June Foster's Blog, page 6

Encouragement When Death is Near— Freedom from Fear

As I read Psalms 46: 1, I thought about how God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. God is our hope in uncertain times. We need never fear.

As we near the end of our lives, we need not fear death, either. Psalm 139:16 says “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God knows how many days I have left so I don’t need to worry about dying.

As I pondered this verse, I thought: does God merely assign a certain number of days to people? 75 to him, 86 to her, 65 to the lady around the block? God is a God of wisdom. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you.” God doesn’t randomly determine how many days we will live on this earth but has a purpose.

This brings me much joy to know that when my days are finished, it’s because God’s purpose for me has been completed. When I leave earth, it’s not by chance or because God randomly tells me I’ve spent enough time on earth, but because His divine will for my life has been accomplished.

No need to grieve when our Christian friends and family reach that day. God has determined the day to take them home. And God’s ways are perfect and His purposes are accomplished. “As for God, His way is perfect. The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me, your steadfast love, O lord endures forever.” Psalm 138:8a

How Much Are You Worth

If I asked you this question, I imagine your answer would stem from how much money you make, how much you have saved up in the bank, your lifestyle, or the worth of your possessions. And I would expect you to tell me, “None of your business!” I would deserve that remark.

My point is, the question sparks a monetary response. So, what about Elon Musk or George Soros? Are they more worthy than me or you? Let me be clear, I’ve never met either of these gentlemen, and this is certainly not a commentary on them personally.

Here’s what the Bible says about both the wealthy and the poor. “As a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So, the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” James 1:10-11.

There is a hundred percent chance that we will all die and pass on to the next world. That includes Mr. Musk and Mr. Soros. Not one human is immune from death. The apostle John says “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:2-4

This life is not all there is. If you believe what God says to us through the Bible, you know that we are on this earth for a short amount of time, and then we enter eternity. I am by no means speaking against having wealth, but stressing the fact that this life is short compared to eternity. Is wealth that which makes a man worth much, or is it a relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth? 

A Phone Call to God

Ring.

Ring. 

“Hello. You’ve reached Jeremiah 33:3 and will be connected immediately with no waiting time to speak to God.”

“Yes.” I lowered my fist in a victory signal. “Hello, God.”

“Good morning, my daughter. I love you, today.”

“I love you, too, Lord. I was reading Ephesians 6:14 today about my breastplate of righteousness. I think mine has slipped. It’s a bit dinted, and there are a few holes in it, too, where the devil’s fiery darts attacked me.”

“Yes. That happens. I seem to recall a few years back when the enemy was especially on your case. Right before you were going to teach that little class of ten fifth graders in VBS. The pastor had had an exasperating day, and you witnessed his unpleasant conversation with the VBS director. But you left before you could witness your pastor begging for forgiveness. You thought some impure and critical thoughts that day.”

“Uh, oh. I remember. Yes, I lost some of my enthusiasm about VBS.” I drew a long breath and blew it out. Surely God heard my frustrated sigh. “These days, Lord, I find my thoughts sliding into judgmental and selfish notions. I’m always asking what’s in it for me. I don’t like my attitude, but the thoughts keep coming. Can I put in an order for a new breast plate?”

A soft chuckle. “Your old one is perfect because I made it. If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone. Don’t fear, my child. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world. “

Again, I exhaled a long breath. “Thank you, Lord, my God and my Savior.” I hung up and read Ephesians

6: 14 one more time.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”:

Dear Lord, I’ve lived in this world long enough to know Your people are in a spiritual battle, yet You have not left us as orphans but provided weapons of warfare. Help me each day to seek truth in Your holy word and arm myself with the breastplate of righteousness. Thank you that You are greater than our enemy. I love you. Amen.”

Are You Bored?

I’m bored.

The message on the teenager’s shirt at Walmart glared at me. Why did it seem so offensive? I had to think a while then it dawned on me.

