“Like miners, facing struggle and difficulties, in search of diamonds,
So has been my journey…
And now I see
That the Treasure I’ve found,
In Christ alone,
and through it all,
Is absolutely priceless.”
Category Archives: Writer’s Corner
Grace Internal
“Internal grace from God, empowers us for success in external endeavors.”
The Good Things
‘It’s not that good things aren’t good,
It’s just that, good things aren’t God.”
Enjoy the good things in life,
and worship “the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy.”
– I Timothy 6:17
He Knows Just How You Feel😢
Jesus knows how you feel…
He’s been there.
Once, while recovering from a near death experience, I felt so hurt, and so low, that I actually told my son;
“I feel as though God has forsaken me!… I feel bad about saying it, but that’s just how I feel.”
In the severity of my pain and suffering, I felt that God had abandoned me.
My son looked at me with such compassion and said, “It’s OK mom, Jesus knows how you feel.
He knows what it’s like to feel forsaken, because as He was dying on the cross, He said,
“My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?”
He knows how you feel, but He has not forsaken you.”
This was a tremendous comfort to me, and I hope this brings comfort to you too.
God loves you, and no matter what you’re going through, He knows just how you feel.
God’s Love is Not Reckless
“Reckless Love” by Bethel music, draws you in with it’s pleasant melody and soothing lyrics, and has become very popular song, but…
❤️
The Love of God is Not reckless
Here’s the definition:
reck•less
(describing a person or their actions) as being without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action. as in “reckless driving”
synonyms: rash, careless, thoughtless, heedless, unheeding, hasty, impetuous, impulsive, daredevil, devil-may-care, irresponsible, ill-advised, injudicious, imprudent, unwise, ill-considered, etc.
This is not what the scriptures tell us about the love of God.
God’s love is caring;
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,”
God’s love is thoughtful;
“So that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,”
God’s love is considerate,
“But have everlasting life.”
He laid down His life for us, not recklessly, but counting and knowing the cost.
Crazy Faith
There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)
I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I heard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..” They thought that I was going crazy!!! I was never told this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”
It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”, and from that moment on, there was no turning back for me… I believed it.
Of course, I myself, don’t think it’s “crazy”, but lots of people might consider it crazy to believe for something that seems impossible. Reading those words as a young 24-year-old, and believing that God had spoken to my heart, “fueled” me to move forward in faith, convinced and certain, that God would bless me, despite my physical circumstances.
Is there something that you would like for God to do for you, but you think that it’s impossible, or not important enough, or too big, to ask for?.. Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..” The power at work in us includes our faith! Many times when Jesus healed someone, he said, “according to your faith be it unto you”, or “your faith has made you whole.”
Even if it makes you look “crazy” to those around you, or, if it’s just a secret request that you haven’t mentioned to anyone else, ask God what you will, and believe with “crazy” or unexplainable faith that, “with God… nothing is impossible.”
Smiles and Blessings,
Faith ♥
Last First Day🍎
Back- to -School
Today marks a milestone for me.
It’s back to school again and, at our house, it’s also THE LAST “first day of school”, as our youngest daughter is now officially a senior in high school. Sure, I’ve been down this road a couple of times before, with two other children who have graduated, and gone off to college, but this one brings a whole season to a close for me and I just wanted to say out loud that “Being a mom is such a great blessing!”
I was blessed to have three miracle babies, when several doctors said that being a mother would never happen for me. So thankful that the LORD has the last word, and the final say, about “impossible” situations such as these.
Every season is a blessing, and as I look back with a smile and forward with joy, I’m grateful for everything that’s brought me to this day.😊
Thanks for listening!❤️
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” -James 1:17 TLV
Just Ask
“They don’t have anymore wine.” she said, asking Him to do something about it. “Woman, what does this have to do with you or I?” was His reply.
She turned to the servers and said, “Do whatever He tells you to do.”
They filled the jars with water as He instructed, and took them to the headwaiter, who after tasting it, shouted with excitement to the bridegroom, “…You’ve saved the best wine for last!”
It was the first miracle performed by Jesus, at Mary’s request, turning water into wine during a wedding in Cana; and what was the outcome?
The servants, the wedding guests, the bridegroom, and the disciples, were all astonished and drawn to Him.
“Jesus did this. He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” -John 2:11
And all because she just asked. Got a problem? Ask the Lord to do something about it!
