In Times of Grief

This memory came up today and took my breath away with the profound truth the Lord whispered to my heart.

This is a picture my beautiful husband took in 2021, the year he went home to be with Jesus. He loved sunsets, sunrises, and beautiful colorful skies. They always reminded him of God’s majesty, His beauty, His perfection, His truth. Moments like this reassured him that God is real, present, and faithful. The Lord paints the most beautiful pictures he would often say. 

As I looked at this today, my heart was already tender. Last night, my dear friend’s mama went home to be with the Lord. And today, I learned that another friend’s aunt also passed away. Both were believers.

And I couldn’t help but think, the same God who painted this majestic sky is the same God who is holding them right now. They are whole. They are complete. They are in the presence of their Jesus. No more pain. No more sorrow. No more scars from this broken world. All of that is behind them now.

I can’t even imagine what they get to see.

When I ponder that, it blesses my heart and reminds me that God is near, even in our grief. Our loved ones who are in Christ are seeing things we can only begin to imagine. The Apostle Paul spoke of being caught up into the third heaven and saw paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words. Our finite minds can’t possibly begin to understand the things that God has prepared for us who love him. 

If you’ve lost someone you love, I pray this encourages you today. God is real. Heaven is real. And because of the promise made possible through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this separation is not forever.

In light of eternity, we will be reunited. Until then, we cling to hope, we grieve with faith, and we rest in the truth that our God is both majestic and merciful, and He holds our loved ones, and us, securely in His hands.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ 

Heal Me O Lord

Heavenly Father,

You know the wounds that are in my heart….the lies, the faulty thinking, the fear, the sorrow left over from the hurts of my past.

I give them all to you and ask that you would heal me and release me from all emotional strongholds hindering me from experiencing the fullness of your love and grace.

I choose to live in Hope even when I feel hopeless. I will not harbor hate even when I am ignored. I will live with Your peace even when I am rejected.

I will love with Your love even when I am scorned. I will pray with Your heart even for those who hurt me. I will forgive with Your grace even when I’m betrayed.

I won’t focus on fear, for I know You are faithful. I won’t let heartache reign; I’ll move forward with faith.

I will stand on your Truth no matter the circumstances because I know that Your love never fails.

“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 30:17

“The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.”

Psalm 41:3

“Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them. snatching them from the door of death.”

Psalm 107:19-20

“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’ “

Mark 5:34

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Learning to Trust Again

 

When trust is broken, something inside us changes. We learn to protect ourselves, to withhold trust, and to stay guarded. Especially when the people we were supposed to be able to count on parents, spouses, close friends have let us down, the walls go up. And they’re hard to tear down.

But God sees those walls. He knows why you built them. And He’s not asking you to tear them down all at once, He’s asking you to start by trusting Him.

Healing doesn’t mean becoming naïve again. It means learning to trust wisely, with boundaries that honor your worth. It means letting the Lord show you what safe, godly trust looks like. And it means letting Him gently heal the parts of you that have been betrayed and bruised.

You don’t have to live emotionally imprisoned by fear and control. Christ came to set you free, free to love again, hope again, and trust again.

A Prayer for Trust

Lord, I say I trust You, but I still try to control things. I hold the reins tightly because I’m afraid. Afraid to let others in. Afraid of being let down again. But it’s exhausting, Lord. I can’t do it all. Help me surrender. Teach me to trust again with wisdom, with boundaries, and with confidence in You as my ultimate refuge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I will trust and not be afraid.” 

Isaiah 12:2

Always In Your Midst

As we reflect back on the past year, and look forward to the new year, let us never lose sight that the Lord is in our midst.

He is there in the good times, the difficult times, the lean times, the times of fear and uncertainty, always reminding us through His Word that our hope is not found in what is seen but what is unseen. Our hope is in Jesus - our precious Savior.

No matter the season of life - He is there! He will walk us through every season. Even when things don’t make sense and we can’t see a way out- He is there!

He brings light to the darkness, hope to the hopeless, guides, protects, provides, comforts and fills us with His love and grace. We are never alone.

So let’s enter into the new year with confidence trusting that whatever the year brings - The Lord is there!!’ Hallelujah!!!

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Happy New Year friends! 🙏✝️☝🏼💞

The Author of Peace

God brings order out of chaos, even the chaos we create ourselves.

If there is conflict and confusion in your life today and you lack peace, chances are you are looking at the relationship, situation, or problem through the eyes of the world. Doing so brings about impatience, disorder, and anxiety, which can cause us to lash out unlovingly at others.

But when you shift your focus through God’s lens, His peace begins to reign in your heart. God is able to help you respond to others in love, patience, and forgiveness; thus, maintaining peace with those around you. It’s your choice – you can live in confusion or chaos, or you can live a life marked by peace.

Proverbs 16:7 

When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Isaiah 26:3 

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Philippians 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Abundant Life In Him

 

Would it make any difference to you today if you received the truth that Jesus came that you may have life, and to also have it abundantly?  How much different would your life be if you understood that God has a specific, fruitful plan for you; one that is immeasurable by man?

God does have a distinct, predestined purpose for all of His precious children...both individually and collectively...and it is far beyond anything we can possibly conceive in our humanity.

Our unchanging, unwavering Provider has unlimited resources and He is exceedingly able to bless us far beyond our heart’s desire...according to His power that is at work within us...today, tomorrow and forevermore!

All of the trials, temptations, fears, possessions, pain and worldly pleasures we attain or experience on Earth are temporary. But, a life that is sustained through The Holy Spirit is exceedingly abundant and eternal. Through His provision of truth, freedom, and grace...we should not just be alive, but experiencing our lives abundantly!

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:11

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will... James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Romans 16:25

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

The Balm of Gilead

Brokenness is a heart condition. Jesus is the remedy...and His cure guarantees eternal life!

When we invite in The Great Physician to perform His spiritual surgery, we receive a heart healing that includes redemption, restoration, rest and peace...beside the still waters of everlasting love.

Won’t you cry out to The Balm of Gilead? That He may bind and heal your wounded heart?

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Psalm 107:20

He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 103:3

Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

Matthew 9:12

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead,

Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no recovery

For the health of the daughter of my people?

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.