For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Week two of Advent brings the focus on peace. If you are lighting Advent candles, you will light the purple Bethlehem candle. It signifies peace, preparation, and the journey Mary and Joseph made into Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I equated the greeting of “peace” with hippies who… well… were a little different form me. I didn’t really understand their culture. I saw many carry signs that said “peace” yet, in anger, hurl items and shout obscenities at returning veterans and POWs.
As an adult, I understand the outrage at a seemingly senseless war and wasting the lives of so many of our young men and women. However, I also grasp reality that peace does not come from angry rioting, chanting obscenities, casting stones, or burning the proverbial town.
Peace isn’t neccissarily a quiet snowy night or a perfect day at the beach (but that may put a smile on your face). Peace is something that dwells deep in our souls and is revealed in our words, attitudes, and actions.
Peace comes from surrendering our anxious thought to the One who can give us a peace that passes all understanding.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Peace is not an absence of trouble. It is not a world without war, though that sure would be nice. We can have peace in the midst of trouble. There can be peace even when wars are raging.
I have heard it said, there are three kinds of peace: internal peace, peace with others, and peace with God. Usually our ‘inner peace’ is more abundant if we have peace with God and peace with others.
We can have peace with God when we have an unencumbered relationship with Him. That means seeking His will through prayer and His Word. It means keeping short accounts and asking for forgiveness when we have intentionally or inadvertently sinned. We have peace with Him when we are surrendered to Him.
Scripture tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18I love that Paul includes the first part of this verse, “if it is possible.” When we hear this verse, how many of us immediately think of that one person who, no matter what we do, refuses to be at peace?
Sometimes it is a ‘me’ problem, and we need to give or ask for forgiveness and seek restoration. Other times that restoration and peace evades a relationship because of the unwillingness of the other party. That is a ‘you’ or a ‘them’ problem. We cannot change a person. We cannot force restoration or peace on anyone. We can, however, pray for that person to experience the Prince of Peace and all He has to offer.
This time of year, we hear about peace, sing about peace, and desire peace on earth. But even driving to the corner market makes it evident that our world is lacking in the truth about peace on earth. It is easy to respond in frustration or anger rather than with grace to that speeding car that cuts us off or the hurting one who acts out of their hurt. But it is so much more rewarding to have victory over that angst.
If there is to be peace on earth, it must begin in my heart, and like the oxygen in crisp mountain air, seep into the hearts of those who so desperately need to know the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
When my children were little, we would drive around looking at Christmas lights and count all the Nativity scenes, each one reminding of the gift we were given when Jesus, so many years ago, came to earth, fully God, fully human.
Throughout this season of Advent, we are given so many reminders that Jesus, Emmanuel, God is with us. What can you ‘set’ as your reminder to invite His peace to reign in your heart and mind?
I encourage you to ask God to fill you with the peace only He can give today.
Share the gift of peace with everyone you encounter.
As you hear Christmas carols playing, listen for the message of peace and be reminded that He is the Prince of Peace and let Him be the ruler of your heart.
You can listen here to a newer arrangement of this classic by Casting Crowns.
My Prayer for you today is this:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
I will never forget when I was asked what I was doing in preparation for Advent. I did not have an answer. Embarrassed, I went home and looked up the word. It simply means arrival, event, or beginning. Advent in the world of Christendom is preparing for the arrival of the Messiah first in Bethlehem and His future return in the end times.
Our church did not make a practice of celebrating Advent, so I never really understood it. It is not connected to a doctrine or a specific theology. However, the four tenants of Advent are directly related to a rich spiritual walk. It helps us focus on the hope salvation offers, the peace He brings, the joy that is complete in Him, and the love we share because of Jesus.
Week One – If you are lighting an Advent candle, this week you will light what is considered the prophecy candle. This purple candle represents the prophecies of Jesus’ birth and His second coming, prayer and hope.
Hope, the first of the four tenants, propels us to wake up each morning. We have expectations for what is in store for us. We believe that there are better days ahead.
We have hope not in just a wish list but a confident expectation that God’s promises will be fulfilled.
For nearly 700 years the Children of Israel waited, with hope, for the arrival of the Messiah. Even though the prophecies foretold of a peasant birth and violent death, many did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.
His birth was announced to shepherds, then to wise men from the east, not to the rabbis or priests, not to the emperor or his advisors. Jesus came to give hope to those who seek Him.
He was not born in a lovely birthing suite or a warm hospital. He was born in a barn, probably a cave where animals took shelter and were fed. I think part of why His entry was so humble is so we humans would not put our hope in the fascination of wealth or royalty but in the finished work of Jesus.
