May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Matthew 6:7-13
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think
they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for
your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
I went to dinner with my daughter, Sara, and her family one evening. My granddaughter, Ella Cate, offered the prayer for our food. Sara reminded her to address God at the beginning of the prayer, then end the prayer in Jesus’ name. As we ate, Sara and I talked about why she taught Ella Cate to do that.
We address God because He is the creator of all mankind and
our Father. We end asking in Jesus’ name because He is the one who restored our
relationship with God after Adam and Eve disobeyed.
God made me, He breathed life in me, and He is the one who hears
every prayer of every person. The beautiful thing is—He wants to hear from us.
When Adam and Eve failed to listen to God in the garden, they
broke our bond with God. But Jesus restored it. He connected us back to the
Father through his sacrifice on the cross.
When I pray, I want to address God and seek Him. Then, I
want to speak the prayer in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is in this too. The Spirit
speaks when I can’t. He carries my prayers to God.
As Jesus teaches in the Lord’s prayer—Speak to God in
reverence, seek to be a part of His kingdom. Do the tasks and touch the lives He
lays on your heart. Ask for provision and forgive others. Seek protection from
the temptations in this world, and be covered with grace, so the devil stays
away. All of this in Jesus’ name.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” -The Serenity Prayer
This past week, I spent a couple of hours pulling expired
black-eyed Susans out of my flower bed. Their brown eyes winked at me and said,
“We’re done.” As I popped them out of the ground, I felt the muscles in my legs
pull.
As I ripped the stems from the soil, I found room to move
one of my lavender plants. I had planted the English lavender too close to the
French lavender, and the French version took over the English one. After
digging up and dividing the English lavender, it now has plenty of room to
grow.
Change isn’t easy, but it needed to happen in the flower
bed. The dead plants needed removed and the lavender needed space to flourish.
I’ve never been great with change. As I’ve grown older and
hopefully wiser, I’m a little better, but at times uncomfortable and uncertain.
The uncertainty is what stirs my anxiety. The not knowing why a change
happened, or why I should make a change. I’m sure you get it. I don’t know many
people who embrace a shift in life and roll with it, without struggle or
question.
In the flower bed, the process gave way to growth. Removing
the dead stems and moving the lavender allowed the garden to grow again. Even
though my leg muscles ached, the rearrangement of the garden was good. Most of
the time, change leads to personal growth, even when I don’t like it.
In life, I’ve had to accept the things I can’t change and
place them in God’s hands and trust Him with all my heart. I’ve had to muster
the courage to change what I could, still trusting God with the results as I prayed
for understanding.
I’m thankful Jesus never changes. He stays the same, no
matter what, and I can depend on Him.
Pray about change and trust God.
Luke 22:25-26
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?
“Worry is worshipping your problem. Prayer is surrendering your problem.”
I remember the day I walked Sara to the huge yellow school
bus at the end of the short driveway and handed her over to ride the bus to
school. The next year, I repeated the act with Maggie and a few years later,
with Hannah. For a young mom, it wasn’t easy sending my babies to school. I
wanted to go with them and watch over them.
Looking back, now that all the girls have made it into their
forties, they were prepared for their first steps toward independence. They all
succeeded and two of them went on to work in the education field and one in
non-profit.
As a young momma, I spent time worrying when I should have
been praying. Over the years, those worries did turn into prayers. I still ask
God to watch over my kiddos every day. Plus, all the people we’ve added to our
family along the way.
Jesus wants me to trust him instead of fretting over
something I have no control over. Yes, I prepared my kids for school and moving
forward, and that’s all I could do, except pray and be available.
In Luke, Jesus speaks to the people and asks how worry can
add a single hour to their life. If anything, worry tears away at us. Worry
produces stress, which causes health issues and doesn’t take me anywhere but
into a tailspin.
Jesus’ wisdom speaks into my heart as I’m reminded not to
worry and instead to pray.
When worry niggles at
you, seek Jesus, pray, and trust Him.
Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it
was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. "Even longer," Pooh
answered.
I’ve had a few book signings recently. At each one, I’ve met new people, and visited with returning readers and fellow writers. When I went back to my hometown, to the building where my library career started, I had the joy and honor of being in the presence of three of my dear high school friends.
They may cringe when I say this, I might too, but next year marks
our fiftieth anniversary for our high school graduation. Time goes too fast.
Even though I moved away from Lynchburg, I’m blessed to have
communication with so many I graduated with. Bev, Colleen, Garnet and I
reminisced, shared updates on our families, travels, and books we’ve been
reading, and simply enjoyed seeing each other.