Here it is in a nutshell;
“… Anything you ask in My Name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
– John 14:13
With Heart In Hand I Trust You
“LORD, I trust You today with my WHOLE LIFE…
For my WHOLE LIFE.♥
For in trusting You,
My LIFE is made WHOLE.”
Cast Don’t Carry
“Why carry the weight of the world on our shoulders,
when the Lord our God carries us on His.”
“Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.”
I Peter 5:7
*Photo- Google Images
Can a Mother Forget?
Sometimes when we’ve been praying for something for a very long time, we begin to lose heart, and wonder if the answer will ever come. I know exactly how that feels. I remember praying and praying for God to work a miracle in my life, and sometimes, I felt that God had forgotten about me and my situation. Of course we know that God sees us always, and knows everything about our lives, but still, it is true of us as humans, that we sometimes think that our situation may not be as urgent to God as we would like for it to be.
This is so not true!
At one of my lowest points, the LORD gave me a verse which comforted me and reassured me, and to this day, this verse is very near and dear to my heart. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Lord says, “Can a mother forget her nursing child?… Yes, she might, but I have not forgotten you… I have you engraved on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” This is how I understood what He was saying to me through this verse:
1. “Can a mother forget her nursing child?” – Naturally, the answer to this question would be a resounding, “No.” We all know how attached a mother is to her newborn baby, and so we understand the significance of this question. But…
2. “Yes, she might,” – Although it would seem impossible for a mother to forget or abandon her newborn child, it has happened, as unbelievable as it would seem, sadly, it has been the case for some mothers. But…
3. “I have not forgotten you” – God is saying that His love and care for us is even greater than a mother’s love. Infinitely greater. How so?…
4. “I have you engraved on the palms of my hands” – Here, I pictured the palms of my Savior’s Hands, which still bear the nail scars, pierced for me… And then…
5. “Your walls are continually before me.” – My situation and the circumstances that surround me, are continually before Him!… Oh, Glory to God!!
Here it is in a nutshell…
God loves you, more than you can imagine, He has not forgotten you, and your situation is continually, always, before Him.
Hold on. :)
I Love This Story! Please Read It
There was once a man who didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays like Christmas. His wife however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, despite her husband’s disparaging comments…
One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left, and he stayed home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.
Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.
The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
“Why don’t they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?” He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.
Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn–and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!”
Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese–blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son Jesus, to become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.
As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ, the Messiah had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”
Author Unknown
The Faith Factor
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
…”Daughter, your faith has made you whole….” Luke 8:48
These are the words that the LORD spoke into my heart, on this day, November 11, 1985. Like the woman mentioned here in this story, I had seen many doctors and suffered many things. I was in need of a touch from Jesus to heal me and make me whole. I needed a miracle.
At sunrise, on that beautiful fall morning , the Lord heard my quiet cry, and took me from barrenness to motherhood. Little did I know that this was only the beginning. Miraculously, He blessed me to give birth to three children, when the doctors, and the condition of my body, said that I’d never have one.
Forever grateful…
Blessed be His Name!
“He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children”
Psalm 113:9 – TLV
Turbulence
A few days ago, a friend of mine encouraged me with these words…
She said, “When a pilot is flying and sees turbulence ahead, he approaches it head on. He does not go around it, over it, or under it; he goes right through it. The pilot can’t see beyond the limited view of his cockpit, so he must rely totally on the instrument panel for guidance. He goes right through the turbulence, difficult as it may be, and presses through until he reaches the beautiful clear sky on the other side.”
This life, as we know, can bring us to turbulent times that cannot be avoided. We’d rather go around them, but we must press through. As we rely on and put our complete trust in the LORD, even when it gets rocky, He will lead us through to the beautiful clear skies on the other side.
How Long
“O LORD, how long will You forget me?
Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle
With anguish in my soul,
With sorrow in my heart
Every day?”
Psalm 113:1-2
Crazy Faith
There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)
I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I overheard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..” They thought that I was going crazy!!! I had never known this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”
It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”, and from that moment on, there was no turning back for me… I believed it.
Of course, I myself, don’t think it’s “crazy”, but lots of people might consider it crazy to believe for something that seems impossible. Reading those words as a 24-year-old, and believing that God had spoken to my heart, “fueled” me to move forward in faith, convinced and certain, that God would bless me, despite my physical circumstances.
