Jennifer Slattery's Blog, page 9

When You’re worried Your Christmas might not feel so Peaceful

This post is for those who are facing some sense of uncertainty this Christmas, for themselves or for someone they love. Our world, at times, can feel unpredictable, but today’s verse reminds us that our God is always faithful to watch over and guide us, as He did Jesus’ parents on the night before His birth. 

Isn’t that the message of Christmas, after all? That our good, faithful and loving God, Immanuel, is with us and is always crashing through our darkness with light?

You may be familiar with this story. 

Scripture tells us some wise men came to Jerusalem looking for “the One who is born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). Upon hearing this, Herod, the currently ruling king, became “deeply disturbed” (Matthew 2:3, NLT*). Verse four says he asked the religious leaders where the Messiah was to be born, stating that he wanted to go and worship Jesus as well. In reality, he wanted to kill the child. But as today’s verse indicates, God intervened. Speaking to Joseph in a dream, He told him to take his wife and child and immediately flee to Egypt. 

That must have felt quite frightening, and more than a little inconvenient for them all–to pack up and travel again, this time with a squirmy toddler! Not to mention Joseph would need to leave whatever carpentry business he’d managed to build while in Bethlehem and basically start over, in another country, no less. 

But he and Mary also knew that God was watching over them, as indeed He was, in numerous ways. 

First, by speaking the wisemen in a dream and telling them to return home another way, thereby avoiding a second encounter with Herod, which I can only assume gave Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus more time, perhaps for Mary to heal and the child to grow stronger.

Then, notice what the wisemen had brought with them. Verse eleven says they presented baby Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which held symbolic significance related to Jesus’s as God’s Messiah. But these items likely played a practical role as well in providing for Mary and Joseph for their midnight journey and whatever time it took for them to get settled and for Joseph to begin earning money once again. 

Then, God warned Joseph before the danger hit and told him precisely where he and his family were to go, promising to let them know once it was safe to return. Which He did. According to verses 19-20, “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.'”

Joseph didn’t need to remain awake all hours of the night, watching for bandits, thieves, or murderous kings. He could sleep in peace, knowing God all-mighty was with them and watching over them, just as He does with us.

The story surrounding today’s verse reminds me of Psalms 127, verses 1-2, which state:

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.  

We can stay up all night long, fretting over every potential what-if scenario. We can work ourselves to exhaustion, saving every last penny in the hopes of avoiding financial difficulties. And we can exercise obsessively, eat all the right foods, and do all the right things, but only God can warn us of and protect us from the unknown dangers that lie ahead. If we seek Him and His will, we can trust Him to guide us, just as He’s promised–in the little things and in the big, scary things as well. In the meantime, He invites us to give Him our deepest concerns and then relax, trusting in His faithful attentiveness proven throughout the ages.

Merry Christmas, friends! May you experience the gift of Christ with us afresh this holiday season. And before you go, make sure to listen to the latest Faith Over Fear episode, if you haven’t already done so, for a significant ministry update.

*Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/courageously-relinquishing-in-seasons-of-transition

A Nearly Missed Gift – Guest post by Kathy Collard Miller

What happens when God sends a gift in an unexpected manner or package? Have you ever felt disappointed about something only to later realize God was doing something beautiful in your life? Kathy Collard Miller’s story of a Christmas gift wish reminds me of those times.

A Nearly Missed Gift

by Kathy Collard Miller

I waited impatiently along with my sister Karen and brother Chuck at the closed door leading into the living room, where we could imagine the sparkling Christmas tree awaiting us. Nine-year-old Karen murmured, “I can’t wait to get my new bicycle. I just know it’s under the tree.”

Then it was time. We sprinted into the living room and gasped with delight. The tree blazed with colored lights. Karen’s eyes scanned over the gifts, some wrapped, some not. But there wasn’t any bike standing by the tree. I heard her murmur Where is it? and knew her heart felt heavy with disappointment. But I could also see that she was trying to push her disappointment aside as she grabbed the unwrapped doll sitting on top of her pile. It was the doll she wanted—but it wasn’t the bike!

From my vantage point, I could see Karen’s bike over by the front door next to the hall closet. Even though I wondered why she didn’t see it, I was too engrossed in my own gifts to say anything.

“Karen,” I heard our mother call, “please go to the hall closet and get me one of the folding chairs.”

“But Mommy, I’m not done with my presents…” Our mother’s warning look stopped her whine. She got up slowly. “Oh, OK.” I knew she wanted to scream, “Where’s my bike?” as I saw tears pooling in her eyes. She had been talking for months about getting that bike for Christmas.

Karen walked across the small living room to the hall closet and jerked open the closet door. Tugging at the chair inside, she pulled it out and carried it to where her mother sat. “Thanks, honey,” her mother grinned.

Moments later, Karen’s shoulders slumped as she reached for her last present which wasn’t her bike. “Karen, if you’re done opening your presents, what do you say?” her mother asked.

