Tag Archives: encouragement

When Life Piles Up

My last blog post on The Names of God, Jehovah Rapha (God Healer) was posted only six days before my father’s death. Thursday after it posted, I gave it to him to read after arriving at my parent’s home in South Carolina to be there for his surgery the next morning.

“Well done, daughter,” I can still hear him say.

God has such a beautiful way of letting this “life thing” play out. I’ve never been one to believe in coincidences. Nope. In my opinion, “coincidences” are just God at work in all aspects of our lives.

In March of this year, I dreamed God’s hands swooped down from the clouds to catch my husband and I as we were falling in midair down a cliff. He gently set us into terribly murky water but it was okay because I viscerally KNEW all would be well. He would carry us through.

In recent days, remembering that dream and the peace it brought once I awoke has sometimes been one of the few things that has gotten me through.

See, true to His mystery, God seems to fully understand the power of the “pile on.” Often, our challenges occur in clusters – at least that’s been my experience. So. Many. Difficult. Things. At. Once.

Because of this, I can’t say I was surprised that while at the funeral home deciding on my father’s funeral ceremony, caskets, and the like, my husband received a call to inform him of yet another hugely stressful challenge upcoming. As soon as we left, I quickly, dove into my phone’s Bible app to start a new plan. I found Battles and Front Lines by Rita Springer. This is what I read:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Wow, God. I should be ecstatic!! Thank you??

Ever notice how good Satan is at his job? He can really stir up some emotions that can rattle you to your bones. Fear is one he’s really good at manifesting in us. And doubt. Doubt can do a number on me too – when I let it. Both of these emotions can come out in full force during the pile-on – extending it exponentially.

This pile-on effect truly makes me take notice of you, God and forces me to keep You close like never before. So often these days, my greatest solace is found in the Word.

The Bible shows us there is still more advice for us to be joyful in trials. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 we read: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Throughout this year, I’ve witnessed how beautiful our struggles can be – if you’re intentional about noticing ALL of the pieces to the puzzle. These experiences have made it possible for me to keep and grow my faith.

I saw it so many times in the hospital in the kind words or gestures of people around whether they be staff or not. The nurse who had watched my mom, brother and I standing outside of my Dad’s room waiting for them to prep him to go into his second surgery. She watched how Mom wouldn’t take her eyes off Dad and finally asked my mom, “do you want to go with him up to the operating room?” In Mike, the man who insisted on purchasing our coffee as he was visiting his wife who had cancer surgery. In Mary, the woman in the waiting room who prayed for us right after Dad died.

We love each other because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

I’ve also realized that although there is so much pain and so many angry people in the world, kindness is predominant. Most people genuinely want to help others. Phone calls, notes, texts, and hugs from family, friends and almost strangers made and still make, the hard days bearable. Like when Gail, whom I’ve met twice, hears my story and asks if she can send me an email. Reading this article through my tears, I recognized that my perspective was changing in ways I never imagined.

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV)

With the current conflicts in our country, it’s easy to buy into the lie that we are doomed. Anytime we keep our focus on the negative (the divide), it will be impossible to create a positive change of unity. Let’s look around and keep our eyes searching to catch others being kind. Let’s make it our mission to always search for the silver linings. We must change our focus for positive change to happen.

Think about this, sisters, what would the world look like if we all were intent on finding and doing good? Who will stand for Jesus? Who will take that step and remind others how quickly our brothers and sisters stepped up to assist victims of the hurricanes or other recent tragedies? How many people step in to provide comfort and love in our daily challenges? I have seen first-hand that it is people’s first instinct to be kind.

We seem to be in a time in life where we must endure the challenge of the pile-on so we might become as humanly complete as we possibly can. For God’s plans are far greater and more beautiful than our own. Things are not hopeless, we just need to dig deeper and love harder. There is always a storm before a rainbow.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Angela

Daughter Of Abba

I first defined God as my Abba as a senior in high school. I was in the middle of an interview for a scholarship when I was asked what love meant to me. I answered with my daddy (I most likely said, Diddy if truth be told). My daddy means love in the way he cared for me and loved me regardless of the world’s standards. In the way he didn’t lose his cool when I wrecked a car, he was just thankful I was alive. In the way he let me curl up on his lap in the recliner after a rough day reminding me boys are goobers and teachers are human. In the way he encouraged me to be independent and to be involved in church. My daddy was love and is love; showing me who God is through the way he has loved me over the years. Knowing my faith and my response the scholarship team asked where God landed in my definition of love.

To which I responded, “He is my Abba who loaned me a daddy to be like Him.”