Life is a gift. When we’re young, we don’t realize how fleeting it really is. The Bible says we are like grass. We flourish like a flower of the field. Then the wind blows over it, and it is gone. Young or old. We don’t know when our last day will be. We don’t have time to be bored!

Boredom is telling God we don’t appreciate the day He made. He gave us today to enjoy. It’s a glorious opportunity, filled with chances to live for Him and do wondrous things.

Okay, then. Like what?

Maybe you live a mundane life with very little happening. Or you’re so consumed with “doing and going” that you don’t have time to think about or serve God. Maybe you believe you are only one person and can’t make a difference. Or your life is so routine, and nothing ever happens. Or your sphere of influence is limited. Or you don’t have any friends. Or you live in a small town with little opportunity. I could go on.

Don’t believe it. Instead of sitting around being bored, ask God how you can serve, how you can impact your community—rural or metropolitan, ghetto or suburban. You might be surprised what He’ll drop into your life.

Here are some suggestions.

Become the best cookie maker you can and take the sweets to a women’s shelter or orphanage.

Memorize twenty verses from the Bible and say each daily. Look for ways to incorporate those verses in your life.

If a teen, do one thing every day to help your mother or father.

Buy a pack of greeting cards from the dollar store and send out one a day to people who need encouragement.

Go jogging in your neighborhood and pray for people you see or meet along the way.

Form a literary group. Read and discuss a classic such as Pilgrim’s Progress.

God has an infinite number of projects for you. Do something for the glory of His Kingdom instead of sitting around being bored.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Turn off the TV.

You don’t have time to be bored.

“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11

Dear Lord, never let me waste my life but give me purpose every day. Amen.

Surrendering Control by Julie Arduini

            My tagline is “Encouraging you to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate.” When I write, there is always a surrender issue and a chocolate mention. As I grow in the craft, I’m learning that the surrender starts with me.

            Nearly five years ago, I had an idea to write a series about sextuplets who stay in the national spotlight after tragedy. I researched. I took notes. I started to write. Then a Christmas project came along that I had always wanted to be a part of.

Three years ago. I returned to the series. I started over. I revised. Then our daughter and I started a new series for young teen girls and women of all ages. I tried to return to the sextuplets, but we wrote two books of three for Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’.

Then the quarantine hit. It felt like the perfect time to return to what I was calling Surrendering Opinions. Then my daughter reminded me we still had You’re Brilliant to write to wrap up our series. Once that was finished, we had home repairs to tackle. A family reunion. Then my mom became ill and I left home to care for her. When I came back home to catch up, I still had to return for her appointments. Then came the holidays.

And a week later, Mom passed away.

That series is now Surrendering Hearts featuring the Hart sextuplets. Book 1, Anchored Hearts, was supposed to release three years ago. Those were my plans. God’s plans were different. I don’t know exactly what they are, but I had to let go of so much these three years. For someone that likes to think they are in control, that hasn’t been easy.

That’s what has made writing the heroine of Anchored Hearts, Jordyn Bell Hart, so fun. The first sextuplet, she’s put it on herself to take care of everyone around her. Now that the sextuplets are in their twenties, they are grown and finding their own identities. Jordyn’s not quite ready to let them go. When Spencer Collins enters the pictures, he relates to her. They share grief and loyalty to family. Yet he has an issue he can’t control. And it’s the one thing keeping Jordyn away.

Anchored Hearts is now available for pre-order and releases this month. Although I don’t understand everything about the process and timing I can say God needed to lead me through the fire and not around it to understand and write Jordyn’s story. I am proud of this book because I believe readers will relate and seek freedom in Christ because of Jordyn and Spencer’s story.

I love to connect with readers, and it would mean a lot if you follow me across social media and book sites so you are aware of the latest book information. Thank you so much for reading today!