“Thanks for my presents. They’re nice.” But I knew what she really wanted to say. We all did.

Then our mother spoke up again, “Karen…” but started laughing before she could say anything more. Before she could control herself, our father had burst into laughter too. Mom’s giggling subsided and then she said, “Karen, would you please go to the closet again and stand there?”

My sister obediently trudged toward the closet and then jolted to a stop. There, right in front of her, leaning against the opposite wall, was her shiny, red bike decorated with a big red bow! As she stood transfixed with her mouth agape, we all roared with laughter.

“Honey, why didn’t you see it before?” Mommy called out. “It’s been there the whole time. That’s why I interrupted you with that silly task.”

Karen delightedly jumped onto her new bike’s red plastic seat that sported bright yellow sunflowers. “I guess I was so disappointed when I didn’t see it under the tree that I just didn’t notice it over here.” She paused. “But it’s here! My bike! I love it!” She ran to Mommy and Daddy and hugged them.

I’ve always remembered that Christmas morning. Karen thought the bike would be under the tree and her ability to see it was blocked by her locked expectations.

When I get disappointed by life and other people, and even God, I’m reminded how blessings are often all around me but I just don’t see them. I’m expecting them in a certain way—like under the tree, but not sitting by the closest door.

I must be open to God’s unusual and creative ways to bless me and others. He knows what’s best.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9 NASB

Get to Know Kathy Collard Miller:

Kathy Collard Miller is an international speaker and best-selling, award winning author of 60 books including Christian Living topics, women’s Bible Studies, and Bible commentaries. She lives in Idaho with her husband, Larry, of 53 years, and they are the parents of two and grandparents of two. She loves to see spiritual applications in the daily moments of life and pass them along to others. Her most recently published women’s Bible study is: God’s Heart for Your Marriage: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series. It Includes 10 lessons on a variety of topics about marriage. Great for group or individual study with questions to answer, commentary to learn, and biblical couples to study. For more about her ministry, visit her website, Facebook Page,  on Twitter @KathyCMiller, YouTube, Instagram @kathycollardmiller and Amazon.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Is it Okay to Question God in Our Grief- Guest post by Mabel Ninan

Is it OK to Question God in Our Grief?

by Mabel Ninan

I watched the news on TV in shock and horror on October 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists attacked and brutally killed Israelis in their homes and took several people, including children, as hostages. Within a few days, Israel retaliated by hunting down terrorists in Gaza through relentless airstrikes. Thousands of innocent Palestinians lost their lives, and many were displaced from their homes.   After a week or so, I couldn’t take in any more information about the war. My heart was heavy. Human suffering and senseless violence drove me to my knees. But questions filled my prayers . Why didn’t God defend these children? Why didn’t He intervene or prevent this unspeakable tragedy? I was angry, confused, and frustrated.

I wonder if you ever questioned God or doubted your faith when you tried to make sense of the devastation you witnessed, whether it was violence perpetrated by evil men or destruction caused by natural disasters. Or, you may have struggled to find words to pray when you experienced great suffering or loss. You may have failed to comprehend God’s intentions and perceived inaction. 

When our grief or pain becomes unbearable, we can doubt if God is really in control and if He cares about us. Sometimes, such questions can lead to more troubling questions. What kind of Christian am I if I doubt God? Is my faith weak? Am I a hypocrite for going to church and serving God while unsure of His power and goodness?

Expressing our sorrow or confusion to God is called lamenting and it is neither unholy nor un-Christian. Lamenting is a healthy and a perfectly normal way to process our pain.  

It’s also biblical to pour out our raw emotions, including mourning, to Him. Almost a third of the Psalms are laments. The biblical books of Job, Jeremiah, and Lamentations contain prayers or poetic expressions of sadness and inner turmoil written by people of God. Elijah, an Old Testament prophet, became afraid and disappointed when an evil queen named Jezebel threatened to kill him and he cried out, “I’ve had enough, Lord. Take my life.” (1 Kings 19:4). His prayer reveals that even the strongest Christian can reach a point where they lose hope.

David, ancient Israel’s second king and a hero of faith, questioned God when he felt alone and betrayed, when he ran for his life, faced intense suffering, and on numerous other occasions. In Psalm 22:1-2, he wrote – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” Jesus uttered David’s words as He hung the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 NIV).

We can learn from David, Jeremiah, Job, and other biblical heroes, and from Jesus, how to articulate grief when we are hurting. The loss of a child, chronic illness, or a messy divorce, for instance, can cause unimaginable pain. Sometimes, seeing others hurt saddens us. When adversity makes us mad or causes us to wonder if God exists or listens to us, we can pour out our hearts to our Father who understands. Scripture states, “Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.” (Lamentations 2:19 NIV)

The healthy way to process our anguish is to do so in God’s presence. We can be confident that God understands our pain and won’t judge us when we express our deepest feelings to Him. God isn’t surprised by our doubts and won’t condemn us for our honesty. He sees our brokenness and  comprehends our inner angst..

