Are you my friend?

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

– Proverbs 17:17

Yesterday I received some very sad news.

A man, a mentor and a friend to many has passed away suddenly.

Out of respect for his family, I will not dwell on the circumstances surrounding his death, but I will say that his departure has left a huge void for many of his friends and coworkers.

Sometimes we are blessed to have a lot of friends.

Social Media reconnects us with people from our past, and introduces us to new people.

But remember, our true friends are the ones that are with us through the rough times.

There are many “fair weather” relationships, but the true depth of a relationship can only be seen when there is turbulence and storms.

For those in the storm: who can you lean on?

Find them and do so, don’t go through the storm alone.

For those not in the storm: who around you needs a friend’s love and a brother (or sister) who can stand next to them?

In either case, take a step today to serve each other in Christ.

Have a blessed day! 

filling the holes

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.

– Psalm 119:28

Lately I have been going to God in prayer with holes in my heart.

I am not even sure I can explain the holes, but that is what I say to Him.

How do we handle depression?

It seems that we see images of happy people everywhere, especially in advertising and media.

This can become the unspoken “ideal life” and then when we encounter emotions that may contradict this imagery we find ourselves unprepared.

If I had a dollar for every time that someone told me to “just get over” my depression.

Did you know that the Scripture sees sorrow as a part of being human?

Many of the Psalms deal with feelings of overwhelming depression.

Look in your Bible!

As the feelings of sadness and hopeless ness are addressed,  we find that the Bible gives us the guide to navigate through sorrow—the promises of Scripture itself.

God’s word assures us in our sorrow and gives us lighthouses of hope to help us navigate through the dark moments of our soul.

Have a blessed day! 

Hope

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

—Romans 5:5

Hope.

Sometimes it seems so far away.

Dictionary dot com gives eight definitions of hope (eight!):

1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn outfor the best:

to give up hope.

2. a particular instance of this feeling:

the hope of winning.

3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance:

There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered:

The medicine was her last hope.

5. something that is hoped for:

Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

7. to believe, desire, or trust:

I hope that my work will be satisfactory.

8. to feel that something desired may happen:

We hope for an early spring.

For a Christ follower, hope is the assurance that what we believe will happen.

We could call it spiritual confidence.

We have that spiritual confidence because more than just a wish, more than just an emotion, more than just a belief rests in our heart; God himself lives in us through His Holy Spirit.

When we become Christ followers, Jesus pours out the Spirit upon us as God's gift to us to cleanse us, make us part of the same Body, and live inside us.

One more thing to add to that list of blessings from God's presence within us — God's love.

We don't just have it; God keeps refreshing it through the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised.

Don’t ever lose hope.

Have a blessed day!

what did you say?

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

—Proverbs 10:11

I had a conversation one time with someone about how people behave differently in different situations.

The person said that he was totally different around his family than he is at work.  

I commented that I am the same person, inside and out, at work, at home, at church.

I don’t put on a different personality when I go to work – what you see is what you get, every day and always.

I am not fake, I feel like someone who has to change their nature depending on their surroundings might be hiding something.

Do you want to know the difference between a righteous person and a wicked one?

It’s simple, check the fruit of their life.

Notice how a person behaves in a professional setting and in a social setting.

One of the most visible forms of fruit in a person's life is his or her speech.

The righteous person finds a way to impart life with his or her speech.

The wicked will nearly always reveal themselves by what his or her mouth says.

Have a blessed day! 

a simple reminder

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

—Psalm 100:5

Song reference!!

For the Lord is good

And His love endures forever

He's a faithful God

To all generations

For the Lord is good

And His mercies will not fail us

They are new each day

O lift your voice and say the Lord is good

Great is Your faithfulness O Lord

Your loving kindness fills our hearts to overflowing

Songs of rejoicing and sweet praise

They fill our hearts

They fill our days

Oh to be reminded that God's love, mercy, and faithfulness not only continues through all generations, but also blesses and nurtures each generations (yes, even the millennials – lol).

As He has done in the past, God will do so even more in the days ahead as we await the glorious return of his Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed day! 

are you listening?

To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.

– Proverbs 18:13

Arguing with me is a challenge – ask my husband or my kids. 

I am terrible about assuming things, especially someone else’s answer or reason.

One of the great principles of negotiation is to seek first to understand, and then be understood.

Humans are prone to give answers before we know the full situation, which only makes the person we are talking to feel invalidated in their perspectives.

Parents need to listen to children, children to parents, spouse to spouse, worker to worker, and on it goes.

Take the time to listen to each other.

You may find it the most profitable thing you can do.

Have a blessed day!

Worry, worry, super scurry

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

– Matthew 6:34

Holy catfish . . . 

This verse comes up a LOT.

Is God trying to tell me something?

Short answer – YES!

God knows our every need.

If He feeds the birds of the air, will He not feed us?

Think about this: our anxiety is connected to doubt and unbelief!

To worry about tomorrow is a sign that we don’t trust our heavenly Father to take care of us.

We are called to deal with the things of today and trust that the God who knows our name has our tomorrows in His hands.

