Category Archives: Encouragement

Oct27

The Perfect Storm

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Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,

called the “northeaster,”

swept down from the island.

The ship was caught by the storm

and could not head into the wind;

so we gave way to it and were driven along.

Act 27:14 – 15

As I write this post, Hurricane Sandy is brewing in the Atlantic.  Forecasters have predicted that this late season tropical cyclone could turn into “The Perfect Storm,” referring to the possibility of a rare combination of weather systems merging together to create a scenario of unusual magnitude.  In the case of Sandy, the tropical moisture of the hurricane could potentially collide with a huge blast of arctic air to wreak havoc on the northeastern coast of the United States where Sandy is expected to make landfall early next week as a Super Storm of potentially historic proportions.

In the key verses above, Paul and his shipmates were being pummeled about at sea by another late season storm where two weather systems had collided.  The conditions were so terrible that they could not fight the storm and eventually “gave way to it and were driven along.”  This northeaster was a storm of unusual magnitude, and their ship was caught up in the angry seas for over two weeks.

Sometimes we face situations in life which seem like “perfect storm” conditions, causing us to feel like giving way to the wind and waves that rock our world.  There are many types of stormy situations that could devastate our lives:

  • financial calamity
  • medical crisis
  • death in the family
  • relational strife
  • betrayal by a friend
  • loss of a job
  • illness of a child
  • teenage rebellion
  • debilitating injury

Perhaps we are strong enough to successfully navigate through one of these problems, but when two or more of these “systems” merge together at once, we may feel like “giving way” to the storms because we feel powerless to withstand the impact. In our weakness, we simply go with the flow and feel aimlessly tossed about.

If you are facing such a super storm of life right now, remember that God is bigger than anything you might be going through.  He created the earth and the sea and everything in it, and He holds your life (along with all your problems) in His hands.  When you feel that you have lost all hope, remember that He is the anchor of hope for your soul. 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure… Hebrews 6:19

You are not alone in your time of crisis.  God is right by your side, and He is your strength when you have nothing left.  Hope in Him is firm and secure, even when you feel like you don’t have a solid foundation upon which to stand.  When you are in a Life Storm, it is natural to be afraid, but if you place your trust completely in the Lord you are able to have courage to face whatever comes your way.

God never promised that His children would never face problems, but He does promise that He will be by our side no matter what.  If you are in a “Perfect Storm,” He can handle it.  Simply hold on tightly to your anchor!

“When the storm has swept by,

the wicked are gone,

but the righteous stand firm forever.

Proverbs 10:25

Sep28

40 Days of Prayer for the U.S.A.

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“In God We Trust:”

“In You our fathers put their trust;

they trusted and You delivered them.”

Psalm 22:4

 

Starting today, September 28, there are 40 days until the next election in the U.S.A.  I encourage each of you to start praying each day from this point forward for this critical election.  Max Lucado has given us a simple acronym using the letters “U.S.A.” to guide us as we pray:

U:  Unite our Country

S:  Strengthen our Country

A:  Appoint and Anoint our President  

Our founding fathers chose “In God We Trust” as our nation’s motto.  Let’s follow their lead and place our trust in God for our nation’s future.

Please join me in prayer for our country and its future.  

Sep3

God’s Watches Over Us

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“The Lord looks down from heaven

and sees the whole human race.

From His throne he observes all who live on earth.

He made their hearts,

so he understands everything they do.

Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him

[who revere and worship Him with awe],

who wait for Him and

hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.”

Psalm 33:13-15,18

 

Nothing is ever hidden from God’s view, and no tiny detail is out of sight for Him.  As a mom of three boys, this truth about God amazes me because I remember how difficult it was for me to keep up with my energetic sons when they were toddlers.  I had “baby gates” all over my house to corral them into certain rooms so that I could watch over them and keep them safe.  I baby-proofed the cabinet doors and the electrical outlets and tried to remove any potential harm from their reach. Yet even with all my safety precautions, I would miss something.

My youngest son was skilled at finding the tiniest toy parts or miscellaneous objects and quickly hiding them away in his mouth.  I would catch him stashing things in his cheeks such as Legos, GI Joe shoes, wheels from toy trucks, lost buttons, lumps of play dough, rocks, coins, rubber bands and paper clips…just to name a few!  It seems as though I would take my eyes off of him for a few seconds, and he would find some potential choking hazard to stuff in his drooling little mouth!

Those days seemed exhaustingly difficult at times, because I was always on high alert.  I thought it would be much easier as they grew up, but now that my oldest is in college and the other two are in the midst of teenage adolescence, there are more dangers lurking than I ever imagined back in their toddler years. The types of dangers they face today can’t be shielded with baby gates or cabinet locks.  I can no longer patrol them 24/7, and I must rely on their ability to make wise decisions when faced with compromising situations.  For teens, this is not an easy task in the face of peer pressure and the strong desire to fit in.

It would be very easy to remain in a state of constant fear and worry over this precarious situation, but I must remind myself that their Heavenly Father is watching over them at all times.  His love for them is even greater than my own.  He never sleeps and His eyes are never off of them, not even for a few seconds.  Throughout their lives they have been taught about right and wrong from a Biblical perspective and watched the example set in our home.  Where my limited parenting capabilities end at this stage in their lives, God’s limitless capabilities are just beginning!  Instead of worrying, I must entrust Him with their lives daily and rely on Him when I feel powerless and fearful.