Lamenting doesn’t show lack of faith. Rather, we exhibit faith when we cling to God’s side even when engulfed in doubts. Lamenting at God’s feet demonstrates our dependance on Him and our confidence in His care. Lamenting reveals our hope in His promises to deliver us.

Spending time expressing our pain before His throne clarifies our view of Him and gives us perspective. His love, faithfulness, and sovereignty come into focus, prompting us to praise God. Consider David’s words, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps 42:11).

As we spend more time with Him, a mysterious transaction occurs. He trades our pain for His peace. As we look to Him with tear-filled eyes, He directs our attention toward His unchanging character and promises. A flicker of faith can become a flame. Hope can return. Lamenting may not clarify all our questions, but it builds our faith, draw us closer to God, and puts us on the path toward healing and restoration.

Reflect: Are you going through a hard time right now? How can you honestly express your feelings to God?

Get to Know Mabel Ninan

Mabel Ninan is an author, speaker, and host of the podcast, Far from Home with Mabel Ninan. An immigrant from Hyderabad, India who has lived in seven cities across the U.S. in fifteen years, she navigates between cultures, feeling at home everywhere and nowhere. Her debut book, Far from Home: Discovering Your Identity as Foreigners on Earth, won the Christian Market Book Award for 2022 Christian Living Book of the Year. She has been a contributor to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures: Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers since 2022. An award-winning writer, Mabel’s articles have appeared in Upper Room, CBN.com, LeadingHearts.com, Arise Daily, and (in)courage.me.

Mabel served in youth ministry in her church in India for more than ten years. In the U.S., she has been a leader with Bible Study Fellowship since 2012. She is currently pursuing M.A. in Theological Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and lives in San Jose, CA, with her husband, twelve-year-old son, and a Maltese. Connect with her at mabelninan.com.

Check Out Her Latest Release, Far From Home:

In Far from Home: Discovering Your Identity as Foreigners on Earth, Mabel draws from her personal experience as an immigrant and examines the lives of biblical heroes to shed light on how we can find purpose and joy as sojourners on earth.

Let’s talk about this! What resonated or intrigued you most about Mabel’s post?

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Thanksgiving Prayer prompts

This Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about friends and family–some who will be grieving, others joyfully reconnecting with loved ones, others enduring intense anxiety, and still others who find the holidays a bit bitter sweet, wonderful and hard. And I’ve been reflecting the tender heart of our Father who remains perfectly present in each of our moments, comforting us in our sorrow and laughing with us in our joy.

I thought, perhaps, I might encourage some of you through some prayer prompts you can pray, receive, or both.

A prayer for the hurting:

Father, thank You that You not only see my pain, but feel a depth of empathy toward me I may never fully comprehend. My sorrow isn’t inconsequential to You. To the contrary. As Psalm 56:8 states, “You have taken account of my miseries; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” (NASB) You are the Father of Compassion who abounds with steadfast love toward me. Comfort my hurts and remind me of Your constant, grace-filled presence. I thank You that Your mercy is new every morning and that You have promised to one day turn my sorrow to joy. (Lamentations 3:22-23; Ps. 30:5). In Jesus’ name, amen.

A prayer for the anxious and overwhelmed:

Father, You are a holy, all-powerful, loving, attentive, and faithful God. Scripture tells me You know everything I will face today, tomorrow, and decades from now. I hold tight to two immutable truths: Every day of my lives was recorded in Your, before a single one came to pass, and You have wonderful, hope-filled plans for me. (Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 29:11). Through Your Son, You have promised me a beyond expectations life characterized by joy, peace, and soul-deep freedom. (John 10:10, Galatians 5:22-23). Quiet my anxiety and fear with Your truth and assurances of Your heart toward me. I know and trust that the God of all creation is for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A prayer for the overjoyed:

Holy, precious Father, as I celebrate another holiday and reflect upon all the blessings You’ve given me this year thus far, I’m reminded that every perfect gift comes from You. (James 1:17) Thank You for all the ways You have provided for me and my loved ones. (Philippians 4:19). Thank You for the food we’ll eat and the laughter and wonderful conversations we’ll share. May I cherish and remain fully present for ever grace-filled moment, just as You always remain fully present with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A prayer for the bittersweet:

Father, thank You that I have joyous moments to celebrate this Thanksgiving, and also that I don’t have to pretend that the hard parts don’t hurt. You see it all and are present in it all, and You invite me to come to You just as I am. No filters. No fear of displeasing You or saying or doing something that might turn You away, because You have promised this will never occur. (Hebrews 13:6). You will never forsake me or abandon me. This season, help me to enjoy every gift and blessing You have provided, to give myself permission to laugh, but also, to cry. And may I experience Your love and presence in both. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

And to my newsletter subscribers, keep an eye out for my next newsletter edition. I’ll be sharing a recipe to my latest culinary creation. It was so, so good!