That work was finished when He died on the cross and rose again. He took the place for us, so we did not have to suffer the eternal consequences of our sin, separation from God. He came so that we can have life, life more abundant. He left the Holy Spirit for us and in us so we can live a peaceful and quiet life, have hope, and look forward to the home in heaven He has gone to prepare for us. (John 14)
Sometimes we become weary and lose hope. Our focus is on all the things that are not right in this world or the failures of our past. We will crash every time if we look anywhere but up for our hope. When that happens to me, the Lord graciously reminds me of this verse:
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
One of the beautiful things about hope is that there is always enough to share. The gift of hope should be something we carry with us at all times and be prepared to offer to anyone in need. I Peter 3:15 tells us to Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you.
That hope is Jesus. The gift is eternal life. And it is free.
My prayer for you as we begin this advent season is this:
This week can be tough for many. Some find themselves alone and hurting. Some are in a crowded living room of friends and family yet find themselves lonely. Friends, if this is you, know I am praying for you. One of the best ways to overcome those feelings is to practice gratitude with examples given to us in Scripture.
In Psalm 34, David sets the stage for having a heart of gratitude.
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
In Psalm 138 He prays a specific prayer of thanksgiving.
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
Hannah gave thanks after giving birth to Samuel.
“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Job praised God even amid losing all his children and his incredible wealth.
“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”
While Paul’s teachings are not expressly about thanksgiving, the theme of gratitude is prolific throughout his writings. There are more than twenty instances of him either giving thanks for God’s provision and other believers or encouraging the believers to give thanks. Even from prison, Paul’s writings show his heart of gratefulness.
He gives instruction.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
He sets an example.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6
He explains the reward of praying with a grateful heart.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:6-7
We might look at Paul or David and think they had beautiful lives, of course they were filled with gratitude. But remember, David was being pursued by people who wanted to kill him when he wrote many of the Psalms. Paul was in prison for preaching the Truth when he wrote many of his letters filled with gratitude.
This month I have tried to make a practice of waking up every morning and meditating on gratitude, not just for material things, but God’s creation and creativity, family and friends, attributes of God, music, sunrises and sunsets. The enemy has thrown in some harsh words and headaches, attempting to steal my joy. I saw his ploy, and it was hard to resist giving to the grumble.
I want my gratitude to be a state of being not just a good habit. The only way I can do this is to keep my eyes off the woes of life and on the One to whom I owe all my thanks.
Keep digging in Scripture and in your own life for moments of gratefulness. When we focus our eyes on the One to whom we should be most thankful, our grumble can turn into gratitude.
Heavenly Father,
I come to you with a grateful heart for who you are and what you have done for me. Help me to keep my eyes on You. Show me, every day, the blessings you have bestowed on me. Guide me in my prayer life to begin with gratitude.
The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
Psalms 145:15-16
One of my favorite stories from childhood is that of George Muller, missionary to orphans in England. He is known for his prolific prayer life and faith. One day, the orphanage was down to almost no food. He didn’t know where the next meal would come from, and he was responsible to feed these precious children. So, he did what he knew how to do best, pray.
I can imagine his conversation with God went something like this. “Lord, these children are hungry. You put them in my care, but I have nothing left to give. I know you are the God of miracles. You are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, so could you do that for these children?” Moments later, a knock sounded at the door. It was a driver of a bread truck that had overturned just down the street.
George didn’t pray that the bread truck passing by would wreck or break down. He did pray that God would provide. And He did. The truck driver had to unload the contents of his truck. George just happened to have the perfect place for it, the tummies of his hungry charges and their kitchen pantry.
I felt like one of George Muller’s kids when, as a child. Our cupboards were empty. A couple bags of groceries appeared on our doorstep.. There were even marshmallows in the bag! Someone wanted to bless us with the necessities but saw beyond the need and blessed us with an extra fun gift. I am not a fan of the marshmallows now, but I certainly was giving thanks for them as a wide-eyed child.
Throughout Scripture, we see example of God providing at just the right time. He provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. He provided a meal for Elijah who was on the run and scared. He provided manna for the children of Israel. He provided a hiding place for David. He provided a way of salvation for the entire world of sinners.
As we approach Thanksgiving, it is good to reflect on how we have seen God’s provision in the Bible. But can we stop and think of His provision in our own daily lives? How many times have we sung “Great is Thy Faithfulness” without stopping to count our blessings?
This month, I am trying something new. I am holding myself accountable to be more grateful by making a list and posting a short message about one item per day. From the air I breathe to the coffee I drink, every good and perfect gift is from my Father.
I still find plenty to grumble about… that is the human spirit, isn’t it? But by God’s grace He points my heart to an attitude of gratitude.
What do you have to be grateful for today?