There’s a song I remember from childhood, “Make new friends,
but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” We may have sung it in girl
scouts. I’m not sure, but it still rings true. Those friends from our youth are
precious indeed.
One friend I discovered in my youth was Jesus. He’s a friend
who sticks closer than a brother. In Isaiah and James, we read of God calling
Abraham his friend. How incredible to be known as a friend of the Lord God, who
created the world.
Even when I have failed in my friendship with Jesus, he
stuck with me. He loved me and called me closer to him. I’m beyond grateful for
Jesus’ love and kindness and the sacrifice he gave, so I might be called God’s
friend.
Take good care of your friends and seek Jesus, who loves you
more than anything.
Luke 8:22-24
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to
the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. As
they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat
was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master,
Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked
his disciples.
Lake Erie tossed and turned.
The waves rose and crashed after tornados had attacked the northeastern
shores. Tim and I happened to spend a few days at the lake, in Marblehead,
after some tough storms went through the area. We watched the water rise and
wash the shore like hands reaching to grasp whatever the waves could steal.
The next day, a sailboat ventured onto calmer, yet choppy
waters. The boat bobbed up and down and I thought, if I were on it, I might be
seasick.
The Sea of Galilee tossed a boat around when Jesus and some
of his disciples sailed. Jesus fell asleep and the storm frightened the men.
When Jesus woke and settled the waters, he asked, “Where is your faith?”
I may not sail in a boat, but it seems like storms attack
our shores too often. A spiritual battle rages around us as good and evil fight
for dominance. When fear overwhelms, Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?”
It’s then I understand, this life was not meant to be lived
alone. Yes, I’m surrounded by friends and family, but I need more. I need
Jesus. I don’t want him to wonder where my faith is. I want him to know my
faith remains in him, every day.
When life rocks the boat, and even when it doesn’t cling to
Jesus. Have faith in the one who makes a difference.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved
us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your
hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
What do you get when you add three friends, a beautiful day,
an outdoor venue, and the Christian musician/singer Crowder?
An amazing night of worship and renewal.
My friends, Bev and Krista, and I traveled to the Fraze
Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio. White clouds billowed in the blue skies, the
temperature hovered around eighty and the place was filled with people ready to
worship Jesus.
If you aren’t familiar with David Crowder and his music, he’s
a multitalented musician who is one of the most humble and down-to-earth
performers I’ve seen. He offers a variety of music that touches the heart. From
a few rock/rap songs to gospel to the music I sang with my grammy, no matter
what music came from the stage, it all pointed to Jesus.
To be able to sing along and see the open sky filled me with
joy and reminded me of the many times I attended church camp and sang outside
under the stars. As the words of the songs echoed and we offered a joyful
noise, my imagination pictured Jesus returning on the clouds to receive God’s
children. What a glorious day that will be.
One song that especially touched my heart, All My Hope,
encouraged me. In this broken world, we still have hope. When nothing else makes sense, hang on to hope in God and his plan to call his
children back to him through Jesus. Even as sin and despair try to separate God’s
children from him, Jesus provides the path of grace back to his Father.
Don’t give up. In Jesus, we have hope.
I hope you'll give the song a listen:
Psalm 31:12b, 14-18
I have become like broken pottery...
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Shattered into a thousand shards.
I know what it feels like to have my heart broken like pottery.
Don’t you? If you live on this earth long enough, something will most likely
shatter your heart and throw you into a tailspin.
Recently, our family endured a difficult situation. Many of
us, along with friends and acquaintances, spent the night praying, seeking God’s
help when we felt helpless. Thanks be to God, the results were positive and a
blessing even in the midst of stress.
My heart still hurts for my family, but I know God’s comforting
hand is on us. When someone in my family hurts, I want to take the burden from
them and carry it myself, but because I’m not the one who has the strength for
such a task, I seek Jesus and ask for his help.
God's servant David struggled and lived a life of turmoil,
even in his dedication to God. At times, his heart shattered over the suffering
he endured. In the Psalm, he broke down and cried out to his Father to deliver
him.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus carries my burdens when I can’t. He takes the exhaustion
and worries and lifts them on his shoulders and walks beside me. I am so grateful
for his care for myself and my family.
Seek Jesus.
Psalm 37:23-24
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
So many rocks.