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Painful Seasons – Guest Post by Tanya Stowe

Today someone asked me if I tend to fall into a rut during the winter. I paused to consider my answer, suspecting the person’s question went deeper than weather humdrums. I wondered, if perhaps, this friend was wrestling with the melancholy that hits many this time of year. If you can relate, I hope you’ll gain comfort from today’s post, written by my guest Tanya Stowe.

Light and Darkness

by Tanya Stowe

My husband took a new job which required leaving our home in California for training in New Jersey. We left our family in October and headed to our rented East Coast apartment building. It was a long winter without much sunshine for this So Cal gal and I was very homesick.

As soon as the days turned warm, I started taking long walks, more than ready for summer. I could stand on the hill and look across the Hudson River to the New York skyline. I loved the sun and the Garden State’s flowers, especially its giant blue hydrangeas.

Nearby was a synagogue and my daily walk ended just about the time the boys finished their religion classes. As a mother of three grown sons, I loved to watch the little guys come tumbling out. They’d run to the sidewalk, pushing and shoving, boisterous as boys are. But they had shiny baby–like curls on the sides of their heads and backpacks bigger than their bodies. They never failed to make me smile.

So when I heard that one little boy, coming home from religion class, was kidnapped and murdered, it broke my heart. I found myself angry, bitter and full of hatred for the man responsible for such tragedy. He had sucked all the sunshine from my summer. Not just this summer but all my summers going way back to my childhood.

Like a picture book flipping through scenes, I remembered summers past. A four-year-old girl, not much younger than I, climbed in an abandoned freezer. The lid closed and she suffocated. A man trapped nine nurses in their dormitory. In another sizzling summer, a man held San Francisco captive with murder, rhymes and astrological signs. I questioned why these horrors crept into our lives on the coattails of the most beautiful season of the year.

In my own area of Los Angeles, the Night Stalker prowled the streets, broke into secure homes and did terrible things to his victims’ bodies. I was a young wife with two babies and I felt particularly vulnerable. I lay awake night after night, listening to every creak of the house, wondering how this man got in—and sweltering in the heat because I was afraid to crack the window even a little.

That was also the summer I found God. I don’t know if so many sleepless nights finally broke my hard head and pride or if in fear and desperation I ran into His arms. I’m not sure, but I do know my Christian friends exuded calm. They were frightened and sleepless like the rest of us, but there was a peace about them I could sense but not explain. I wanted that peace for myself so I went in search of my God.

I found Him, patiently waiting.

That was many years ago and I like to think that sometimes, I’m that island of calm for someone else. So it made it particularly difficult that summer in New Jersey when an evil man brought such a heavy shadow into my days.

Within one week, I received news that three of my acquaintances were dying of cancer and we were called to pray. Cancer was another shadow, threatening to darken my beautiful summer. In my mind’s eye, I saw it like a black, sticky glob, oozing across a white map, eating up states and lives, leaving behind nothing but days of black misery.

Then I heard that our prayers had been answered. One tumor had shrunk. One tiny pinprick of sunshine broke through in my dark closet.

I knew there must be other shafts of light so I went searching again. I found one in a picture my son sent to my cell phone. His pregnant wife was cleaning house. Their baby grew fussy so my daughter-in-law sat down in the middle of the mess to rock her and they both dozed off. My son walked in and snapped the picture. His love for them glowed from that captured moment.

My daughter called and I heard laughter in her voice as she told me of her family’s vacation adventures.

 Even in my busy apartment building, I was friendless, but suddenly, I found one poolside. We stood in the water chatting until we grew cold. We talked about our homes, our children and oh, by the way, she was a Christian. I laughed out loud and said, “We always manage to find each other, don’t we?”

Silently, I thanked the Lord.

It was a sweet reminder, a gentle nudge in the right direction. So I’m passing it on to you.  Enjoy your summer…no matter what time of year it might be. Walk down the beach hand in hand with your love. Sip tea with a friend under an umbrella. Listen for the shouts and laughter of children. Count your many blessings. Thank Him for them and keep them close to your heart.  Praise Him continuously because he is our hope, our joy and our comfort.

Should that black ooze come to surround you with darkness, reach out. Search for the switch plate and flip on the light.

He will will be there … patiently waiting.

Get to know Tanya:

Tanya Stowe is a Christian Fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is a Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author who fills her books with the unusual…mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a train down a mountain or a suspenseful journey packed with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.

Check out her novel, A White Christmas in Arizona:

Can White, Arizona’s bountiful Christmas spirit heal Chad and lead him to a happy ever after?