Abba is translated as daddy, a name reserved for those men who step up to the plate of fatherhood and their children know them as someone they can always trust and love. It’s not a name to be tossed around with ease. For us, as Christ-followers, we cannot call God Abba until we have been adopted by Him.

Romans 8:14-17 says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

It’s not enough for us to call ourselves sons and daughters of the King unless we have truly accepted Him as our Abba Father. Having grown up with the unconditional love of my daddy and marrying a man who is the same with our children makes it really easy for me to grasp the love of our Abba Father. Because of this, when I think of love, I think of God as Abba and when I think of Abba God, I think of love.

An Abba who doesn’t hold us accountable to world standards, but one who is more concerned with our relationship with Him. An Abba who is thankful we are alive to share His love with others. An Abba who gently and lovingly reminds us we are all created in His image and are all to be loved. An Abba who allows us to stand firmly on His Rock without fear. An Abba who is love.

If your earthly father has left you feeling less than or unworthy or without the greatest value, then step into the arms of our Abba. Allow yourself to be adopted by the immeasurable, unfailing, unconditional love and grace and hope and peace and mercy Abba gives to His children. Only He can fill that void and only then will you truly understand the meaning of love.

God Is Faithful

“He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.‘” — Hebrews 13:5

Throughout the Bible there are 35 references to God not leaving or forsaking man. You may have heard it said: when God says something more than once, pay attention to it. We can rest assured that this is something that God really wants us to have written on our hearts. God wants us to know and understand that no matter what we are going through we will never be alone. That is God’s promise to us.

A large part of my life I did not know God. I knew of Him but my family very rarely went to church together. Yet, every Sunday, I was put into a taxi cab by my mother and shipped off to Sunday school. While at Sunday school I was told all of the stories about Jesus. They were nice stories but designed by parents or someone to keep me and the other children on our best behavior. Later on for catechism, I was required to recite the names of the 12 disciples in front of the whole congregation. Although I did my very best, I failed miserably. In spite of this rough start, Jesus kept tapping me on my shoulder giving me little nudges in the direction He wanted me to go.

I grew and matured as Jesus persistently kept reminding me that He was there. Over time I gradually began to listen to the tapping on my shoulder even though I didn’t notice a miracle was taking place. I began to believe. A stubborn, willful, broken child was being loved and molded by God.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians tells us “The God who started this great work in you would keep it up and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (1:6 MSG)

God was working on me. No matter how hard I tried to ignore Him and pretend that I didn’t notice the nudges and the whispers in my ears, Jesus continued His pursuit of me throughout my life. Overtime I have come to call those whispers and nudges my “God moments”.

They have become important reminders for me of the many times that God has made me aware of His presence in my life. God will not let me forget that I am never alone. He is always there watching, caring, guiding and most importantly, loving me.

Throughout my life I have been blessed with many “God moments”. During those moments, I’ve either
heard God’s voice, felt His presence, or witnessed His creative work in the world. I’m always
awestruck when I witness the many beauties of His creation such as the sight of a summer rainbow or a starlit night. I’m also reminded that these events do not happen by chance. They are part of God’s plan!

I also believe that the God moments I have experienced personally are part of God’s plan for me. “I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In my God moments I become aware that God is speaking to me, showing His love for me and reminding me that He is still alive and working on my behalf in His world. Reflecting back on those moments in my life, I now realize that when I’m feeling lost, sad, or confused – when I need God – He will show up in the form of a God Moment.

I want to give you a brief example of how God has shown up in my life. On Christmas day of 1981 instead of being awakened from my sleep by the sound of my children happily tearing open their gifts, I was awaken by the ringing of my telephone. It was my mother calling to tell me that my father had died of a sudden heart attack.

I was devastated by the news! I had just spoken to my father the evening before. My last words to him were “Daddy, I have to go. I’m making cookies with the kids. I love you Daddy. I will call you tomorrow.” At that time, I did not know there would be no more tomorrows. That phone conversation was to be the last time I would hear my Dad’s voice on earth. I didn’t know how I would get through that Christmas morning with four kids who were not old enough to understand what it meant to me that their grandfather had died. The children were filled with excitement and joy in the way that only children can experience Christmas.

Choking down my sadness, I was determined I would not let my somber mood infect my home, spreading like a virus damping the Christmas spirit for others. Giving in to my need to be alone, I decided to walk down the street to the park. The park was empty. I sat down on a swing. It was a typical winter morning in New Jersey, cold and windy. Still the sun was shining and the sky was clear. I swung back and forth on that swing. Within minutes I began to yell and cry out to God as the tears started to roll down my cheeks. In my grief, I suddenly felt like I no longer knew where home was.

