Triumphs that grant us the courage to keep marching

Hooray!! I finally beat the snags that were preventing me from using my new computer effectively.  With the help of a dear friend, we were able to navigate our way through the the technological mine field and won.

Little victories make the battles worth fighting.

It is true in our spiritual journey as well. 

I don't know about you, but there are seasons where it seems like we are deep in the enemy camp and there is little or no hope of escaping unscathed. The army before us seems daunting and we have little courage to effectively battle against them.

But then God reminds us that the battle is His and all we need to do is trust Him to guide us.

I love the accounts we are given in the Bible where the impossible became a  reality. They are the triumphs we are given that grant us the courage to keep marching forward as we follow the Lord. Some of my favorite accounts are  found in the Old Testament. Like Joshua 6  where the people marched in silence around the walls of Jericho for six days and then on the seventh day shouted and the wall came tumbling down. Or  Judges 7 where Gideon and his small army defeated  a much larger army with the element of surprise using torches and trumpets. Then there's the account in 1 Samuel 17 of a small boy using a sling  and a rock to take down a giant who had been harassing the army sent  out  to defeat him.

But my favorite is told in the New Testament  in Luke and John where a miraculous conception and birth and a death and resurrection brought redemption for all who are willing to believe and receive the precious gift of grace God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ. Marvelous news of a victory that nothing can defeat.

As we prepare to celebrate what is marked on the calendars as Easter, let us remember that it is NOT about fuzzy little chicks and bunnies, or colored eggs and an overload of candy. Although these are fun  they are not the message of the true celebration. Jesus is alive. He conquered sin and death and is coming back for His people.

Celebrate the triumph. Share the good news.

The victory is ours because the battle has already been won by the Lord. 

Press on and keep your eyes on Jesus

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. For we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. " 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18 NKJV

"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say on the LORD." Psalm 27:13,14 NKJV

Today is the first day in a long time that I have had a PC to use to write my blog.  My old computer finally said "enough" to my poor computer skills, and I had to say farewell to it.

Learning the ins and outs of this new PC has been challenging for this old lady, but I finally managed to get some of the things I desired up and running on it.

As I was struggling to overcome my own frustrations, I was continually reminded the importance of persevering in the face of adversity.  It's easy to give up when we feel as though there is no end in sight to the battle we are facing. That is why it is imperative to keep our eyes fixed on the Savior and not the difficulty.

 Whenever I run into a rough patch in life, I am reminded of the account of Peter walking on the water in the midst of the stormy seas. (Matthew 14:25-33) You see, I am very much like Peter in my desire to do what the Lord tells me to do and have great boldness as I start out. Like Peter, I have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life and the life of those I love. But then I get a bit distracted by the wind and the waves and the noise of the storm, and suddenly my focus shifts. And of course, when it does, I begin to sink, and the at times, wallow, in the adversity rather than returning my gaze to the Savior's face and to cry out to Him for help. But, just like Peter, when I do cry out, immediately Jesus reaches out and rescues me from my self-imposed difficulty.

Oh, what a blessed relief to know He will always save me. I am His beloved and He desires the very best for me, working all things together for my good and His glory.  (Romans 8:28)

And so, once again, I will adjust my position so I am better suited to see Him in all things and will press on. As long as I keep my eyes fixed on my Savior's face, I know I will have continual victory and peace of spirit.

May you find the same in your journey.

To everything there is a season

Today is a bittersweet day. This is the day our oldest granddaughter will be moving out of our home and back with her family. She has been with us off and on for the past 3 years. Ever since Covid and her 18th birthday when her grandfather fell and broke his neck and she rode to the hospital with us. She also waited outside in the car in the parking lot with me for hours waiting to hear an upsdate as we couldn't go in becauase of C0ovid mandates. Afterwards she stayed off and on to help me care for him as he recovered. In that same tine frame fires tore through the canyon and burned her family's home to the ground and she moved in with us.  Rebuilding has taken time, not only for my husband's physical strength, but for the new structure for her family and for her as she has adjusted to life as an adult. 

It will be a good move even though we will miss her. Especially her hugs in the morning and at night. Last night when she came home from work the hug was a little bit longer. We knew today would be bittrrsweet.

But I know her siblings and parents are especially happy they will all be together again. And for that I am happy. 

It's been quite a season. 

But as Ecclesiastes says..to everything there is a season.

So now aa I see this one close I look to the future with confidence that all things are working together for our good and God's glory. Nothing is outside of His notice or care.

So as we enter this season of thanksgiving I will thank Him for the privilege I have had to spend extra time with her. I pray it will have made a positive impact in her life and that whatever seasons she faces in the future she will be able to do so with strength.