So anxiety or worry is a symptom of an unbelieving heart.

How do we get rid of worry?

Our answer comes with repentance, then realigning our heart with God’s promise to meet our needs.

One of the reasons that I send this email and post this blog is to remind myself of His word.

To remind myself to have faith in Him, trust in Him, know that He is in control.

Have a blessed day! 

Brokenhearted

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3

January is a rough month for a lot of people, as the holidays wind down and families and friends go back to their lives.

For me, the bitter winds of January are a reminder of thirty two years ago when my daddy passed away.

This year, January has brought more loss for me personally and for many of my friends.

It is understandable that people suffer from depression, especially in the cold dark days of winter.   

While dealing with this kind of pain is never easy, we have to remember that we are not alone.

Lean on God and allow Him to continue the process of healing our broken hearts.

Have a blessed day!

Even the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry - Robert Burns

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

I am a planner.

I make lists, set dates and times and agendas.

When something doesn’t line up, I freak out.

Most of the time though, things fall into place, despite my planning. J

We are 19 days into 2017.

How are you doing with those changes and commitments you made for the new year?

Don't give up or quit on them... even if you're having trouble staying on track.

Keep in mind though that the only real commitment for this year, the one that is absolutely necessary to keep . . .

Ask the Lord where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do.

Then go there and do it.

Have a blessed day! 

Are you there, God?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

– Hebrews 11:1

I’ve been asked how I can believe in a God that I cannot see.

This is a good time to quote a poem:

The man whispered,
"God, speak to me"
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So the man yelled,
"God, speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky
But the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said,
"God, let me see You"
And a star shone brightly
But the man did not notice.
And the man shouted,
"God, show me a miracle!"
And a life was born
But the man did not know.
So the man cried out in despair,
"Touch me, God,
and let me know You are here!"
Whereupon God reached down
And touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly.
Take time to listen.

The power of faith is that it takes us toward the future with confidence.

Since none of us can know what tomorrow holds, faith becomes a powerful friend, for faith holds back the anxieties that can flood our soul.

I am going through a lot of personal struggle right now, and it is only my faith in God that keeps me grounded.
If you find yourself anxious today, take a moment and stop and refresh your perspective.

Hope in the unseen can strengthen your heart to face tomorrow.

Have a blessed day! 

there is joy after pain

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.

– Romans 8:17

Unfortunately, there are things that we will only understand through suffering.

We don’t like suffering; we avoid it at all costs.

But strength comes to those who can see through their pain to Christ, for they understand that they are being prepared for something greater.

God’s children are guaranteed an inheritance, and any suffering now is a prelude for a glorious future either in this life or the next.

We are the sons and daughters of a King!

Please see the joy in that, no matter what the pain you are feeling today.

Have a blessed day!

I'm no longer a slave to fear

Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

—Psalm 100:3

Song reference!!

You unravel me with a melody, You surround me with a song

Of deliverance from my enemies, 'Til all my fears are gone

I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God

I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God

From my mother's womb, You have chosen me

Love has called my name, I've been born again

Into your family, Your blood flows through my veins

I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God

God made us.

While we were in our mother's womb, He made us with His loving care with a purpose for life and a promise to be with us every step of the way.

God cares for us, much better than even the very best shepherd cares for his sheep.

So let's live as those who know our Leader, Creator, and King!

Let's display His character, share His grace, extend His mercy, and offer His forgiveness.

Let's show that we are His!

I am a child of God

Have a blessed day! 

Safe

Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”

– Psalm 16:1-2

True security comes when God is the center of all that we think or do.

Circumstances shift, jobs change, and people can come and go, yet it is God who keeps us safe in the midst of change.

This could explain why God portrays Himself as jealous for us, for He is the only One who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Those who embrace this find a place of shelter from the storms of life.

Have a blessed day!

Trust

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought.

—Jeremiah 17:7-8

Trust.

My trust in mankind was broken yesterday.

I don’t mind when people share my “daily bread”, in fact, I encourage it, because we all need to share the word of the Lord.

Yesterday someone shared my “daily bread” on a questionable website, and the way that it was shared makes it appear as though I posted it.

Unfortunately, the website in question can be derogatory toward my place of business, my career and could in fact, cause issues for me at work.

While I wholeheartedly advocate sharing the Word, I must ask that if you do, please do so in a way that does not implicate me as the poster on websites with controversial content.

Can we trust in God? Yes. I have to trust that the person that posted my “daily bread” did not intend harm.

Is the Lord really faithful? Yes. I believe that something good comes out of the bad things that happen.

While we may wish to have been alive when Jesus walked the earth or Jeremiah spoke fearlessly God's hard truth, we are especially blessed to be alive today.

We stand at the end of an incredible stream of God's work, we have the ability to share God’s word across platforms that never existed before.

We know God is faithful.

We know that our future is within reach and God is already there.

Have a blessed day! 

Where can i turn?

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

– Psalm 55:22

I struggle with anxiety.

I know that many of my friends do as well.

It can be paralyzing.

If we take a good look, we will find that many of our anxieties surround things that could happen, but have not occurred as of yet.