After his very public break-up from his fiancé, Chad Fletcher is convinced that a healthy marriage and his rising political career won’t mix. Christmas at his Aunt Nell’s home in White, Arizona is a great way to forget. Political watch dog, Tessa Conway, plans to spend her Christmas enjoying her grandparents’ ranch before they must sell it. Neither Chad nor Tessa are pleased with Grandma Sophie and Aunt Nell’s matchmaking efforts…until they accidentally bump into each other and the feisty redhead charms Chad. Is Tessa the perfect antidote to his unhealthy relationships? Can Chad really be as perfect as Tessa thinks or is she just caught up in White’s Christmas pageantry?

Grab a copy HERE.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

When Our Loved Ones Self-destruct

(This first posted on July 26, 2018.)

(This first posted on July 26, 2018).

I’ve been on both sides of today’s topic. I’ve engaged in my share of self-destructive behavior. I’ve also grieved the choices made by those I love. And while they engaged in activities I know will only lead to increased pain, at times, I felt helpless, unable to do anything to prevent what seemed like an imminent crisis.

But Scripture promises the opposite. As my guest today reminds us, there’s something we can always do, whether near or far, that has the capacity to change lives for all eternity. (James 5:16)

When Our Loved Ones Self-Destruct by Linda Samaritoni

Have you ever known someone who walked away from God? Maybe a colossal disappointment shattered their world, and they assumed if God allowed such a thing to happen, then He didn’t really care about them. Maybe temptation overcame them, and they blamed God for not preventing their headlong charge into sin. Maybe… Well, there are millions of possible maybes.

What happens to those individuals who remain separated from Christ?

For many, stepping away from faith feels like a relief—at first. Even in their misery, they welcome the release of pressure, similar to ratcheting down a steam valve before the pipes blow.

Such pressure is self-induced. In a performance-driven society, people often fall into the trap that God is expecting them to succeed at an A+ level.

They don’t understand His grace. They don’t trust this grim deity who takes note of every mistake. Once they withdraw, the burdens of their own making ease off. No more straining to “be good.” No further obligations to “do good.” Since they’d already proven themselves way short in every category of life, why not abandon efforts to please God?

Before those individuals decided to turn away, they chose to keep a death grip on their lives, not allowing God to control the pressure valve. They added more weight to God’s expectations. They kept spinning the wheel harder and harder to the right, edging into the red zone until the pounds per square inch became unbearable.

I’ve agonized over a dear friend for years. He felt betrayed because God didn’t say “yes” to his one big prayer. He had worked for a positive answer. He had tithed, taught Sunday school, attended church every week, and led a Bible study.

Instead of seeking his Father in the midst of disappointment, he marched in the opposite direction, jerking that wheel farther to the right. He would never ask God for a thing ever again. A wrench of the wheel. He would do as he wished since no amount of work met with God’s approval. Wrench.

At first, he enjoyed the release from assumed church pressures and any obligations to join us in prayer or Bible study. He turned his back on the guilt resulting from his sin against God and others.

His relief was short-lived. Since he’s not on speaking terms with God, life is terrifying, yet he remains tied to performance-based objectives as a way of life. He knows every one of his character flaws, and nothing he does will ever be adequate.

These days, shame drums endlessly like a nagging headache, and he has no resources to assuage it. He won’t call on God for help. He refuses to take his hands off the controls as the needle on the gauge trembles further into the red zone.

Ultimately, the freedom to please self turns sour. God’s beckoning hand either draws the person to eternal refuge or the individual resists Him and spirals downward into hopelessness and poverty of soul.

What can we do for our loved ones head toward self-destruction? We model Jesus. We pray. And we pray, and we pray.

***

Let’s talk about this! Is someone you care about self-destructing? Did anything in Linda’s post give you hope? Or maybe you have a miracle story regarding someone you’ve prayed for over the years. Share your stories, examples, and suggestions with us in the comments below..

Get to Know Linda

Linda Sammaritan assumed she’d teach middle-graders until school authorities presented her with a retirement wheelchair at the overripe age of eighty-five, but God cut those plans short by a couple of decades when He gave her a growing passion for writing fiction. After blowing goodbye kisses to her students, she now dedicates her work hours to learning the craft. Every once in a while, though, she finds her way back to school so she can teach creative writing workshops. She is currently working on a middle grade trilogy, World Without Sound, based on her own experiences growing up with a deaf sister.

Linda often travels across the country to visit her grandchildren, regaling them with “Nona stories,” life lessons from her childhood. Visit her online at her personal website and group website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

When Set Backs Hit

(This first published on May 30, 2019)

For some, dreams come easy. Most of us want to feel significant, to know we were created for eternal significance.

But others have long since lost that childlike expectancy and have traded thoughts of what could be to settle for what is. Maybe an opportunity came that felt so right, so us, our hearts leapt with joy. And we immediately began envisioning where God might take us and that thing. But then opposition hit, and though we persevered for a while, eventually our passion and strength waned until both felt nonexistent.

So we quit.

We stopped trying. Stopped hoping, stopped longing for more or better.