Is there something that you would like for God to do for you, but you think that it’s impossible, or not important enough, or too big, to ask for?.. Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..” The power at work in us includes our faith! Many times when Jesus healed someone, he said, “according to your faith be it unto you”, or “your faith has made you whole.”
Even if it makes you look “crazy” to those around you, or, if it’s just a secret request that you haven’t mentioned to anyone else, ask God what you will, and believe with “crazy” or unexplainable faith that, “with God… nothing is impossible.”
Smiles and Blessings,
Faith ♥
St. Patrick’s Day
The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and a genuine concern for others. I really like this story, and I hope that you will too!
Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.
One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years, he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.
St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…
and for that we remember him today. ♣
It’s Not Pumpkin Season!!!
Pumpkin muffins in August… Really?
Just like Ecclesiastes 3:1 and the classic folk song says: “To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season, (turn, turn, turn)
or simply put
“To everything there is a season…“
And I know it’s been unseasonably cool this summer, but it’s still summer, and although I like pumpkin bread, muffins, and coffee during the fall, I’m just not ready for them now, while it’s still 80 plus degrees outside.Still there are all these commercials on TV now that are just taking all the fun out of my cozy seasonal traditions.
First, its Christmas trees in late October, and now warm pumpkin pie in August?
I’m just sayin’ … ‘Tis not the season :)
A Winning Attitude
“My daughter told me this little story about a video clip she saw at school, and I just had to share it with you, so here it is…”
Alone in a baseball field. A boy swings his bat and says...”I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Swish! He misses.” Strike One”
He tries again, raising his bat and throwing the ball in the air, as he yells out “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!!” and again he misses. “Strike Two”
He tries again for the third time, screaming with unfeigned enthusiasm ” I’m the greatest hitter in the word!!!” and he misses again. “Strike Three.”
This time he pauses, drops his head to think for a moment, then raises his eyes to the sky as he smiles and shouts with excitement…
“Whoa!!! I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!!!”
Love it! :)
Have a great day.
-Faith
In The Twilight
“The period of the evening between daylight and darkness is called twilight.”
In the days of Elisha, there was a severe famine. Outside the city gates there were four men who were lepers. These four men reasoned among themselves, “Why should we just sit here until we die? If we go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we just sit here, we will die also. Let’s go to the camp of the Syrians. Maybe they will save us alive, or if they kill us, we shall but die…
And so they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians.
When they got to the camp of the Syrians, there was no one there because the Lord had made the entire Syrian army to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great army approaching, and they thought that the king of Israel had hired other foreign armies to join with him to fight them...So they arose and fled in the twilight... When the lepers arrived they found an abundance of food, silver and gold. They sent word back to the king and the starving people were satisfied.
I love this story. You can find it in II Kings chapter 7. I am always amazed that at precisely the same moment that the lepers decided to step out in faith, God began working on their behalf. As soon as they arose to go at twilight, God allowed the Syrians to hear an illusion at twilight, which scared them out of their wits and caused them to leave their treasures. The lepers were on their way, had probably walked all night, but God had already fought the battle for them, He had already solved their problem.
From famine to feasting, from rags to riches, God turned it all around, at precisely the moment that they believed… in the twilight.
The next morning, with the rising of the sun, came long-awaited joy and deliverance.
When Dreams Seem Dim
“When dreams seem dim,
And you can’t see your way through,
Just rest in Him,
Who is Faithful and True.”
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,…”
Revelation 19:11
The Greatest Daddy of All
God is our Abba Father
In Scripture, the name “Abba Father” is one of the most significant names of God in understanding how He relates to His people. The word Abba is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy,” an endearing term that children use to address their fathers. “Abba Father” signifies the close, intimate relationship of God our Father to us, His children, and is an expression of the childlike trust that we have in Him as our Father…
“The Greatest Daddy of All”
Remember Me
“And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20
There are many traditions, holidays, and ceremonies, that we observe and hold in remembrance, and many of them in the name of Christianity. We celebrate birthdays, and Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, and that’s fine, they are special days, and it’s good to celebrate, but there is one thing that the Lord has asked us to observe, in remembrance of Him, and the sacrifice that He made to redeem us, saying;
“Do this as oft as you will, in remembrance of me.” II Corinthians 11:25
As we remember the last supper today, we are also reminded of Christ’s sacrificial love for all of us. We are reminded of His tremendous suffering, and the price that He paid to save us. We are reminded that by His grace, through faith, we are saved.