Connect with Julie Arduini: http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini

Pre-Order Anchored Hearts: https://www.amazon.com/Anchored-Hearts-Surrendering-Book-ebook/dp/B09XH1KVXD

ABOUT ANCHORED HEARTS

Can two go-getters surrender their need to control and find a happily-ever-after?

Jordyn Bell Hart succeeds in everything she does. Her promotion to morning show co-anchor blossoms her career in the same way her mother’s work did. Jordyn keeps tabs on her family and enjoys helping them grow. When life around Jordyn starts to change, can she surrender her desire to control?

Spencer Collins knows how to balance a busy life. He has his work as a reporter, his time caregiving for his grieving father, and looking out for his little brother. When he learns he’s the new co-anchor of a morning show with Jordyn Hart, can he handle working with a celebrity who brings a lot of challenges to life on and off the set?

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and —maybe one day—the chocolate. She’s the author of the new contemporary romance series SURRENDERING HEARTS (Anchored Hearts, Repairing Hearts, +four more.) Her other romance series is SURRENDERING TIME (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged.) She also co-wrote a YA series with her daughter, SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ (You’re Beautiful, You’re Amazing, You’re Brilliant.) Her stand-alone romances include MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. Julie maintains a blog at juliearduini.com and participates in the team blog Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://linktr.ee/JulieArduini.

Follow Julie

Prayers Using God’s Word

In 2012, I was in Colorado Springs at the time of the appalling Aurora movie massacre. The incident alone makes me realize what kind of world we live in and how important it is to pray. But I’ll admit. I need help. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to pray and if my words are reaching heavenly places.

One thing I know for sure. Making use of God’s words from the Bible is an effective way to pray. We can pray for friends, family, and co-workers. These are some power-packed prayers that come directly from the Bible. I’ve personalized each as an example.

Philippians 1:9-11.

And this is my prayer for my daughters: that your love for your families may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that both of you may be able to discern what is best in your daily lives, making wise decisions. May you be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

2Thessalonians 1:11-12

I constantly pray for my critique partners, that our God may continue to count you worthy of His calling for you as a writer, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose for your novels and every word you write prompted by your faith. I pray every word you pen will glorify our Lord Jesus, and that you will be blessed in Him, according to God’s grace.

Now try writing your own prayer with Colossians 1: 9-12.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all wisdom and understanding that the spirit gives, so that you many live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

Dear Lord, I pray for the reader of this devotional that they will utilize Your holy Word in their prayers for their loved ones and realize the power we have in You.

The Full Armor of God

Some days when I get dressed, I need to put on different clothes besides my usual jeans and t-shirt. These are spiritual clothes the Lord calls the armor of God. The Bible describes these garments in Ephesians 6. Start with verse 14.

First, I buckle the belt of truth around my waist which gives me a little squeeze when I’m tempted to exaggerate, tell a little white fib, or out and out lie.

I go to my closet, find my breastplate, and slip it on. Each time it shifts, I am reminded the Lord has declared me His righteous one.

I slip on my well-fitting shoes which help direct me to others with whom I can share the gospel.

Before I go out the door, I pick up my shiny, new shield with which I can protect myself from any attacks of the devil or his minions.

As I leave the house, I look in the mirror and put on my helmet of salvation which constantly reminds me to Whom I belong.

I will not forget my weapon of choice, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Some of the words are in my head, but if my memory fails me, I can check out my Bible to find others.

Now, I’m fully clothed for the day and ready in the Lord’s strength to face any spiritual attacks. Not only attacks, but I am ready to share the gospel with any who will listen.

Don’t leave home without your spiritual clothes.

What Does God Say About Love?

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

If I sat at my computer writing a blog post about the attributes of God, I suspect I’d never finish—even if I wrote 24/7 for the rest of my life. I jotted down a few.

