One Step at a Time

I love the Appalachian Mountains, but sometimes 

I am surrounded by a different kind of mountain that I believe I can't climb.

Sorrow, grief, achievement, expectations, too much to do, and the list goes on.

What do I do when I lift my eyes to those daunting mountains?

I look to the One who gives me the strength and courage to climb.

I lift my eyes to God and seek Him as I take the mountain step-by-step,

because I know He walks with me, and His love surrounds me.

 

His Joy is Strength

My joy overflowed to have all three of my daughters 

with me on Mother's Day weekend.

We made art, we laughed, we talked, we ate, and we loved.

Even when my days are not so glorious and full of family and fun, I choose joy. 

Different from happiness, joy is Jesus in my heart, 

comforting me and reminding me that in Him everything will be okay. 

This day is holy to our Lord. 

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b

 

The Next Chapter

As a writer, I consider what goes into each chapter of a book.

As I edit and make the words work, 

the characters develop and lead the way through their story.

As a Christian, God knows what my next chapter is,

but because He allows me to have free will, 

He knows I'll make mistakes, even when I try my best.

In my desire to seek God's will, I trust Him

because He knows my future, and 

He gives me courage, grace, strength, and wisdom

each time I turn the page.

 

Peace in Difficulties

Life is hard sometimes. 

Being a believer in God, a follower of Jesus, and receiver of the Holy Spirit

equips me with the tools I need to navigate this crazy life.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

 James 1:2-3

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

 

Plant Roots in His Truth

 Jeremiah 17:7-8

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

"Jesus found the muddiest parts of my heart and planted flowers." -the soul doctor

Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through the soil in my tiny garden. A few of the daffodils are already showing their pretty yellow heads and the crocus are waving goodbye to winter. When I planted the bulbs for each flower, I made sure the root of the bulb turned toward the earth. The roots needed to be where they could shoot down into the soil and draw up nourishment for the leaves and blossoms. If I had turned them the wrong way, the bulb would eventually rot.

A few years ago, I had a bush removed from the flower garden, most of the roots came out, but occasionally a little sprout from the bush pushes through the soil. Even though the plant went through trauma, the deep roots survived and still produce foliage.

Plants depend on their roots to provide what they need. With my feet planted in Jesus' mercy and grace, I continue to grow in Him. When I bloom, it doesn't matter what I look like on the outside, my roots in Jesus give me strength inside. No matter what I have gone through, I know Jesus is with me because I've planted my feet in His Word. Even when I've been cut down, my roots in Jesus give me strength. I often pray that my children and grandchildren have their roots firmly planted in Jesus. I pray that for my readers, too.

Each year my flowers fade as winter comes to visit, but the roots continue to grow and gather. By spring they're ready to sprout their green leaves and bloom with joy, like believers who love Jesus.

Plant roots in the truth of Jesus. Soak in His love and strength.

He Stands By Me

I've heard the phrase God doesn't give a person more than they can handle. 

I used to believe that to be true, but life and the Bible

have taught me a different lesson.

I may come across hardships in life I can't handle by myself.

That's okay, because God stands by me, gives me strength, 

and surrounds me with people who care.

For that I am thankful.

 

My Joy and Strength

Physical strength isn't something I have much of anymore.
 All part of the maturing process we experience as humans.

 But the strength I do have,
the strength I cherish,
comes from the joy I have in the Lord.

 Many things bring me joy—
my husband
my family
animals
flowers
books
reading
ice cream

But...

My number one joy—
is knowing I'm loved by God—
the one who created me.

 

My Hope is in God

Psalm 31:24

Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.

God infuses me with strength, even when I'm weak.

Last Saturday, I moved all of our clocks ahead at three o'clock in the afternoon. I thought I could trick myself into thinking we wouldn't lose an hour of sleep. This tactic didn't work. My body knows the difference. It's been a struggle to wake up this week even though the light shines through the blinds and my dog barks. My ambition to start the day fades. I just want to sleep.

Maybe some of you feel the same way. The time change messes with our physiological being. And I think the change weakens my emotional, mental, and spiritual life.

The one good thing about jumping forward—the change happens in the spring. A time of hope in new life.

King David survived wars, sins, self-loathing, and distress. So my tiny, little complaint about the time change seems unimportant. Yet as I read Psalm 31, no matter the circumstance, I need to trust God. He cares about the little things as well as the big ones. My hope is in the one who created me, the one who breathed life into my soul.

As we face trials take heart and look to God for strength.

Right now our nation is fighting to stop the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19.) While we wait, as the doctors, scientists, and leaders figure out what to do—take the problem to the Great Physician. Pray about it, use common sense, and and continue to hope in Jesus.

Be Courageous!

Psalm 31:24

He's My Strength

Isaiah 40:28-29
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Riding up 71, I noticed a weathered lighthouse statue. The once new white yard ornament had withstood storms, the sun beating down, wind, and snow. Yet it stood in the yard and still shined as a lighthouse should. I found beauty in the weathering.

As a wife, mom, grandma, and coworker I've been around awhile and feel weathered at times. Stress in life wears me down. But I have God who lifts me up. He increases my strength and I depend on him to give me energy to keep moving. I love that I have the power of the Creator who lifts me up. Praise God for his strength.