Thank you, Jesus.♥
Temple Cleansed
This is holy week, and as I thought about of how Jesus cleansed the temple, I started thinking about how, once we commit our lives to Christ, our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
In Psalm 51:1, David prays;
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…”
He asked the LORD to come in and cleanse his temple, (“Create in me a clean heart”), and once his temple, was cleansed, he wanted the LORD to renew a right spirit within him.
This week, as I remember the events leading up to the crucifixion, I reflect on how Christ “cleansed the temple”, and how, because of His love, and by His blood, we too can be made clean, and by His Holy Spirit, a right spirit is renewed within us.
The Hat Rack
Many years ago, one Sunday morning, we were visiting a new church for the first time, when an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service. As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church, and well-loved by the congregation. Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and I talked a little bit about my faith experience. I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, who were very small at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, but I was still praying and believing God for another baby.
She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat. And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that he did it before and he’ll do it again.”
I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!
When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…
“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37
The lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)
“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”
Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past…
Just take a look back and, like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!
St. Patrick’s Day
The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and a genuine concern for others. I really like this story, and I hope that you will too! ♣
Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.
One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years, he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.
St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…
and for that we remember him today!
I’ve Learned
“Weeping may endure for a night”
and I’ve learned that the night
can be very long...
but then, I remember
that even though it’s darkest before dawn,
“Joy comes in the morning”
And for that, I can hold on.”
And I Know He Watches Me
This is, and will always be, a very special day for me. It is my dear grandmother’s birthday, and if she were still with us, she would have turned 100 years old today. She introduced me to Jesus as a young child, and has made a profound difference in my life, so I’m posting her favorite hymn in honor of her today. ” I love you Grandma, and I thank God that because of Jesus, and His precious sacrifice for us, I’ll see you again one beautiful day.” :)
His Eye Is On The Sparrow 
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Sunrise
My oldest daughter has recently reminded me of how amazing it can be to just watch the sun come up in the morning. So often, the beautiful, breath-taking colors, go unnoticed each morning, (and I’m ashamed to say it) but, mostly by me. My daughter has actually been getting up earlier just to see the sun rise and this has prompted me to stop and think… Am I so caught up with what’s coming up in the day ahead to appreciate whats right in front of me? I’m so glad that she brought this to my attention, because it has given me the opportunity to reflect and regroup.
I reflect on how each sunrise brings me a brand new day.. It puts me a day ahead of where I was yesterday, and all the other yesterdays. I reflect on the fact that there are so many other people who are no longer here to appreciate the sunrise of another day, and that I could have been one of them.
I stop to regroup and think about what’s really important, by changing my focus. This new day is a chance for me to focus outward rather than inward. Today I will focus on the circumstances and needs of others; my family, my friends, and the people who will cross my path. Taking the focus off of me will in turn make my problems seem smaller for the moment, while I experience the many little joys and surprises that lie right in front of me… like the sunrise!
Weak or Brave?
There is a song by Nicole C. Mullins where she sings that; “The not so good ole days can make you weak or make you brave.” , and I love the message here.
Most of us can think back to times when we were hurt, rejected, or severely criticized by our peers our others but, the truth is, those times can either make us weak or brave, as we move forward and face life today.
Philippians 3:13 says, “…One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” and in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”
So let’s be brave!
Let’s press on despite past hurts, stronger than we were before, knowing that God is working all things together for our good. : )
Out of Darkness
“…Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”
I Peter 2:9
“Once I knew only darkness and stillness.
My life was without past or future,
But a little word from the fingers of another
fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.”
Helen Keller
“It is amazing what Helen Keller was able to accomplish in her life as a result of this, and it is a very inspiring example of how special we are to the Lord, as our lives can be taken from emptiness and darkness, and into the Light, joy, and rapture, of life in Him.”
Liebster Blog Award
Thank you, Jess, @ http://jemiluce.wordpress.com/ for nominating me for the
Liebster Blog Award!
First I asked myself, What is a Liebster?
and then, (as my mother always said when I was a kid,)
I looked it up!
Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest,
dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.
So this is an honor and a blessing. Very kind words indeed!
Proverbs 16:24 says,
” Gracious words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
So thank you very much Jess, and I hope that those of you reading this will stop by and pay
her bright ,new blog, http://jemiluce.wordpress.com/ a visit!
My Five Picks
(Please stop by and pay them a visit. You’ll be glad you did!)
