter” before I bulldoze my way through the challenges life brings to me. I don’t want redos. I want to do it right the first time… whatever “it” is.

    If you need help in your soul restoration, I encourage you to “call the Carpenter.” Seek God. Ask a friend for help. Ask your pastor or a trusted spiritual mentor. Don’t let pride stand in the way of you being a masterpiece designed and built by the Master Builder.

    I believe the words spoken to the prophet Jeremiah are as true for us today as they were for him thousands of years ago:

    “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

    I hope you are enjoying this series. Please feel free to share, to comment, or to ask questions. I hope to see you back next week for Destination RESToration: Remove, Rinse, & Rest.

    Soul Water

    Living Water for a Thirsting Soul

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