Sometimes, life with God feels just like this…
But I promise you, all His promises are true, and He ALWAYS has our best interest at heart, because He loves us more than life itself. đź’—
Just hang on. This will be the best ride of your entire life!
faith
How Big Is Your World?
This thought came to mind as I listened to my 89 year old grandmother talk about life last week on her birthday. She told stories of her childhood and talked about friends and family members who have long crossed over. She talked of her small southern town that she loved so much, and she spoke of her world travels with the love of her life who passed away almost 16 years ago.
This thought came to mind as I perused through my pictures from our recent trip to Ukraine, and again, when my husband and I were asked today how many countries we have been to. We spoke of our combined travels to Ukraine and Bahamas, his trips to Israel and Central America and my long ago childhood trip to Haiti, all mission trips of one sort or another. It lead me to remember others who have traveled so many more times and to so many more places throughout the years, All reaching someone for a cause.
This thought lead me to think of how small our orbits can become in day to day life and how big our sphere becomes when we reach out beyond where our comfort lies. Will we remain for dependability, or will we go for availability? Will we resist out of fear, or will we embrace out of love? It’s all in the choices we make.
So, I ask you again, How big is your world, really?
You Can Because He Will
Really enough said.
But for those who don’t know, don’t understand or don’t believe, this Scripture seems foreign. Yet, within each soul, there is a longing to know a greater being, to rely on a stronger source, to understand a higher power. Why else would so many seek power, fortune and fame? Why do so many spend a lifetime searching for answers in “intellect, religion and deep findings of the universe?”
Because the Creator of our being placed that longing within our souls. The Master of the universe set those desires deep within our hearts; so, we might find Him and know Him.
That missing piece to the puzzle is Hope.
He is the Hope for which your heart longs. He has the love your heart so desires. He is everything you need.
Just try it. Say His Name, “Jesus.”
Motherhood Would Be Easy If Not For This
This. If you are a mother who still has children at home, you need to read this. Especially if you have littles in your home, this is a must read. I promise, you will feel strength once you’re done. Jennifer Batchelor, the author, has an amazing way of bringing grace right to our hearts.
My favorite quote is, “I’ve yet to find a hack for parenting, though. There is only the slow, long, daily work of getting to know each child as an individual, and then tailoring your methods to meet them where they are.” She is so very right. When we get to tailor our lives to some other mother, or create in our child the responses we see another child has, we are destined for failure. We must find grace for the moment and remember, we all go through seasons in this life. We just have to learn to thrive in them rather than just survive.
What she shared is so very true. We must learn to lean into our hard. Reading her post led me back to a blog I’ve read so many times. This person has taught me the art of leaning so well; although, I’ve never met her in person, and now, she has simply left a beautiful legacy for us to read and remember. Kara Tippetts shared her heart time and again through this blog as she braved the struggles of cancer that wracked her body with pain, fear and doubt; yet, she came forth triumphant and victorious. She opened her heart through her writings so honestly and with such vulnerability that I stand in amazement time and again. I encourage you to read, Braving Broken to start. Her story still challenges me to find that grace everyday and live it to the fullest. đź’—
I Will Hold To Hope
You left so many years ago
I thought the time could never be restored
The years changed us. The years let go.
I believed we’d always be strangers passing and more
You returned for a bit
I thought maybe a relationship could grow
The days changed us. The days in our heart lit.
I believed we’d not restore years but maybe a new life we’d know
Then you left again, maybe this time forever
I thought things could be different, an alteration from things destined
The moment changed us. The moment of surprise severed.
I believed it could be new but now your old self may win
I can not determine what may come
I will pray it’s not what I feel and what I see
I do not know what tomorrow will sum
I will hold to hope and believe safe and secure is where you will be
1/26/18 – MG
Fight, Flight or Freeze?
What do you do when the storms of life come? We all have a natural instinct to fight or flight, and some just simply freeze, regardless, the size of said storm. Each of these reactions can cause us to find victory or defeat, depending upon the needed reaction for the given moment.
The difference between your success and failure through the storms of life will be the awareness you have and the wisdom you use to determine the reaction to what comes. Sometimes, you must stand and fight that demon coming against you, because your victory comes through the conquering of that bully that’s trying to suck the very life out of you. Sometimes, you better duck and move, because dodging the lighting bolt and getting out of the way will be your safety and survival. Still other times, staying out right where you are will give the needed time for your army of support to come to flank you on either side, and through that needed help of family and friends, your faith and your God, the battle is won!
So, no matter what your natural inclination is when the storms come, the most important thing is to use wisdom to know the best reaction to act upon. Sometimes, your very survival will be dependent upon the wisdom of that one moment.
Got Character?
What do you do when things don’t go your way? Do you pitch a fit, and throw a tantrum, get mad and not speak to anyone?
What do you say when you are falsely accused, maligned or slandered? Do you strike out in revenge, slander right back and fight and claw to bring about your own deserved justice? Do you take the “martyrdom high road,” and manipulate the ones accused with guilt and shame to bring retribution? Or do you recede into nothingness, pretending you don’t care, it doesn’t matter, and you don’t matter anymore?
How do you react when everything falls apart, and it seems the world is closing in around you? Do you cry, scream, become apathetic or create scenarios of denial all around you?
Life brings with it sufferings, unfair events and painful injustices. Sometimes, it will kick you in the teeth and, just for the fun of it, kick you again when you’re down. Sometimes, it just is what it is, and there’s not a blessed thing you can do about it.
What you do in those critical moments will determine your character, integrity and stability in handling far more than that moment for all to see and know for a lifetime. What you say and do in that moment can make an impact for life.
So, I ask you again… what do you do in those crucial moments? What do you say? How do you respond? How do you react?
Where Do You Run?
When the trials of life settle in like a cold, hard rain, where do you run?
When the pain beats in your chest in rhythm with your own heartbeat, how do you keep breathing?
When all seems lost, and the world feels as if it’s closing in around you, what do you do? Who do you call?
Some run to a friend. Some run to a lover. Others find solace in a bottle or a pill. Still others fight it, deny it or even lash out at all those around like a wounded animal.
Yet, can I tell you there is One who will never fail? Can I tell you there is One who will bring comfort and strength, grace and peace?
His name is Jesus, and He’s reaching out His Hand. He’s calling to you in the rain.
Can you hear Him? Just say His Name.
*I do not own nor possess any pictures in this post. A simple Google search led me to each.*
Stand Tall
Remember…
You can do this hard thing that opposes you! You can persevere! So, stand a little taller. Hold your sword a little higher, and fight! Fight to win!
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Why wait?
So, what will you do in the new year of 2018?
Don’t wait for tomorrow, for none is guaranteed tomorrow. We are not guaranteed our next breath. Make your decision. Make you plan. Make your choice. Get moving, and start today. You can do this thing! Just believe!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