♥ Beautiful
Francine in Retirement @http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/
♥Inspiring
Deb @http://iftodaywehear.wordpress.com/
♥So Fun!
Garden Girl @ http://gardengirl92.wordpress.com/
♥ Refreshing
Grace Pieces @http://gracepieces.com/
♥Smart, Thought Provoking
Paulo @http://paulorbrito.wordpress.com/
Finally, a special thank you to everyone who reads, “likes”, or follows this blog.
Smiles and Blessings
Faith ♥
Wonderful Wednesday
Some people call it “Over-the- Hump Day” and we all know why, because we’re all just trying to make it through another week, and by the time Wednesday gets here, we’re ready to head straight down-hill, full-speed ahead, right into the weekend! Am I right? Well, about three or four weeks ago, I gained a new appreciation for Wednesdays, and every other day of the week. Here’s what happened;
It all began one Tuesday night, when my youngest daughter, a fifth grader, came to kiss me good night. “Goodnight, Honey!” I said, as we hugged and she kissed me on the cheek. Afterwards, I noticed that she had a sad look on her face, and I asked, “What’s wrong?” She let out a huge sigh, and said, “I hate Wednesdays!” This was new, I hadn’t heard that before, so I asked her why, and she said “Wednesdays are never good for me. It’s the worst day of the week. We change classes, and it’s so boring. I just hate it.” I told her that I was sorry to hear that, and that I didn’t know that she felt that way, and I thought to myself, “Wow, stressed out in the fifth grade!” so I said, “Don’t worry Honey, tomorrow will be a better day for you. We prayed together and she went to bed.
The next morning, as I was driving her to school, we talked about how she felt. I told her that I would be praying for her, and that she should just change her mind, and her expectations for how her Wednesdays were going to turn out. “From now on,” I said, “We’re gonna call it a Won-nnnderful Wednesday!‘ She laughed, and that’s just how we said it.” Won-nnnderful Wednesday!”
When I picked her up from school that afternoon, she ran to my Jeep, and hopped in, with a huge, “ginormous” smile on her face, and said, “Mommy, guess what? This was the best Wednesday ever! It was a Wonderful Wednesday!”
The next day we came up with a name for Thursday. I love music, dancing, and a good beat, so I suggested that we call it a “Thumpin’ Thursday!” She thought that was funny and liked it, so, “Thumpin’ Thursday” it was. Again, she was all smiles at the end of her school-day. “Why stop here?” I thought, and so we came up with a name for every day of the school-week. Here they are:
Monday-“Have a Marvelous Monday, pronounced, “Mah-hhhhvelous Monday!”
Tuesday-“Have a Terrific Tuesday, pronounced, “Ter-rrrrific Tuesday!”
Wednesday “Have a Wonderful Wednesday, pronounced,” Won-nnnderful Wednesday!”
Thursday – “Have a Thumping Thursday, pronounced, “Thumpin’ Thursday!”
Friday – “Have a Fantastic Friday, pronounced, “Fan- TAS -tic Friday!”
This has become part of our good-bye routine each morning when I drop her off for school, and I’m happy to report that she hasn’t had a “Worst-day -of -the-week Wednesday” since. :)
“This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Have a Won-nnnderful Wednesday!
And I Know Why
God placed Adam and Eve in a garden, and I know why!!! :)
I am a writer, and I love blogging, but long before I became a blogger, I was a gardener… I absolutely love it! This morning I got my first gardening magazine for spring, and I felt like a kid at Christmas. I love looking at the pictures and my heart pounds with excitement when I imagine all of the beautiful things that could be a part of my own garden.
Just as the LORD placed Adam and Eve in such a beautiful and peaceful place in the beginning, we too can live in beauty and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And one day we’ll stroll through the beautiful gardens of a new heaven and a new earth with Him, and the days will never end.
God Bless you, and have a great week-end!
Faith
Happy Birthday!
“I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
Today’s my birthday and I just wanted to share it with you!
The LORD is good!!!!! ♥
St. Patrick’s Day
I am moved by the true story of St. Patrick, because it is one of great perseverance and faith, and it is an inspiring example of how rewarding it can be to make a difference in the lives of others.
St. Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.
One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years, he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.
St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…and for that we remember him today!