Will you take the challenge to find one thing every day between now and Thanksgiving to be grateful for? Either in your journal, social media, or just in your heart, make a note of it first thing in the morning. Then give thanks for it throughout the day.
Feel free to comment here or check out my gratitude posts on Instagram at @kerilynnwillis.
Dear Jehovah Jireh,
Thank you for Your provision in my life. Help me to recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Help me be aware of other’s needs and meet them when You prompt me to. Please extinguish the grumbles in my heart and help me to always be grateful. In Your Precious Name, Ament
There was a time in our not so distant past when the world came to an abrupt slow down. It was for reasons I would not like to repeat, but the reduced activity and busyness was a welcome relief to the rat race. I know everyone did not experience this; my daughter was working one of the busiest ICUs in the country. For her, the rest came after the storm.
However, a good lesson was learned. In the midst of the pandemic, many experienced the benefit of slowing down. It was kind of a forced lesson, but a good one. But how many of us retained that invaluable life lesson? (If you were to drive on the Southern California freeways, you would answer a resounding NO ONE!)
Next week, we enter one of the busiest seasons of the year, what we like to call the holiday season. In many countries, taking a holiday means slowing down, going away, having a quiet respite to a busy work life, not doing all the normal work-a-day ‘stuff.’
Not so in the US. Holidays mean crowded stores with crazy shoppers pushing their way in front of one another, grabbing the last Furbbie (or whatever toy is in vogue) out of the hand of a fellow treasure hunter.
It does not have to be that way. But we are a headstrong people. Israel was like that too.
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.
Like us, the Children of Israel were given the opportunity to rest, but they refused. They thought they knew better. They thought going back to Egypt would solve their problems. They had a God who lovingly rescued them, protected them, and provided for them. Yet, they considered going back to Egypt where they were enslaved, beaten, and quite literally worked to death. They thought that is where their security existed.
As a society, we had a chance to slow down, quiet our busy minds, and reflect on God’s goodness. It was like God looked down and whispered, “Be Still!” That stillness lasted for a while. But as we approach another holiday season, I feel like I am watching racehorses ready to conquer the Kentucky Derby.
We need to slow our over-active lives down. Appreciate God’s rescue of a fallen world. Recognize the protection He offers through faith. Be grateful that “All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided.” Then, stop… or at least slow down.
Slow to a point where we can return to Him, and rest in Him.
Friends, I don’t want to go back to Egypt. I want to forget what is behind me and keep my eyes on the finish line, not just the end of the year, but the finish line where my Creator is waiting for me.
Here are a few ways to help you keep from giving into the busyness of the season:
*Decide what you want out of this holiday time. Evaluate the tasks and events piling up, and intentionally say yes or no.
*Before running into a store, listen to a Christmas or worship song all the way through. Consider the words and meaning of the song. Let it wash over you and bring you peace.
*Delegate.
*Decide what is REALLY necessary.
*Return to Him and rest in Him.
*Before making a Christmas wish list or grocery shopping list, make a gratitude list.
*Always be prepared to give an answer for the Hope in you.
*Be prepared with grace when frustration and anger threaten to overtake your attitude.
What can you do to slow down this season?
How can you take time to be still in the chaos of this time of year?
To The One to Whom I Should be Grateful, Please forgive me for being too busy to stop and acknowledge You. Please help me to recognize when I need to stop and rest, and help that rest to be in you, not in what the world offers. Please guide me through this time and keep my eyes on you, my creator and provider. In Your Precious Name, Amen
November is traditionally the month we work hard to remind ourselves of all we have to be grateful for. Then the day after Thanksgiving the world goes into a frenzy to make out shopping and wish lists of things we may or may not need. Personally, every day I am trying to focus on one thing, tangible or intangible to thank God for providing. It is a painful truth that in all of our gratitude, we still find a reason to grumble.
I am exceedingly aware that about 50% of this country will be disappointed in the election results (not to mention the World series). No matter the outcome, I must remind myself that God is still the King of Kings; He is still sovereign and ruler of my heart and my destiny.
The fact remains that God has appointed the rulers, and He has given us a very specific reminder to pray for them.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth”
I Timothy 2:1-3
We are actually told to not just pray for them but to give thanks for them. Ouch! How can we do that? Well, we can give thanks for them because, having ‘them’ in leadership gives us an opportunity to pray more. It gives us the opportunity to show more grace than we can without divine intervention. It gives us the opportunity to put our faith in God not in man.
And why are we asked to pray for ‘kings and all who are in authority? So we can live peaceful and quiet lives, marked by godliness and dignity. Sadly, godliness and dignity are two things sorely missing in our politicians who are running for office. Maybe we need to pick up the pace in our prayers a bit.
