November 22, 2024

Through It All

July 10, 2014 by

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I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
Psalms 34:1-3

Work…
Husband…
Home…
Soccer practice.    Dance practice.    Basketball practice.
My school…kid’s school…
Running here.   Running there.   Running everywhere.

This would make a great Dr. Seuss poem, now that I think of it, but in reality it is just part of my weekly to-do list. Constantly moving…and my brain constantly working. And I know that other women out there have this schedule and then some. We are a generation of women on the move. I say this to point out that when we are always moving we may, at times, forget to praise the Lord because the busyness takes over.

Last night I was folding laundry. I laid back, sighed, and was about to voice a complaint…as I often do when the piles are taller than my head! But this time I thanked God for the clothes I was folding and for the people who wore those clothes. The situation could be different—I could have no clothes to fold, no dishes to wash, no practices to taxi kids to, no life in me to live.

Life tends to entice us to complain, and other people motivate and model to us how to gripe and groan. But as children of the Most High we have the ability to move past this. We have the ability and the gift of being able to praise God continually—through good, bad, busy, and slow.  Through all of life.  So ladies, through life and all that it brings, let us exalt His name together, and let us praise Him for all He does in our daily comings and goings.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, through all we see in our day, we can forget to thank You for what You do. The word continually means all the time—driving, walking, drinking coffee, cheering our kids on…continually. Thank You for the gentle reminder through David. Lord, I pray that we practice intentional praise, and continual praise.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

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Handcrafted

July 2, 2014 by

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The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.
From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;
He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.
No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
Psalms 33:11-18

How often do we see commercials advertising products that will make our appearance stand out?  We seek out hairstyles, makeup, and clothes that will make us unique and that will define our own “look.” I think about individuality in our appearance, the car we drive, our performance at work—we want to be unique.  In a quest for uniqueness, and in being our own person, this verse paints a picture:

He fashions their hearts individually…
Verse 15

Our Heavenly Father values our individuality. He values that we are all different and because of this He created our hearts differently. He is not concerned with our outside appearance, but rather with what is inside. He gave us different passions and desires, different strengths and weaknesses, different characteristics—all which make us the unique creation that we are.

They call America the melting pot, where we respect and admire others for their differences, and our differences make us who we are. It is a gift to have the ability to impact others and the world in only a way we can. It is a gift to have been handmade, crafted, and designed individually. We have had God’s hands forming who we are now and who we will continue to grow to be.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making us one-of-a-kind. Thank You for making each of us who we are—individually and in Your image. Please give us the courage and strength we need to use our individual skills to make a difference for You. And to impact others how only we can. Thank You for the freedom to do these things as well. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

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The Safe Place

June 26, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

I cry aloud to the LORD;
I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
I pour out before Him my complaint;
before Him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is You who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to You, LORD;
I say, “You are my Refuge,
my Portion in the land of the living.
Psalms 142:1-5

The beauty of David’s words paints the picture of where he was in that time of his life.  We see his pain and hear his cry for help.  I have never been in a cave or running for my life, but I can relate to David’s words…I think we all can to some extent.

I know that there have been times when I felt alone, unsure of what lies ahead in my next step.  Similar to David, I have felt tired and worn down by the weight of this world.  Through all of the struggles and pain of life David remembered one thing:

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way. (verse 3)

When it seems as if there is no one on our side and loneliness is closing in on us, we should remember David’s words—it is God who watches over our way.

I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my Refuge, my Portion in the land of the living. (verse 5)

One of our basic needs in life is the feeling of safety—a place where we can breathe and release our cares.  God is that safe place; He is our Refuge.  After a stressful day at work…when the kids seem to be pushing every button you have, when that impossible situation arises and you don’t know what to do…turn to your Refuge and He will give you peace.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, life can lay snares in our path that we don’t see until it is too late.  But, despite what happens on our journey, we can take relief in knowing that You are here…You are our peace, our joy, our refuge! Thank You for this.  Thank you for being our safe place.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Only Love

June 19, 2014 by

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He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 113:9

I don’t know what it is like to not have the ability to have children.  I’m a mother, I have been since I was a young woman. However, through the years I’ve learned an important lesson—you do not need to bear children to be a mom, to be a mother. I have come across many women who are mothers to their own children and to others. I’ve come across women who do not have children but who have taken on that role, nurturing and guiding others in life.