We are reminded to cast the cares of what could happen to us upon the Lord, for we have no control over what happens tomorrow.

Let me repeat that:  we have no control over what happens tomorrow.

When we “cast our cares on the Lord”, we will find a new strength, for God is more than able to keep us from falling into the “what if’s” of the future.

This trust in God is what sustains us through the struggles of today.

Have a blessed day!

Sing it!

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.

—Psalm 104:33-34

Those who know me know this is very appropriate! 

I relate so much to music – like everything that happens has a theme song!

Do you sing in the shower?

What words are on your lips?

Singing is such a wonderful gift!

First, it is a gift from God to us, to help us express our joy, excitement, sorrow, and victory.

Second, it is a gift from us to God, to help us communicate our respect, appreciation, love, and confidence in God.

So let's sing, praising God for what He has done, proclaiming what He will do, and sharing what He is currently doing in our lives!

Have a blessed day! 

My Prayer

By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

– Psalm 42:8

It took me a long time to understand that I am supposed to pray daily, not just Sunday mornings in church.

I admit I still fail in my prayer life.

Do you find prayer boring?

I have learned that prayer is not just for when we want things, but to thank God too.

Even when we are sad and struggling (praise goes up, blessings rain down).

Try this: start off your prayer time thinking of all the ways that God directs His love toward us through friends, family and daily provision.

End your day thinking of His presence as we sleep.

Prayer can remind us of how much the LORD loves us.

We can be renewed in our souls as we take the time to quiet our hearts and focus on God.

Have a blessed day! 

Are there dogs in heaven?

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly

- Psalm 84:11

Remember the movie “All Dogs Go To Heaven”?

That question is heavy on my heart this morning.

See, yesterday afternoon I took our two dogs to the vet for their annual rabies shots, and I came home with only one dog.

It has been scientifically proven that people that have pets are happier than those without.

Pets love us unconditionally (whoa – God loves us unconditionally too!) and fill a void in our lives.

Playing with a pet increases the levels of the feel-good chemicals serotonin and dopamine in your brain.

Yet, pet ownership is not always easy – there is training and expenses and more training.

We expect them to live forever, and that simply doesn’t happen.

When we lose a pet we hear all about the Rainbow Bridge and that we will see them again when we get to heaven.

But in reality, the Bible doesn’t directly address whether our pets will be with us in heaven.

The best advice is for us is to love our pets and enjoy them while they are here with us—and trust God in everything for the future.

He sees and knows all, and nothing is too hard for Him to do.

God knows how much we love our pets and how much they mean to us.

Perhaps God may allow our beloved pets to be with us in heaven.

We must be willing to allow God to order things as He sees best – “no good thing will He withhold”.

We can trust God that heaven will be a place filled with everything necessary for our happiness.

I believe that includes our pets.

Have a blessed day!

Get ready. Get set. Go!

Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

—Joshua 3:5

"Get ready. Get set. Go!"

These words from our childhood are very important for us today as we seek to do God's will.

God wants us to be ready.

But all the personal preparation in the world is not going to make a difference if we have not dedicated ourselves and consecrated ourselves to do what we do to glorify God.

What plans do you have for this next year?

What plans do you have for tomorrow?

What plans do you have for today?

Before we "Get set" and "Go," let's get ready by dedicating ourselves to the Lord and His work!

Have a blessed day!

a fresh start

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

—Proverbs 21:30

No matter how fresh the start nor how great the plans we have made, if we do not walk with God, the coming year will not be a spiritual success.

As we receive this gift of a new year, let's commit to serve the Lord.

As we make plans for the coming days ahead, let's make sure that those plans are made based on the LORD's revealed will in Scripture, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and prayerful consideration of what our God wants us to accomplish.

Have a blessed day! 

I am made new

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

—2 Corinthians 5:17

It's better than starting over!

As Christians, we get a fresh and new start.

God not only forgave us, pardoned us, ransomed us, and saved us, He also made us a new creation!

And every time we come to Him, every day we rededicate ourselves to serve Him, and every new year we offer to Him, we get a new start and a whole new world.

So as we begin this new year, let's begin by offering ourselves to Him, asking Him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and take leadership of our lives

Have a blessed day! 

A new beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

—Genesis 1:1

It’s a new year. 

I arrived at work late this morning because I took my youngest to the airport so he could return to military duty at Fort Gordon, GA.

Someone on the flight gave up their first class seat to thank him for his service. 

It’s hard, being a mom, letting go of the young.

I wonder if this is how God feels, letting go of us?

I mean we are His, but we are also creatures of the earth.

Yes, we are much more, but occasionally we need to be reminded that we are simple creatures.

We can't truly understand existence before time, yet before the beginning of time as we know it, God existed — He has revealed Himself as "I Am," the One who was and who is and who is to come. Before there was an ordered universe to provide the basis of our existence, God is "I Am."

He had existence before, beyond, and without our created universe.

We can't even truly comprehend this in its entirety.

That's why every new beginning — whether it is a day, a week, a year, or a millennium — should begin with God.

He alone is the ultimate Genesis, our beginning.

Have a blessed day!