I encourage you, every time you see a political add, billboard, or yard sign, send up a quick prayer for that person. They need wisdom and guidance. They need grace with accountability. They need the Way the Truth and the Life.
Lord Jesus, Please help us know how to pray for our leaders. Please give them wisdom and guidance in leading our cities, counties, states, and our country. Please remove any selfish ambition and replace it with humble responsibility to the people of our land and to You. Please help them to rule in a way that brings about a peaceful and quiet life. In Your Precious Name, Amen
This book by Robin Jones Gunn is a 10 out of 10! 
Usually when I get a new book from one of my favorite authors, the world stops. I make a cup of tea (hot or iced depending on the season). I put on my proverbial “do not disturb” sign and dig in. And as much as I wanted to do that with Robin’s new book, “Tea With Elephants,” I just could not. I needed to savor this story like a good cuppa tea and a conversation with an old friend and make it last as long as the adventure in Africa took her characters.
I felt like I was traveling right along with the Suitcase Sisters. From the bumpy car rides to worshiping with all of God’s creation in Kenya, I was there. Robin’s artful writing paints a vivid picture of every scene. I could almost smell the fresh tea leaves and the soggy earth.
But, by far, the most beautiful part of this book is the way Scripture and biblical truth are infused in every chapter. It is almost like I have been to church or worship service. And I know that comes because Robin is worshiping her Creator as she writes stories that will draw us in to His dominion.
Robin Jones Gunn does it again. Her writing is so beautiful and refreshing. I want everyone to love it as much as I do!
Have you ever felt like a Cinderella, forgotten, doomed to the basement of life, getting the leftovers, watching the evil stepsisters get all the benefits of a life of wealth and comfort?
Don’t you just wish sometimes you could be that prized and precious one that the shoe fits?
Guess what? You are! You are God’s special treasure. In fact, some versions of the Bible call us peculiar treasures, and some of us may be a little more peculiar than others.
Exodus 19:5-8 (KJV) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
Peculiar in this case really means unique and set apart, precious, special, not costume jewelry for sure!
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6
“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be hisown special treasure. ” Deuteronomy 14:2
The God who created the universe and has in His possession every living creature, every people of the earth, every natural wonder; He chose the sons of Jacob, the Children of Israel to be His most precious and prized treasure.
So, what does that say for or about the rest of us? Are we just chopped liver?
Well if you want to think of Children of the King, as chopped liver maybe, but Scripture tells us otherwise.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:11-12
He gives us this treasure, but we need to receive it. He does not call the entire world his special treasure, but gives everyone the opportunity to become that very thing. When we receive His free gift, we become royal heirs to the Kingdom through the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Scripture tells us that He is not willing that any should perish, and that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
And then once we have been saved, we have a new identity.
“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” I Peter 2:10
When we become children of God, we become His Special Treasure who will be gathered upon Jesus’ return to earth.
“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17
We are His peculiar and treasured possession and joint heirs with Jesus to the kingdom.
But what is He to us?
Proverbs 7:1 tells us The Almighty himself will be your treasure.
In the Greek, the word for treasure is: thesauros and means a deposit, i.e. wealth (literally or figuratively):–treasure.
God has made that deposit into the treasure banks of our hearts through Jesus and the His written Word.
Interestingly, this is also where we get the modern world thesaurus – a treasury of words: the literal meaning is a treasure, treasury or storehouse.
He is THE Word, John 1:14 (the Word became flesh) – I don’t think it is a giant leap to connect that the Word (Jesus) is treasure and God’s Word, the Bible is the greatest treasure chest ever discovered.
The difference between this treasure and earthly treasure is that there is always enough to go around, it never runs out, we don’t have to beat everyone to the big X to get the benefit of it’s wealth, and there is always more hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 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“ Ephesians 3:16-19
He fills us with the treasure of His love and light.
We are not gods, but our earthly bodies are created to be a vessel that God pours Himself into, so that others can see Him in us.
We now have this light (the Holy Spirit) shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure(Jesus). This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7
WE ARE HIS TREASURE.
HE IS OUR TREASURE.
And we are like a treasure chest holding the most valuable treasure in the universe!
There are over one-hundred references to treasure in the Bible. Some give us a picture of earthly treasures, the good of them, the bad of them, and the direction to store up eternal treasures rather than earthly ones.
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:
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.
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.
“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.
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?
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 theLordto 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.
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.”
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
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.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.And because you belong to him, the powerof 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
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 powerof 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
“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.
a formal, stately, or grave bearing: he entered with dignity
the state or quality of being worthy of honor: the dignity of manual labor
relative importance; rank: he is next in dignity to the mayor
high rank, especially in government or the church
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.
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.
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.
“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.