This verse doesn’t simply tell me that He will create opportunities for women to fill a void they may have from not having children of her own. What this verse tells me is that God will always meet our needs, He will always make certain that our voids are filled, but it’s not the house or the kids, or whatever it is that’s missing from your life. What He fills that void with is His love. It’s His love that brings the joy that we have as we go about our day

So yes, Praise ye the Lord! Praise Him for meeting our needs, for filling our voids, and for the joy to live out our destiny even when the circumstances don’t match our plan.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes we look at our situations and see that they don’t meet our plans, we have voids; we have empty places, and there is only One Who can fill those voids—and that is You and Your love. Thank You for Your joy that allows us to live each day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Sharing His Glory

June 12, 2014 by

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Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people
and praise Him in the council of the elders.
Psalms 107:31-32

The elders in the church held key roles within the congregation—they would settle disputes, they were the leaders, and they would teach and govern. I was looking through different translations to get a better feel on this passage and I came across the New Living Translation (below):

Let them praise the LORD for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
and before the leaders of the nation.

The last line replaced the term “elders” with the phrase “leaders of the nation;” this helped me to see this verse differently.  I think that in these times we, as Christians, need to make our voices heard.  We need to exalt, we need to shout, we need to make sure that all He has done for us is heard and known.

Declare His glory among the nation’s, His marvelous deeds among all people.
Psalm 96:3

His gentle commands call for us to share His deeds.  By doing this we are declaring His glory.  It tells those around us how wonderful and loving our Heavenly Father truly is!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the ability to share with others what You have done for us. In a world where an expression of faith is frowned upon in so many countries, freedom of speech is no minor gift.  I pray for courage and for the right words at the right time.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

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More Than Enough

June 5, 2014 by

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Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalms 107:21-22

Thanksgiving and rejoicing…those are two beautiful words.

I think it’s wonderful that we can practice thanksgiving at any time during the year; that the act of being thankful isn’t limited to a holiday in the fall.  I’ve decided that one of the best feelings to have is when I can take a deep breath, and offer a true Thank You to my Heavenly Father.

For me, I know that the idea of these two words was somewhat intimidating.  I would wonder what thanks I could offer that would be sufficient, that would truly express the praise He deserves for all He has done in my life.  I knew that I could never meet the requirement (or that’s what I thought).  But I came to learn that He didn’t place requirements on the thanks we offer.  He just said to sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving.  And how we can—with the gifts we’ve been given, offer thanks through writing, through song, through helps, through whatever method you can.

I learned that thanksgiving and rejoicing are everyday acts.  They are things we can do when we wake up, when we’re working, when we’re talking to friends.  They are things that can become part of our character, things we can practice, and things that can become second nature.  This is definitely something that I have been working on and something that I want to continue to work on.  Daily He is by my side, helping me in these endeavors.  This week let’s focus on thanksgiving…let’s focus on rejoicing!

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for Your love and kindness, for Your patience, and for the gifts You gave us that we can use to offer You thanks.  At times we may not know how to offer thanksgiving, it may not feel adequate, but to You it is beautiful.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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A Rare Love

May 27, 2014 by

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Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind,
for He breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
Psalms 107:15-16

Unfailing love.  I think that this is a concept that is difficult for most to understand because we don’t typically see it in action…at least not from our peers, friends, and not even from our families.  It seems that failing love sometimes better defines the type of emotion shared in relationships, not at any fault of our own.  But there is only One who can truly say they have unfailing love for others—and that is Christ.  Because this can be such a rarity, the importance of acknowledging this love must be understood. Our Heavenly Father shows us this unfailing love daily, hourly, with each breath we take. Charles Lowery spoke at our church today and he reminded us that Christ has unfailing love for us even when we fail, even when we are less than we should be.

This verse proceeds to speak of iron and bronze.  Both metals are known for their strength, and use in battle.  Iron is known to be heavy, and known for its great strength and its hardness.  Bronze is used in the creation of weapons. Both are unbendable by human hands.  Both act as barriers and hurdles that without Christ we would never be able to overcome.

“…for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.”

When I think of these gates and bars, I don’t see them in their literal forms. Rather, I see the struggles we face on a daily basis.  I see our trials and tribulations.  I see Christ in our lives breaking the chains of iron and bronze that bind us—depression, illness, hatred, bitterness, and so much more. His unfailing love carries us through these gates and bars.  And He asks that in return, we give thanks.  And that we acknowledge the numerous things He does for us.  This can be done in so many ways, such as a gratitude journal, a song, or sharing our testimony.