Emergency Contact
–
One morning, as I sat in the waiting room at my doctors office, I heard the receptionist ask an elderly man for his information as he signed in for his appointment. It was very quiet, as we were among the first few patients of the day. She proceeded to ask all of the usual questions and then she asked. “Emergency contact?” to which he mumbled an inaudible response. She repeated the question very loudly, “Who is your emergency contact?” And he replied, “No one.” “NO ONE AT ALL?!” she said, still speaking loud enough for all of us to hear. “No one” he replied softly. My heart sank for this man…
How sad that there was no one to be contacted in the event that something bad would happen to him.
I dropped my head and began to think about not having anyone to call, when you really needed them, and I thought about what a blessing it is to have loved ones who care. Almost immediately I thought of how much the LORD loves and cares for us, and how even if there is no one we can call in the case of an emergency, or in times of loneliness, He is always there. He always cares. And when we think that we have no one, we are never alone.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” and
“… He has said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.”
♥
Psalm 46:1 and Hebrews 13:5
The Versatile Blogger Award!
A great big Thank you to both, NanaDoll and Ana for nominating me for
The Versatile Blogger Award.
It is truly an honor, and I sincerely appreciate it!
Thank You. :)
Guidelines for the Versatile Blogger Award are as follows:
- Display the Award Certificate on your website
- Announce your win with a post and link to whoever presented your award
- Present award to 15 Versatile bloggers
- Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have linked them in the post
Here are my nominees for The Versatile Blogger Award:( I’ve listed 12 of some of the newest blogs I’ve enjoyed. Please stop by and take a look. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them too! )
http://allaboutmanners.wordpress.com/
http://talinorfali.wordpress.com
http://ariseprayerministries.wordpress.com/
http://ksean824.wordpress.com/
http://trimdowntightenup.wordpress.com/
http://foodsnob86.wordpress.com/
http://thoughtsfromanamericanwoman.wordpress.com/
http://sharedblogg.wordpress.com/
http://ponderingbylaurie.wordpress.com/
http://leafandtwig.wordpress.com
Finally, a Special Thank You to those of you who read, “like”, or follow Faithrises.
You make my day, and you’re the best!
Smiles and Blessings!
Faith♥
Comfort Food
During the most painful and trying times of my life, I discovered that reading God’s Word gave me the deepest peace and greatest comfort. I often say that during those times, I read my Bible so much,( morning, noon and night), that I actually “ate” God’s Word. I really delved deeply into it, and read as if my life depended on it, because I believed it did… I “ate” God’s Word and was comforted… God bless you.
“For this is what the Lord says:…As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”♥
Isaiah 66: 12-13
Cheer up! It’s Contagious
Here’s a funny little story.
Last week our youngest daughter came home from school, and told me that her sixth-grade teacher has a very funny way of cheering herself up. She said that whenever her teacher is feeling low, she pops on a funny red clown nose, takes a drive in her car, and every time she stops at a red light, she turns and smiles at the driver next to her! I burst out laughing when I heard this and said,” That’s hilarious! She not only cheers herself up but others too, in the process! “
“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22 ♥
Blog of the Year Award!!!
Thank you Nitzy for nominating me for the 2012 Blog of the year award!!!!
This is an honor, and I appreciate it very much. I am humbled and thankful for such an honor, and it is my hope that readers who follow or stop by this blog will be inspired, uplifted, and encouraged. I give God all the glory for the wonderful response that I have received and I appreciate every single one who has ever read, “liked”, or followed Faithrises.
I would like to pass this award along and nominate Francine of francineinretirement. Francine is a fellow blogger who shares beauty and inspiration in every post, through her photography and thoughtful words. I’ve appreciated the creativity and consistency of her work ever since the first day I stopped by, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too!
Smiles and Blessings to You All
Love
Faith ♥
Wow! What a Woman! Part III
God is forever faithful to “the faithful.”
It’s been an amazing journey and, this is the third and final post on the Shunnamite woman. The first two posts were paraphrased from II Kings chapter 4, and today’s story can be found in II Kings chapter 8. Thanks for following along! :)
Sometime after God raised her son back to life, the Shunnamite woman was advised by Elisha, the prophet, to pack up her belongings, and leave her home. He warned her of how the LORD had called for a famine, and that it would last for seven years. So, the woman did as the prophet said, and traveled to the land of the Philistines, where she lived for seven years.