Maybe after years of rejections and setbacks, we came to believe God could never use that gift in that way. Or maybe not at all. Perhaps after years of marital silence and what felt like unanswered prayers, we relinquished our hopes of happily ever after and slowly, quietly, our hearts hardened. We ceased praying for that family member, quit believing that wayward child would return. Quit trusting God would one day give us victory over that sin.

And so, over time, we joined the disillusioned and discouraged, convinced Christ’s promise of abundant life was nothing more than hyperbole.

But at each moment, God gives us a precious gift: the chance to begin again. To send one more letter, offer one more prayer, make one more phone call, or type one more line. Because He’s fully engaged in our journeys, not just our beginnings and ends. As the saying goes, the God who calls us to it, whatever it may be, is the same God who will bring us through it.

All He asks is that we lean on Him and keep stepping. We tend to see difficulties as dead ends and detours, but in Scripture, again and again, we see those things that appear to be obstacles are simply opportunities for God’s power and grace to shine.

Imagine being part of the rebuilding crew King Cyrus sent back to Jerusalem. If you’ve been following this blog series, you’ll remember, after a long period of captivity, God stirred the hearts of His people’s captors to send them home—with abundance. He was calling them to rebuild their Temple, the place where He said He’d dwell. I imagine, in this, they would also be rebuilding their faith after having spent decades in a foreign, pagan land where all their desperate pleas for aid appeared to go unanswered for so long.

But then, just when all seemed hopeless, God came through and sent them off with absolutely everything they’d need to fulfill the task He’d assigned. Can you imagine the celebration they felt, upon leaving Babylon? The images and memories that filled their heads as they traveled closer and closer to their homeland?

You can sense their excitement in Psalm 126, written to celebrate their return:

“When the Lord brought back His exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’ Yes, the Lords has done amazing things for us! What joy!” (vs. 1-2, NLT).

Scripture tells us the people joined together “with a unified purpose” (Ez. 3:1) and, though frightened of the locals, began building with courage (Ez. 3:3, NLT). Everyone, including the priests and Levites, who’d returned from exile, worked together. Then, once they laid the foundation, they praised God with trumpets, cymbals, and songs of thanks.

Oh, what a glorious beginning! What joy to be called and commissioned by the King. But then came the opposition. The locals first tried to deceive them, then frightened and discouraged them until, eventually, the building stopped.

They shifted their focus off of the things of God and onto themselves, off of the glorious and miraculous and onto the mundane. They settled for “what was”—a life of ordinary houses occupied by ordinary lives—instead of what could be.

At least for a time—until God once again revived their hearts. Just as He does with us, when we begin to feel tired and discouraged. If that’s where you’re at now, hear this truth: God’s with you. He has a plan for you, and He is, at this moment, walking beside you. He will turn every struggle and setback you encounter to good. Trust Him in this, lean on Him, and keep stepping.

Let’s talk about this! Is there a dream God might want to be resurrecting in your heart? How might He be directing your next step?

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Was that “word” really from God?

I never want to be one who doubts someone else’s gift or becomes resistant to God’s Holy Spirit. But Scripture also tells us that not everything we hear truly comes from Him. If this has left you wondering how we can know when a “word” comes from God or human pride and sin, you’ll gain encouragement from today’s post by guest blogger, A. C. Williams.

When “Prophets” Lie to You

by A. C. Williams

How is your sense of direction? I can’t find my way out of a paper bag without help. But every now and then, I’ll get to drive somewhere familiar. In those instances, as long as the landmarks haven’t changed, I can find my way just fine.

But I’m still monstrously insecure about it, so anyone sitting in my passenger seat can change my mind if they question the route I’m taking.  I’ve grown in confidence now, but it doesn’t take much for someone to make me question the direction I’m going.

The Bible tells us a challenging story about misdirection in 1 Kings 13. You really need the whole chapter to get the context, but for brevity’s sake, God sent a prophet to King Jeroboam to tell him to straighten up. He was the first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, leader of the ten tribes in the north (1 Kings 12:20).

This prophet, who remains unnamed, is righteous and careful to obey God’s Word in everything he does. So when multiple people invite him to stay and eat a meal, he declines. Why? Because God told him not to eat or drink anything there (1 Kings 13:8-10).

And that’s where the plot thickens. Another prophet enters the story, an older prophet. He’s also unnamed, but we know he comes from Bethel. This guy chases the first prophet down and invites him to a meal. As you would expect, the first prophet declines.

But then the old prophet throws a curveball: He claims an angel of the Lord gave the first prophet permission to eat with him.

Why would the first prophet doubt his claim? He is a prophet, after all. So he goes. He eats. And then God declares that he will die because he disobeyed. And he does.

Yup. You guessed it. The old prophet lied to him. No angel had come to him. God hadn’t changed His mind. And both prophets faced the consequences.

