Something Loved

What do you love?

A lot of us would have a very easy list to tick off: husband, children, church, job, home, country, God…

I’m in a place where life is a bit difficult for the time being. I would love my husband and children despite any storms we face, but my love for the Lord Jesus Christ is what gets me through.

The Lord shows me the blue skies despite the downpours. He shows me truth despite worldly deceptions. Jesus keeps me steady when all chaos wants to take control. The course is set and He holds this ship upright in the tide.

Psalm 40:2 ESV

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

My middle daughter was baptized in the Pacific Ocean when she was seven years old. After many discussions, Scripture reading, and thoughtful prayers, we knew that she was ready.

At the baptism, each person who went under spoke about why they chose to publicly announce their faith in Christ. My daughter boldly stood there smiling and yelled out, “I LOVE JESUS” and went under.

“I LOVE JESUS!”

Me, too.

Something Read

Because of my love for the Lord, I am constantly studying His Word, reading commentaries on His Word, flipping through books and studies on His Word, and even just looking at small verses to encourage me to share with others His faithfulness.

I have just finished reading the Warren W. Wiersbe Bible study and commentary on Ephesians: Be Rich.

      

I chose to read this study and commentary as a thoughtful way to look at the sovereignty of the Lord and to confirm that in the Word, we have the manual to Christian living. There are many thought provoking questions, prayer prompts, small group suggestions, and inspiring commentary throughout both books.

I could quote from Wiersbe all day, but nothing that I say, or even his own thoughts, would do justice compared to the conviction of the Holy Spirit on the book of Ephesians. However, I would like to include just a small quote from the end of the commentary:

“What an encouragement it is to be a part of the family of God! Nowhere in the New Testament do we find an isolated believer. Christians are like sheep; they flock together. The church is an army, and the soldiers need to stand together and fight together”- Warren W. Wiersbe Be Rich, Gaining The Things That Money Can’t Buy page 185

To summarize my thoughts on my readings, I would like to further entice you to reflect upon some of the very last words in the Bible and to see how they relate to the riches that the Lord offers us described in Ephesians:

Revelation 22: 17 NIV

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

I encourage you to take up this study or any other Wiersbe book.

Something Treasured

As we think on the love that we have for Our Father and the depth of His Word, we can clearly see His love shining through situations and people He has put into our lives.

My children and I recently walked in the March for Life in both St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Florida (we will take on Washington, D.C. next year).  You can read all about my story of life at this link. But despite any previous words that I have written or have spoken, the words that I am treasuring up and smile about for the moment came from the mouth of my seven year old son.

He has general knowledge of what abortion is and how it was suggested to me when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter. It saddened him a bit, but when he further thought about the implications the tears came. He understood death in a most profound way for a young child. This affected babies and elderly alike. It affected sick and disabled alike. But what really got me is that he understood human responsibility and used his wise seven year old words to state this fact:

“Well, people just should control themselves.”

Yes, I did laugh and ruffled his hair. I told them that he was a smart boy. His response was, “I guess I’m smart sometimes.”

Oh, my child, you have no idea. You are ions ahead of your elders in some ways in such simple thoughts.

As we think on the love that we have for Our Father and the depth of His Word, we can clearly see His love shining through situations and people He has put into our lives. Click To Tweet

He is a beautiful blessing. All of my children are. Do you know who else is a precious and beautiful blessing: my elderly grandmother, the infirmed at the long term care facility, the disabled, the drug addict who lives in the woods, the homeless on the corner, the atheist, the minister, the mean boss, and all those people we scoff at. And you, you are precious.

Luke 12:6-7 ESV

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

These are my treasured ones. They are the pro-life generation coming up from behind, taking on the world. May we not cease to speak out against any culture of death.

Something Ahead

Who is excited about the newness of each day?

We have a lot of new opportunities waiting for us each and every day. A fresh start prompts us to move. A cleansing breathe greets us as we rise. Let’s go, World! We got this!

Then there are some to dread the rising sun. They face hardships, brokenness, and adversity no matter how many deep breathes that they take. They don’t want to take on the world, but to crawl into a hole until their trying season has passed.

My family is looking ahead right now. We have set our focus on receiving answers: what, why, how and now what?

We pray for these answers instead of the stalemates that we have almost come to embrace at every appointment, every new doctor, and every new idea about the unanswered questions. It’s been a frustrating ride.

My daughter has a long story that culminates into a mysterious new hearing loss. Because of the uniqueness of her loss and the combination of unilateral deafness from birth and a few other strange and random symptoms, we have been searching for answers for quite some time.

We feel hurried to know everything about everything for her so that we can launch her well into college and adulthood which is lurking around the corner. We pray for a diagnosis after the most recent round of tests and for direction in care.

Despite her trials, and all of the appointments, tests, opinions, miles, and tears, we are holding on the Lord. He is faithful to His loved ones and will always see us through… NO MATTER the outcome.

 

1 Peter 2:9 ESV 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Looking ahead, we may get those answers soon. And despite the diagnosis, or lack there of, we will just keep praying, just keep praying, just keep praying, praying, praying.

Here is some encouraging reading and music for the teen girl who faces fear in her life. Click on the picture for more information.

An encouraging song to help you through your storms…

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