When the famine was over, she decided to return to her home, and she went to see the King about getting her land back. On the very same day that she was to present her appeal to the king, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant just happened to be in a meeting with the king, because the king wanted to hear more about all the great things that Elisha had done. Just as he began to tell the king about the woman whose son Elisha had raised from the dead, behold, the woman whose son was restored to life, came in to make her appeal to the king, and Gehazi said in excitement, “O king! This is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life!!” And when the king asked her, she told him her story and the king said to his officer, “Restore all that was her’s, and all that she would have earned from her land since the day she left until now.”
The Lord went before her, prepared the king to hear her case, and then gave her back not only her land, but all of the profits that she would have made from her fields over the seven years that she was gone! Wow!! I told you that this story was exciting! What a great testimony of faith!
God is forever faithful to “the faithful.”
Wow! What a Woman! Part II
Just when her faith had risen to a new level, it would be tested…
A few years later, her son was out in the field with his father, when he began complaining of a severe headache. His father told one of the servants to take the young boy to his mother. The child laid his head on his mother’s lap until around noon, and then died…
The woman took her son up to the room that she had made for Elisha, and laid him on the bed. She closed the door, went out, and called for her husband. Then she asked him to send her one of the servants and a donkey, so that she could go and see the man of God. She said she would hurry and return soon. Her husband asked why she was going to see the man of God.. She didn’t say anything except, “It shall be well.” She quickly saddled her donkey, and left to see the prophet.
As she approached Mount Carmel, the man of God saw her coming and sent his servant, Gehazi, to meet her and ask what was wrong. He told him to ask if it was well with her husband, and if it was well with the child. When Gehazi asked her these questions she replied, “It is well.” When she approached the prophet, she got off her donkey, and fell at his feet. She cried out, “Did I ask you, my lord, for a son?.. Did I not say, do not lie to me?” Elisha sent his servant away immediately to go and see about the child, but the woman would not leave without him, so he returned with her.
When Elisha arrived at the house, the boy was dead and lying on his bed. He stretched himself out on the child, and the child became warm… He got up and walked around a bit, and then stretched himself out on the child again, and this time the boy sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes!
Gehazi called for his mother, and when she came into the room, she fell at Elisha’s feet, and bowed herself to the ground. She picked up her son,…. And walked out.
Wow! What a woman of faith! Fear and faith cannot operate at the same time… This woman showed incredible faith in the face of a situation which could have invoked the most horrible fear. She knew that her son was a miraculous gift from God, and that God had blessed her and done what she thought was impossible… Faced with the sudden death of her son, her response was one of faith, and although I’m sure her heart was pounding, she made the immediate decision to hold her tongue, and trust God. She told her husband, “It shall be well” and said to the prophet, “It is well.” and because of her faith, God made it so…It was well!
Stay tuned,..Part 3 next time. :)
Wow! What a Woman!
This week for Throwback Thursday, I’m sharing a 3 part story about an amazing woman with amazing faith!
Here it is…
This is one of my absolute favorites because it has every thing a great story needs. Interesting characters, a great plot with problems to be solved, and lots of surprises. I’ll be paraphrasing, but you can find this first part of the story in the book of II Kings chapter 4.
“One day there was a woman who invited the prophet Elisha to have dinner with her. He accepted and after Elisha left, the woman, convinced that Elisha was a holy man, asked her husband if they could add a room on to their house, especially for him, with a bed, a stool, and a table with a candlestick, so that if ever he passed their way again, he would have a comfortable place to stay. Her husband agreed. It was done, and the next time the prophet came there, he spent the night. He was moved by her kindness and hospitality, so he asked her if there was anything that she wanted him to do for her.
She asked for nothing in return, and when she left the room, Elisha asked his servant, Gehazi, what could be done for her. Gehazi mentioned that the woman was childless and that her husband was old. Elisha called the woman and told her that she would give birth to a son and he told her when her son would be born. She relied, “Don’t lie to me…” but miraculously, she gave birth to a baby boy, at precisely the same time that Elisha had predicted.”
Let’s take a closer look at what has just happened. First of all, this woman had a very kind and hospitable spirit. She invited Elisha to have dinner with her, and then added a room to her house just for him. In scripture she is called a “great” woman, so perhaps she was wealthy, and adding a room to her house was something that she could easily afford to do. Next, she had respect for the man of God, evidence that she embraced a level of faith,… a limited level of faith, that would soon increase, and later be tested.