I was like a child who was lost in the woods. Somehow in the stillness of that cold, Christmas morning I felt a warm breeze surround me. It felt like a gentle hug giving me the same comfort that a child needs from her parent after falling and scraping her knees.

After a while the crying stopped. I had just lost my earthly father and in that moment, what I needed as I sat on the swing in that cold empty park, was to know that I was loved and cared for. I felt held in that warm breeze and I knew that I was not alone. I believe that God had been there in that park offering me His love in the middle of my pain.

Somehow during what felt like the darkest day of my life, I understood that life would go on without my earthly father but I would never be without having my heavenly Father.

“‘I will never leave you…’— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.” Oswald Chambers.

Susan Bowen

From One Salvaged Gal To Another: This Is For You

One Saturday morning at the end of January, my husband’s brother and his family came to visit us from out of town for a weekend. It was my sister-in-law’s (or sister-by-love as she puts it) birthday in a couple of weeks, so as a gift I took her to one of her favorite places on earth – an old warehouse near downtown Burlington, NC where she could pick out something she’d like. From an old warehouse.

This “warehouse” has become well-known in the state of NC and surrounding states to those who like to search for little (or big) treasures that other people consider to be junk. But those others find “junk” to be beautiful and useful. They’ll search for it, and are willing to drive for a few hours to salvage something. My sister-by-love is one of them.

And that leads to the name of this warehouse, converted into a shop: Salvage Sisters. They are two, very talented sisters who love Jesus, love people, and love to make something beautiful and new from something old and worn out.

After breakfast we headed to the shop. Once there, my sister-by-love and I had gone through the shop probably two times and she wanted to go around a third time to get some ideas for the home embellishing business she and her sister own in Virginia. But I decided to stop and control myself because I was gifting her this time, not myself. I found myself starting up a conversation with a gal who wore a Salvage Sisters shirt whom I assumed worked there. Well, I learned it was one of the sisters. In our nice conversation, she mentioned something about her employees which caught my attention. Employees. I thought, “Oh, this would be a fun place to work.” I happened to be looking for a part-time job and heard myself asking her, “You were just talk about your employees. Are you by chance in need of another one?” with a joking, but not really, smile on my face.

To my surprise, she said, “Yes, we actually are.” A week later I was given the offer to work for them at their vintage shop. It’s really been fun working there a couple weekends a month but not only have I learned to use the register and bag the treasures found, but God has also been teaching me something else as well.

You see, if you’re like me, whatever age you are, there’s been times when you’ve felt run down, broken, useless, or completely fallen apart. Maybe you’ve felt like a worn-out, rusty piece of junk from a salvage pile, questioning if there’s anymore purpose for it.

Salvage. In a broad term, salvage means “rescue anything from danger” but often refers to shipwrecks. That’s when people would try to “salvage” what they could from the wreck or a storm. It’s what they could hold onto, even if it wasn’t in a great condition anymore. The root of that word goes way back in time; the origin of the word salvage is “salver”, which means “to save”.

And what is the original definition of “salver”, or “to save” you may ask? Well, it means, “to rescue from peril, bring to safety” and also”prevent the death of”. When looking at its use in Scripture though, it means “to deliver from sin or its consequences; admit to eternal life; gain salvation.”

Now hang in there with me because this all ties together. With this crazy interest, I discovered that the ancient Hebrew word for rescue or deliver is “yasha”. And do you know that Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Yeshua that comes from the word “yasha”? Yeshua, the One who came to rescue and deliver us. (And it’s interesting to learn that the Greek word for “please save” is hosanna, but that can be for another time!)

I’m so undeserving of being rescued yet I’m grateful for being salvaged and even more, for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

Working at Salvage Sisters has caused me to think about the meaning of salvage. Salvage is searched for and then once found, is restored and brought back to purpose. Our broken bodies and worn-out hearts can be restored, renewed, reused and repurposed. In different times in our lives, God will work through us in different, and ususally unexpected, ways. But occasionally through time or challenges, we become worn out and feel like we’re falling apart. That’s when GOD strengthens us to be restored and renewed for the next plans and purpose He has for us.

Jesus, Yeshua’s, purpose, while on this earth, was to come rescue us. He rescued us on the cross when his body was broken and then resurrected! He came and searched for you and found you. He’ll repair your brokenness and restore you with a new purpose. Even if I carry some of the scars, or wrinkles (yeah, I’m definately looking older than I did 20 years ago), He can still use me – and you – to bring Him glory. And that’s really our true calling and purpose no matter what our condition is – to give God GLORY for WHO HE IS. HE IS the Creator of all things and HE IS OUR SALVATION!