With our imperfect human understanding it is impossible to imagine how God can view the entire human race at all times.  Yet, that’s just one of the astounding attributes of the amazing God we serve.  His abilities are boundless.  He is all knowing, ever-present and all-powerful.  He made each one of us and sees every intimate detail about our lives.   Trust that His capabilities far surpass your inadequacies and ask Him to help you no matter what circumstances you face.  Believe that His eye is always upon you and no tiny detail slips past His visual range.

“…for He views the ends of the earth and sees everything under heaven.”  Job 28:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug9

Thanks for everything

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At all times and for everything give thanks

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Ephesians 5:20 AMP

It is sometimes impossible to think about “giving thanks” to God in life’s darkest moments. During times of difficulty or tragedy, a thankful thought is the last thing on your mind. Perhaps you are dealing with a health crisis, or relational difficulties with a troubled teen, or marital strife, or oppressive financial burdens, or the death of a loved one, or the pain from broken heart. Regardless of the problem, this verse instructs us to “give thanks.” These types of problems fall under the broad umbrella of “At all times and for everything.”

Instead of thanking God for your problem, thank Him for the strength he is building in you through this difficult experience. Give thanks to Him for the dependency He is building in you to rely on Him for that divine strength. Thank Him for the growth in your personal relationship with Him that this particular experience is developing in you. Thank Him for His faithfulness to fulfill His precious promises to you. Romans 8:28 tells us that in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called according to his purpose. In the midst of a life storm, it is hard to see how any good can come from devastation. Trust God that He is true to His word. And that someday a harvest of “good” will come from this trial.

Also, in 2 Corinthians 12:9 He gives us another assurance: “My grace is sufficient. My power is made perfect in weakness.” Even though you may be so low that it is difficult to put one foot in front of the other, believe that God’s power is being perfected in you through this time of weakness.

Trust Him with every aspect of your life, even in the midst of trouble.

Thank Him at all times and for everything…

Jul23

God’s Limitless Love

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If you ever find it difficult to comprehend the vastness of God’s love for you, He has placed a constant reminder in the beauty of the heavens. Lift your eyes from your daily grind and earthly concerns. Take a moment to gaze at God’s handiwork in the sky. Hear the whispers of His limitless love and embrace the truth of His eternal faithfulness to you.  Understand that His great love is for everyone…including you.

As surely as the sun rises and sets each day, His boundless love for you continues into eternity.

  • “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11
Jul10

Dear Child of God…

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Dear Child of God~

 “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. 

  I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. 
   When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, 
   it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God, 
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you…
That’s how much you mean to me! 
   That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, 
   trade the creation just for you.”

“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.”

With My Unfailing Love,

                Your Heavenly Father

Isaiah 43:1b – 5a (MSG)

Jul9

Unfamiliar Paths

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I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
    and make the rough places smooth. 
These are the things I will do;
    I will not abandon them.

Isaiah 42:16

 

This passage brings hope to those who may be walking an unfamiliar path in life, blindly forging ahead on uncharted territory.  This dark path could be the result of unemployment, illness, divorce, disability, mounting debt, addiction, or the loss of a loved one.  You may have found yourself in a position as a caregiver, patient, single parent, or widow, and you feel as though you are blindly groping through each day, with no direction or guidance. 

 

But for those who trust in God, He promises to light the steps ahead.  He will take you by the hand and guide you through this journey.  With Him by your side, you will not stumble.  Your Heavenly Father will carry you when you are too weak to move ahead on your own strength.  He will make the rough places smooth, and He will never abandon you.  Simply trust in Him; His promises are true, and He will help you.

 

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed 
    and gives food to the hungry. 
The Lord sets prisoners free, 
8     the Lord gives sight to the blind, 
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, 
    the Lord loves the righteous. 
9 The Lord watches over the alien 
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow…

Psalm 146: 5-9 

Feb22

Casting Cares

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Cast the whole of your care,

[all your anxieties,

all your worries,

all your concerns,

once and for all]

on Him,

for He cares for you affectionately and

cares about you watchfully.

1 Peter 5:7AMP


God wants to help you will all your “baggage.” Whatever concerns you, whatever is causing you anxiety, all your worries, all your problems ~ no matter what kind of burden you are carrying around in your heart, He cares deeply about you, and He wants you to give it all to Him. Trust that He is big enough to handle anything you bring Him, and He’s always ready to take the load off your shoulders.

God is Faithful

[reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise,

and He can be depended on]…

1 Corinthians 1:9a

Feb19

Yet I will Rejoice

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Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty…
yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17 – 19 NIV


When you feel overwhelmed by the weight of problems bearing down on you from all sides or if your troubles seem to be more that you can handle, remember that you can still find joy in our LORD, and that joy is actually your source of strength.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

We are not controlled by the circumstances swirling around our lives. As children of God, we have a source of unlimited strength within us to endure any trial we face. He will give us surefooted confidence to place one foot in front of the other as we tread through the deepest valleys. You will run like a swift deer through dangerous and rough terrain.

Instead of focusing on your difficulties, look to God and rejoice in Him. Your troubles will pale in comparison to the light of His glory. Trust Him with any situation in life, and you will find confidence and hope in the darkest of days.

Feb16

A Love Letter From God

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