God had no beginning and will have no end. He possesses all knowledge and understanding. He can speak every language that ever existed. He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. He created the stars and the moon and the sun and the entire universe. He intimately knows every human ever born on the earth. He loves and protects every baby who died in abortion. He knows things before they ever happen. Isaiah 45: 7 says, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

1John 4:16 tells us something else about God. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” I pondered what this statement meant—God is love. After a little research, I found that love is one of God’s primary traits. He is a perfect example of true, selfless love. Though I never deserved his love, He went to the cross to pay the penalty that I deserved—all because of His love.

Not only me. He calls all mankind to accept this free, unconditional gift. Why? Because we are beautiful, perfect, talented people? No, He’s no respecter of persons. He loves the lowliest, the down-and-out of this world as much as He loves kings and presidents.

In 1Corinthians 13:13 further describes love. “And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” In fact, the entire chapter talks about the importance of love as existent in our own lives. Why? I believe since the Bible says God is love, this passage urges us to walk in love as well.

Walking in love daily is likely the most important characteristic Christians should strive to emulate. 1John 4:8 says “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Loving others is a tall order yet God is not going to ask us to do something we can’t do.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for demonstrating Your love on a Roman cross. Thank You for paying the price of my sin and the sin of all mankind so that we may be found worthy of God. Thank You for calling us Your children and offering us an eternal home with You forever in Heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Finding Joy in Hard Times

Why do I think everything in my life must be perfect before I can be at peace? Perhaps perfectionism is at play there. I’m not sure.

Recently, some challenges popped up in our lives. We’d sold our house, sold part of our furniture and had picked out an RV to give the lifestyle one more chance. Our plans were firm. And then in one fell swoop, those plans flew out the window.

A trip to the doctor on Valentine’s Day changed all that. My husband’s cancer was back. But what about the house we’d sold? The tow car my husband purchased, the RV deal which was to take place the next day? All gone with only a few words from the urologist. Remain where you are and begin treatments.

But then, the Lord began His work. We talked to our agent. She warned us of possible repercussions. The buyers could sue. They could demand repayment for the money they’d already put into the sale. We had to leave it up to the Lord. The same day, Valentine’s Day, our agent called to say that the buyers wanted nothing from us except one thing. They wanted to come to our house and pray for us. The recollection of the four of us holding hands in our driveway will be seared into my memory forever.

A family member had strayed away from the Lord. Now our loved one is reading the Bible and attending church. Could it be that we lifted this one up to the Lord daily? We get precious messages from him frequently.

Instead of worrying about the disease that we’ve encountered, I choose to think of the glorious work the Lord has done in my family and the gracious generosity of our potential buyers. Thank You, Lord.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18  

Easter is About Love

Colossians 3:13-14 says “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which bind them all together in perfect unity.” God commands us to forgive others and love them, whether they deserve it or not, but that doesn’t sound very easy.

Be encouraged. Jesus set quite an example for us two thousand years ago. He died on the cross in our place so we could have forgiveness for our sins though we don’t deserve it. That’s an amazing story, but I decided to dig a little deeper. What I found was even more impressive.

Jesus’ death on the cross was a complete work of love. Why? He’d been betrayed by so many yet He forgave them anyway. I tried listing all the people who had been disloyal to Him and came up with quite a few.

His own disciples couldn’t keep watch with Him for even an hour, and He suffered alone. Finally, God sent an angel to minister to Him because His disciples were no comfort at all. Judas, one of the disciples who’d walked closely with Jesus wronged Him by leading the chief priests, officers of the temple guard and the elders to capture Him. These were the same people who heard Him teach every day in the temple.

Then I would imagine the biggest blow of all was when His beloved Peter and trusted friend denied Him three times. At daybreak on that Friday, the council of religious leaders condemned Him. Though Pilate didn’t want to accuse Him, in the end, he did. And to make things even worse, the Roman soldiers mocked and spit on Him.

Yet Jesus chose to make the greatest sacrifice of all. He forgave us and died a cruel death out of love. I’d say Easter is all about, first forgiveness and then love. What a challenge for His church these two thousand years later.