Beth

Tell Me About Who You Are

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I’ll be the first to admit that free-writes for the SMCW Blog sometimes give me the worst case of writer’s block. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say—if you’ve met me, you know I’m usually never at a loss for words (for better, or worse). It’s that I just can’t seem to settle into any particular message until (what seems like) the eleventh hour, often because there are so many ideas swirling around in the ether of my brain. I’ve been chewing on several things that I’m betting you’ve thought about, too, at some point or other. Follow me here, and I hope it will all come together by the end.

Monday evening of this week I was sitting out under the stars. The view is glorious from my back step on a clear night. I live out in the sticks, so it’s really easy to lose yourself in counting all those bright dots in the night sky. My boys, along with some neighbors, and I were awaiting the Antares rocket launch. I was struck in those moments by just how fascinating and smart and able we (read: HUMANS) are. I mean, we are like tiny little grains of sand to our big, big God, but we just sent supplies up to a space station to replenish the astronauts (more HUMANS) up there! And we, that is the aforementioned gang hanging out at my house, were able to watch that happen from a state away! We humans are amazing creatures! And this says something about just how much more amazing our Creator is. He made us, and look at what we can do!

And then I got to thinking about how I needed to do my homework for the new SMC Single Moms Small Group on Tuesday night (nothing like waiting until the last minute…). Our reading for this week’s group is about identity. I think we all work through figuring out who we are at different points along the way—even if you’ve never divorced, and/or found yourself a single mom. We have moments or events that shape us and help us define ourselves. BUT, as I’ve learned from experience, and worked through even more with our reading for this week, many of the “labels” I’ve given myself, or allowed myself to own, aren’t definitions of WHO I am.

I once labeled myself as “his wife” or “their mom.” I was a “Tar Heel, born and bred” and, at one point, “a teacher.” But those tell of my marital and parent statuses, my affiliation with a particular longitude and latitude (and well-earned piece of paper, to boot), and what I used to do. Are these really who I am? Some of them don’t even apply now – so what do I do about that? Is this how my big, big God defines me? How about “rejected”? Or “failure”? “Unloved and unwanted”? Maybe I’m not that amazing creature who figured out how to send a rocket to space…but who am I? Some of those labels carry some hefty weight, and negative connotations. And who told me I was any of those things (or any other label I’ve attached to myself over the years)? As the author of “Hope and Help for the Single Mom” points out, “feelings [often] caused the false labels” (pg 17).

So, how do we un-label ourselves? How do we answer the question “Tell me about who you are?” (pg15). I’ve learned over the last several years now that we should believe God when He whispers to us that we are who He says we are.

Included below is an excerpt from pages 18-20 about who God says we are—each and every one of us. You, me, everybody! I encourage you today to read these, believe them, own them, and live them.

I am the apple of God’s eye Deuteronomy 32:9-10
I am the salt and light of the earth Matthew 5:13-14
I am God’s child John 1:12
I am Christ’s friend John 15:15
I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life John 15:1, 5
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit John 15:16
I am a personal witness of Christ Acts 1:8
I have been justified Romans 3:24
I am free from condemnation; I am holy, blameless and covered with God’s love Romans 8:1, 2; Ephesians 1:4
I am assured that all things work together for my good; I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6
I cannot be separated from God’s love; I am united with the Lord, I am one spirit with Him Romans 8:35-39; 1Corinthians 6:17
I have been sanctified in Christ 1Corinthians 1:2
I am righteous and holy 1Corinthians 1:30
I am God’s temple; I am a member of Christ’s body 1Corinthians 3:16; 1Corinthians 12:27
I have been bought with a price. I belong to God 1Corinthians 6:20
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God 2Corinthians 1:21, 22
I am a new creature 2Corinthians 5:17
I am one in Christ; I am complete in Christ Galatians 3:28; Colossians 2:10
I am a saint Ephesians 1:4
I am forgiven, and my sins have been take away; I am set free from my sinful nature Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:11
I am God’s work of art Ephesians 2:10
I have been brought near to God Ephesians 3:6
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit; I can come into God’s presence with freedom and confidence Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12
I share in the promise of Christ Ephesians 3:6
I am a citizen of Heaven; I have eternal glory Philippians 3:20; 2Timothy 2:10
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:3
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind 2Timothy 1:7
I can find grace and mercy in time of need Hebrews 4:16
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me 1John 5:18

These are beautiful definitions given to us by our good, good Father. This is who He says we are. These are the words of God for we, the people, of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Jessica

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