This is a hard story to swallow, I think, because it’s triggering. How many of us have experienced something similar? We submit to spiritual abuse in a church because a respected elder claims it’s God’s will. We hand over our authority to connect with God personally because a pastor or priest tells us we need an intermediary other than Jesus.

I wish it weren’t the case, but for all of us, someone we consider a spiritual mentor or leader in our lives will likely lie to us. Only God knows why, and that’s between Him and that leader.

But what does that mean for us? Should we question everything we are told about Scripture and how to apply it to our lives?

Honestly? Yes.

There’s nothing wrong with having a spiritual leader you respect, whose teachings speak to you. But never allow a spiritual leader’s interpretation of Scripture to contradict Scripture itself. The only way to do that is to know what the Bible says, to understand who God is, and to trust God’s Word and His Spirit more than what any man or woman tells you.

Anyone—man, woman, or even angel—who asks you to trust their word more than what is written in the Bible is lying to you. For whatever reason, some people twist God’s Truth to manipulate others. We need to be aware of this so we aren’t fooled when they try that on us.

Be confident in Scripture. Know God Himself. And don’t be fooled by the pretenders who only want to control you.

About the author: A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. An AWSA Golden Scrolls finalist and an editor at Uncommon Universes Press, she believes that God works miracles through stories. Learn more about her coaching services at www.amycwilliams.com and subscribe to her daily devotional emails at www.alwayspeachy.com. Amy is offering a special: the first seven days free, then $5/month. https://acwilliams.substack.com/arisedaily

Laughter as a self-care tool

(Note: The following is an adapted transcript from one of my former iBelieve video devotions.)

I’ve found, I most need to laugh when I least feel like laughing. For my mental health, for the health of my relationships, and sometimes for the perseverance to push through challenges. When I feel anything but cheerful and humorous, that’s precisely when I need to find a way to intentionally bring sunshine into my day. 

Years ago, when my husband and I were fighting for our marriage, and I mean fighting–for a relationship we’d mentally given up on only months before, we learned we needed to take time for fun. Especially when working through difficult stuff. And I have to tell you, that was hard. My pride tempted me to isolate myself, but our counselor told us we needed to take time to play. Otherwise, she warned, we might forget why we fell in love and that we weren’t enemies, regardless of how we felt in that moment. 

While I wish I would’ve done this more, I intentionally found ways for us to laugh, together. I purposefully cultivated silliness into our relationship and our home. I believe this became the glue that held us together and kept our hearts soft toward one another when the stress of life could’ve pulled us apart. 

When life feels really stressful, like I have more to do than time to do it in, I know I need to intentionally set an afternoon aside to fortify my soul with laughter.

A joyful heart is good medicine,  but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Maybe you’ve felt the last half of that verse. Maybe your life this year has felt anything but cheerful. Maybe laughter has all but disappeared from your home, from your relationships, and your heart. I’ve been there, and man, is it hard. Much too hard, in fact. And when I land in that place, I intentionally find reasons to laugh. 

At first, it might feel fabricated, forced. But soon, it becomes a habit, one that fills my heart with joy and soon spills from me, contagiously. It changes the tone of my home and my relationships for the better. 

Try it, because right now we could all use all the sunshine we can get. 

These videos may help:

And make sure to catch this week’s Faith Over Fear episode:

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Finding God in Life’s Unfamiliar Territory – Guest Post by Grace Fox

I’ve often said, I can handle almost anything, if I know it’s coming. I can feel quite anxious and vulnerable, however, when I don’t know what’s ahead. When I don’t know where that assignment might lead, or if a particular where a particular choice might take me. If you can relate, you’ll find encouragement from my friend, Grace Fox’s post.

Finding God in Life’s Unfamiliar Territory

by Grace Fox

One of my friends found herself in unfamiliar territory when her husband died suddenly.  They’d just put their house up for sale and signed papers with a contractor to build a new one. Now the major decisions associated with those plans fell on her. Her husband had always managed their family finances. Now that responsibility fell on her.

One day I phoned to ask how she was doing. She talked about facing so many unknowns, and then she said something I’ve always remembered: “I really don’t know what to expect about anything. I’ve never traveled this road before.”

Like my friend, the Israelites also came to unfamiliar territory. They’d already spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. Moses had passed away and God had appointed Joshua to take his place. Now they were camped on the banks of the Jordan River. After three days, the Israelite leaders told them it was time to move on and then gave them instructions for the trip ahead.

“When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer” (Joshua 3:3-4 NLT*)

The Israelites’ Journey into Unfamiliar Territory

First, the Ark of the Covenant would become the Israelites’ primary focus. The writer mentions it seventeen times in Joshua chapters 3 and 4. It was God’s dwelling place and a visible reminder not only of His presence but also of His covenant relationship with them. He was their God and they were His special possession. They needn’t be afraid as they entered unfamiliar territory because He was fully committed to them and their well-being.