I refer to her faith as limited because, when Elisha asked her what he could do for her, she asked for nothing…She believed in God, but her faith appears to have its limits… Was it really true that she didn’t want anything… He was a prophet after all… She knew that he was a man of God, a holy man. She had said so herself.. What was it that she really wanted? Could it be that she had given up on the hope of ever having a child?… Did it seem to be too impossible of a request? Whatever the case.She didn’t ask… It was Elisha’s servant who mentioned that she was childless, and even when Elisha told her that she’d have a son, her reply was, “Do not lie to me”… Because to her, it seemed to good to be true..
Her faith would soon increase to a whole new level, throughout the months in which she carried her son in pregnancy, gave birth to him, and delightfully embraced him in her arms.
Tomorrow, Part 2 :)
Thank you!!
I’m so excited!! I began blogging in January of this year, and I’m happy to say that as of yesterday, there are now 500 fellow bloggers who subscribe to Faithrises. Wow! :)
I can’t stop smiling about it!
Special thanks to all of you. You are truly a blessing to me, and I’m honored and humbled by your support.
God Bless You. – Smiles and Blessings as Always!
Faith♥
I’ve Still Got It!
It’s “Throwback Thursday” and here’s a story that I posted back in the Spring. I hope that it puts a “spring in your step” and a smile on your face today! – Faith
One day last week, my daughter told me that right in the middle of class, her teacher, “thirty-something”, mother of two, did a cartwheel right in the middle of a lesson, and cartwheeled right back to her original position and said, with a great big smile on her face, ” I’ve still got it!“ and the whole class just roared with laughter! I thought to myself, “Wow! How great it must feel to be so free at heart, even in the midst of a busy workday, right in front of a class full of fifth-graders, turning cartwheels!”
For me, this teacher’s exclamation of “I’ve still got it!” implies so much more… It not only speaks of her impressive physical capabilities, but also of her ability to seize the day, enjoy the moment, and keep the “kid” inside alive!
Refreshing… :)
Blessing in Surprise
Once, several years back, I took my Jeep in to have my brakes checked, and as I sat in the waiting area, an elderly man sat, quietly, a few chairs down,waiting for his vehicle and reading a newspaper. I smiled at him as I sat down, and began leafing through one of the magazines on the table next to me.
When the mechanic came out to give me the news about my Jeep, I stood up and walked over to the counter to meet him. He basically told me that my brakes were in worse condition than I thought, and that I was going to cost much more than I had expected. I asked how much it would cost to do part of the job now and the rest later on, and he said he’d go back and check with his manager. I went back to my seat and the older gentleman, leaned over and quietly said that he would like to pay the difference, so that I could get the whole job done today. I was totally surprised at this and responded by saying, “Thank you sir. That is very kind of you but I can’t accept, thank you though. That’s very nice of you to offer.”
He answered by saying that he would really like to do this for me and my family, and this is just the type of thing that he and his wife try to do for others whenever they have the opportunity. So he asked that I please accept his offer. I thought for a minute and then asked if I could have his name and address in order to repay him, and he said no. He said that this would be a gift, and that he did not want to be repaid. I realized that this was a blessing, so I graciously accepted. ( I did manage to get his name and address anyway, so that I could send him and his wife a thank you note. I also included a gift card for he and his wife to go out to dinner.) :)
That day, when I drove off, I felt so much gratitude, as I had thanked this gentleman several times, and was doubly blessed to have experienced true generosity and a “blessing in surprise!”
One Sunday Morning
One Sunday morning, when I was about 3 and 1/2 years old, my mother and father woke to find me missing from my bed! Panicked and terrified, they went looking for me everywhere, and found that I had gone to Sunday School, with some older girls, who lived nearby. The girls had apparently asked permission from my parents the night before, and the next morning, being the early riser that I am, I woke up, got dressed, and when the girls came to the door, I left with them. My parents, being completely unaware and, still fast asleep!!
Frightening, I’m sure, for any parent, and not funny at first, but for me, this was my first “itty bitty” testimony, of how, as a child, I loved Jesus, and the stories of the Bible. Later, at the age of 10, I went to the altar to ask Jesus into my heart.
Now, after all these years, and throughout my life, I can truly say that He has loved me, blessed me and kept me , and it’s by His grace,that I’m here today, early on another Sunday morning, thankful for His unfailing love, gentle kindness and forever faithfulness.
Smiles and Blessings to you!
– Faith
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