As the oldest grandchild she has a role of leadership and I know God has great plans for her and all those whose lives she touches. 

May His blessings be upon all of them.

The Velveteen Grandma: Why I want to be the Velveteen Grandma

The Velveteen Grandma: Why I want to be the Velveteen Grandma: The Velveteen Grandma One of my favorite stories is the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. The story is the journey of a stuffed rabbit ...

Living the "Is" not the "What if'"

"...the just shall live by faith." Habakkuk 2:4b

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen." Hebrews 11:1

Every day I need to remind myself to live in the now. As one who likes to "have a plan" and often has a full calender, staying in the moment can be difficult. In part I think it was the way I was raised.  There was often the question mark of the"what if?" that loomed over many of us during the late 50's and 60's. (Yes, I'm that old.)  When I was in grade school I remember the drills in case of nuclear attack. As I high school student the concern was whether or not friends would be drafted to fight in the Vietnam war, and if they would survive if they were forced into service. As a young wife who saw too many families split because of divorce there was always the question of whether my marriage could survive. (I am happy to report 48 years into it we are still madly in love and holding strong.) 

The battle to avoid the pit of the"what if" continues though. The question of which one of us will proceed the other in death is frequently put before us as we age.  Worry could easily consume if we let it, 

But we have chosen instead to embrace everyday that we have together with joy and live well in the moments we have. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us.

I like how Jesus reminds me not to worry.  " Therefore I say to you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. It's not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither so nor  reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to their stature? So why do you worry about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field how they grow, they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all theae things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34 

 I am continually reminding myself that it takes faith and trust to live in the "is".  But God is faithful and trustworthy and my "mustard seed" size of faith is enough. For that I am eternally grateful. May you find His grace sufficient, His love trustworthy, and your joy in Him complete.

When worry turns into wrong words

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

"Whoever guards his mouth and toungue keeps his soul from trouble."

Proverbs 21:23

"A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Proverbs 15:12

The past week has been a bit stressful for our family. It was a different Thanksgiving this year as  our youngest grand daughter is currently in the hospital and other family members have been  ill.

We have faced the reality of what is, and will gather together  as soon as we are all healthy enough to do so.  Lots of prayer and communication with one another has been vital during this time. 

Sadly, I have been made aware that some of my "communication" is not as kind as it should or could be as I have allowed worry to creep in. Although I have felt the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, the splinter of doubt and the "what ifs" festered in my soul. Without warning, harsh words flew out of my mouth over something trivial. Thankfully the one to whom I spoke sharply to knows me well and is loving and forgiving, but still, I was shocked by my tone and my words.  They are not representative of who I desire to be.

Oh how well I understand Paul when he struggled with his own humanity and trying to live as Christ would have us live. (See Romans 7:10-24)

Perhaps that is the beauty in every trial we face.  God in His mercy and grace allows us to see that we need Him in every moment, in every detail of our lives. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves into His likeness other than living transparently so He can shine through us.

And so, I will offer this bit of my struggle with my own humanity in hopes of being transparent so that He can be seen. 

It is His grace that is sufficient. Nothing of myself.

And for that, I am deeply thankful.

May He grant each of us the wisdom and discernment needed each day to live in the grace He has so graciously given.

The Eyes/'I's" say it all

I have a picture of my parents that I keep where I can see it daily. Of all the pictures I have of them it is one of my favorites. Not only because it is it one of the last pictures of the two of the together, but it is the expression on their faces that makes it most dear. At the time it was taken Daddy's health was already beginning to fade and they knew they had limited time together and with the rest of us here on earth. Yet you wouldn’t see that in their faces. In the photograph they are both looking intently into the lens of the camera, so they appear to be looking you right in the eye. Oh, the message their eyes send. Even though you can detect the slightest discomfort (hers knowing her time with Daddy was drawing closer to the end and in his, the sorrow of leaving her and the rest of us) the greater reflection is of deep, deep love.

On the days when the weariness of the world threatens to steal y peace, one look at their picture and I am encouraged to continue to fight the good fight – just as they did. Neither of them was particularly “religious” in their faith, but the love for Christ and family was demonstrated daily in their lives. They lived what they believed. The “Golden Rule” “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” was carried out daily in their lives. As I ponder the deep love they showered upon e during my childhood and as an adult I am overcome with longing for their presence. I miss them. And yet, because to the courageous way they faced life and death, I am encouraged to do the same. You see, both knew the power of God’s gift in the life, death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They knew that His “I’s” carried the power of God, and they followed Him in confidence.

His “I’s” say: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, shall live. And whoever believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25,26

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

My parents’ eyes reflected confidence and love in the I’s of the One Who loves us best. It is the message I desire that all will see. In His grace and mercy we rest in confidence.