Second, the priests would carry the Ark of the Covenant and lead the way across the Jordan River. This made no sense by human standards. How could a dozen unarmed priests defend the people from enemies living on the opposite shore? They couldn’t, but God could.

God wanted His people to trust Him implicitly. He’d proven His power by rescuing them from Egypt, parting the Red Sea so they could escape the enemy, and caring for their needs in the wilderness for forty years. He proved His power again by stopping the Jordan River’s flow the moment the priests’ feet touched the water. Yes, the people would have to fight God-sized battles as they entered unfamiliar territory, but they could face those battles with courage because God promised to accomplish the victories.

Third, the people would walk a half mile behind the Ark of the Covenant. There were several reasons for this. First, the distance indicated the people’s need to respect God’s holiness. They were not allowed the same access to God that the priests were given, and the distance bore reminder that they could not come into His presence.

Next, the distance between the Ark and the people showed that it didn’t need anyone to protect it. Its position out front made it vulnerable, but God’s presence made it invincible.

Finally, the distance between the Ark and the people ensured its visibility to all. If people had been allowed to crowd around it, others further back would not have been able to see it. God wanted to ensure everyone could see it as a reminder of His presence and care for them as they began their journey into unfamiliar territory.

Crossing the Jordan River led the Israelites into unfamiliar territory. No doubt the journey with its countless unknowns felt unsettling and scary. But God was with them, committed to them, and fighting their battles for them.

Our Journey into Unfamiliar Territory

My friend discovered the same thing in the unfamiliar territory of widowhood. God was with her, He was committed to her, and He fought her battles for her.

Sooner or later, we all travel the road into unfamiliar territory. Suddenly we’re single again, or  we’re faced with a medical diagnosis we didn’t expect. Our kids grow up, spread their wings and fly away, leaving an empty nest.  We move to a different house down the street or in a different city or across an ocean. We start a new job, or we retire from the job we’ve had for forty years.

Traveling into unfamiliar territory can be unsettling or scary. But friend, we can face our journey with courage because God goes with us and before us. Let’s keep our focus on Him. And let’s move forward with this truth in mind: because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we don’t have to remain distant from God like the Israelites did. While we still give Him the reverence He’s due, we can draw near to Him unafraid. In fact, Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

The Israelites received God’s mercy and help as they traveled into unfamiliar territory. My friend experienced the same. And so will we.

May I pray for you?

“God, thank You for the lessons You teach us through Your holy Word. We are grateful for accounts such as this, inspired and written for our benefit. When You lead us into unfamiliar territory, help us keep our eyes on You and follow You one step at a time. Give us faith to trust You to fight our battles, and fill us with the desire to draw near to You in bold confidence of Your glad welcome. We love You and are so grateful for Your mercy and care. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Enjoy this song by MercyMe. Imagine—God is with us! Let this truth fill your heart with courage and praise today.

Get to know Grace Fox:

Grace Fox is the author of 12 books, a member of the “First 5” writing team (Proverbs 31 Ministries) and a regular contributor to Guideposts’ annual devotional, Mornings With Jesus. She also co-hosts the podcast “Your Daily Bible Verse.” A career missionary for nearly 30 years, Grace lives aboard a sailboat in Vancouver, British Columbia. Married in 1982, she and her husband celebrate three grown kids and eleven grandchildren.

Her latest release, Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm, is available wherever Christian books are sold. https://www.hendricksonrose.com/p/keeping-hope-alive/9781649380517

You can subscribe to Grace’s weekly devotional blog and monthly update on her website – www.gracefox.com/blog

www.fb.com/gracefox.author

Check out her book, Fresh Hope for the Today: Devotions for Joy on the Journey:

Sometimes the road we travel feels lonely or too steep. Often, it winds through dark valleys, follows unfamiliar ways, and leaves us weary from the inside out. With warmth and wisdom, Grace Fox offers you ninety daily devotions to refresh your soul and lead you to a place of joy on the journey. Read and reflect on these gems; let their truth remind you of God’s presence and care. You don’t walk alone, my friend. Each day’s devotion offers a key Bible verse, insights on which to pause, an application question to ponder, and a sentence prayer. You’ll also find an encouraging quote from others who walked a difficult journey but discovered joy along the way.

Readers of these devotions are facing difficult circumstances and need spiritual encouragement in bite-sized pieces. Their greatest need is hope. They need reassurance that God’s love will never let them go. His presence will never leave them, and his strength will carry them through. Fresh Hope for Today addresses these needs as follows: Its overall message directs their minds to God’s character and promises. These bite-size bits of truth will feed their souls and give them the strength and encouragement needed for that day. Devotions are short enough to read and keep their focus even when their minds are on overload. All segments work together to make it easy for readers to recall truth. Relevant quotes reinforce the day’s teaching.

Additional resource: When we Fear the Unknown, Faith Over Fear podcast.

*Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/