My challenge for you this week is to think of the ways you can give thanks, and share what He has done for you.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wondrous works because without You we would be smothered by the iron and bronze that imprison us.  You ask so little from us in return.  Thank You Father, for Your unfailing love that helps us live each moment of our lives; a love that is there even in our most undeserving of times.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Proper Thanks

May 20, 2014 by

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Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalms 107:8-9

I think that one of the first things we’re taught as a child, and one of the first things we teach our own children, is the importance of giving thanks…of saying ‘thank you’.  Two words that carry such weight.  Two words that when not spoken can turn a good mood bad, and that when are spoken can restore one’s belief in humanity.

Giving thanks is definitely an area I would like to work on.  I have a habit of offering a quick “Thanks, God!” when I find the phone I’ve inadvertently covered with a pillow, or when the caller ID displays the kid’s school—and it’s not a call for trouble—but simply a field trip reminder.  When He makes way for a bill to be paid…when He allows me to walk away from a car accident that I should not have survived…when He wakes me up.  Are they always followed with a true ‘Thank You, Father’?  I’ve noticed that I often expect my thanks simply to be known.  In my heart I am giving thanks, but often the expression remains right there, and is not always directed where they need to be.  I’m often rushing through life finding that I feel too busy to give proper thanks.

I know that I need to cultivate a habit of giving true thanks to God—for His wonderful works, for satisfying my longing soul, for easing a hunger that food wouldn’t began to relieve. He has done so much that He deserves thanks to be yelled from mountain tops.

Today I thank Him for His word, for His grace and mercy, for His love that continues despite my short comings.

Let’s pray:
Oh, that men (we, I) would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men (myself, my friends and family)!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Thank You, Lord, for all You have done. Thank You for doing these things even we fail to thank You as we should. Lord, place Your hand on our hearts and offer a gentle reminder to slow down and give credit where credit is due. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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A Promise to Surround

May 13, 2014 by

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But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalms 5:11-12

If all God told me for the rest of my life was that He was my Shield, I would be okay. If all I heard was that I could trust in Him, and take joy in Him, I would be okay. Or if all I heard was that He would defend me, I would be okay.  But He doesn’t just tell us one or two of these things, He promises all that, AND on top of it all, He adds favor and love.

Joy is only one word I would use to describe how I feel when I step back and realize that He is my Shield.  On a day-to-day basis He stands in front of me, protecting me from the arrows that are being thrown at me and my family.  He is defending us against the attacks, seen and unseen.

For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3:26

Because I know that He walks with me and protects me, I can walk with confidence and be joyful in Him. Even on the days when I feel vulnerable and alone, I know He is there, and I can lift my head and rejoice in all He does for me.

This week I am going to focus on the word “surround” used in Psalm 5:12.  Not only does our Heavenly Father promise this, but He does it in a way that ensures our ultimate protection.  He doesn’t say that He will guard our front or back, He promises that we will be surrounded.  So dear sisters, take joy in the fact that His promises remain true; remember that we are protected from each side; and that the One who died on the Cross for our sins, not only did that but gives us love, protection, and the joy we need to walk the path He has created for us on a daily basis.

  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, the hedge of protection that You surround us with on a daily basis is not some random story told in our youth, but instead it is a reality that we are blessed with through every breath we take. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, amen.

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Blessed…Even When Persecuted

May 6, 2014 by

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Typically blessed is not a word I would normally tie to persecution, and definitely not a word I would think when harsh words are being spoken about me. Thankfully, I don’t have to rely on what I think, or how I feel.

When I read this verse, the last line jumped out at me “for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  For myself, it brings me comfort to know that there were those before me who experienced persecution, taunting, false speech, and evil.  It brings me comfort to know that they were blessed, and to read their stories of how, with God at their side, they overcame the figurative—and, at times—literal stones that were thrown at them.  Having the examples of their lives offers hope that we can and we should rejoice and be glad, despite what we may be facing.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

‘Lest you become weary and discouraged….’   The One who suffered the greatest persecution of all, the One who gave His life so we could live, offers us another example of perseverance in the face of persecution.  He knows the weight that lies on our shoulders, He understands how difficult it is to rejoice, to be glad, and to not become weary or discouraged.  But He also knows that we are capable of these things in these situations.  Not only does He know we can do it, but He has given us the skills to do so.  In these situations I (we) need to remember the examples given to us in His Word—examples of those who walked our path before us.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for not only offering examples of those who have walked this path before us, but thank You for living the greatest of those examples.  When life begins to weigh down on us and perseverance is not something we think to practice, Your words are a page away and remind us that it can be done.  I pray that we see examples of joy and gladness in our lives and in others.  Just as You and the prophets of old are examples for us, that we may be examples for others.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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