If you walk far enough on the hiking path at our park,
you’ll find an uneven incline filled with rough rocks of all sizes. When we’re
feeling energetic, Tim and I take Rosie to the top. Tim and Rosie amble up the
rough, rocky terrain, but I have to stop and take a breath. Honestly, it’s not
that steep, but for me, who generally walks on a flat surface, it’s a challenge.
And it’s one I like to take occasionally.
With the help of my hiking stick (thank you, Zeke,) I pick
through the rocks and take careful steps, because this old girl doesn’t want a
broken hip.
I love the verses in Psalm 37 that remind me the Lord has me
in his sights, and because I love God, He watches over me and helps me when I
might stumble, whether over literal rocks or in everyday life.
With each step I took on the rocks, I measured the
consequences if I’d fall. I considered how to move through the path without
harm. Isn’t that how I should live my life? Instead of hurrying and fumbling,
it’s important to check my steps, even as God holds my hand. It’s too easy to
stumble along and possibly fall on the path and in life.
I need to take caution in the words I say, the actions I
take, the attitude I carry, and how I treat others. Am I judging when I should
be praying? Am I criticizing when I should be compassionate? Am I causing
someone else to stumble when I should be helping them along the path?
As you walk the path God prepared for you, discover ways to
move alongside other people and help them navigate life as God helps you.
When mysterious holes are discovered on Abbott
Island, Lucy Grayson wants answers. She also longs for a special someone in her
life.
Local farmer, Owen Miller finds himself
helping Lucy solve the mystery. As they dig into the island history and gather
clues, will they find more than hidden treasure? Perhaps they’ll discover love?
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with
you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Tim and I walked Rosie along the paved path at the local park. As we rounded a curve, we stopped. The night before, a storm had blown through and the wind had knocked over a couple of trees. We couldn’t see the path beyond the downed trees.
We had a choice, turn around and head the other direction or
climb through the mess and try to get to the other side. Wisdom told us to turn
and hike back along the path we’d taken. Out of curiosity, we walked all the
way around and checked out the other side of the fallen trees. By the time we
finished, a crew of groundskeepers arrived to clean up the trees.
When I saw the barrier, my first thought was, “What’s holding
me back?” Then I wondered, “How do I move forward?” Both good questions.
At times, I’m stopped in my tracks and have to reevaluate what
to do. Sometimes, I need to move forward past the obstacles in my way, other
times I need to turn around and reassess my circumstances. If we’d tried to
climb over the trees, I’m sure one of us (me) would’ve been injured. So why
chance it when I know it’s not the right move?
But there are times when God calls us to move forward, and it’s
scary, or I simply feel uncertain. In Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the
Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Moses is old and won’t
be going with them, but he reminds them of an important truth. God is going
with them. Moses calls them to be strong and courageous.
Every day I make choices. Sometimes roadblocks like fear and
discouragement stand in my way, even guilt over a decision that may affect
other people. God calls us to ask Him for guidance. He’s with us and He assures
us He listens and loves us.
With God by our side, we can be strong and courageous no
matter what tries to hold us back.
Acts 1:13-14
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.
Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas
son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Prayer is not a last resort—it is our most powerful weapon.
A newspaper clipping was making the rounds on Facebook that
asked everyone to stop what they were doing and pray for our country for one
minute. If we as believers, in the power of prayer to our heavenly Father,
asked for deliverance, wisdom, and truth—imagine the outcome.
At times, I've flung up a prayer in desperation, not
realizing the powerful tool I had at my fingertips. Think about it, as a fumbling
human, I have the opportunity to speak directly to the Creator of the universe.
I can call on Him any time, and He hears me. That's incredible!
Not only does He hear me, He cares about whatever I'm
asking.
In Acts chapter one, the apostles and followers of Jesus
found themselves at a loss. Their beloved teacher and friend had died. Yes, he
rose from the grave, but his closest cohorts found themselves without their
friend and leader. They needed to move forward and establish the church but
were perplexed about the situation.
They didn't sit around and grumble—they prayed—and
not just a few words aimed toward God, they talked to Him constantly. The folks
who knew and loved Jesus talked to God all the time, to seek guidance and
direction for their lives and for the church.
These days I find I have much to pray about—folks
who are ill, our military, Christians who are suffering at the hands of evil, the
unrest in our country, my family and friends, my writing, and so much more.
God calls me to pray. To seek Him, to talk to Him about the
concerns of my heart. I won't get a better offer.
Pray constantly to the One who listens.
Matthew West sings the song of my heart, right now. Please,
take a listen.