May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Psalm 31:12b, 14-18
I have become like broken pottery...
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Shattered into a thousand shards.
I know what it feels like to have my heart broken like pottery.
Don’t you? If you live on this earth long enough, something will most likely
shatter your heart and throw you into a tailspin.
Recently, our family endured a difficult situation. Many of
us, along with friends and acquaintances, spent the night praying, seeking God’s
help when we felt helpless. Thanks be to God, the results were positive and a
blessing even in the midst of stress.
My heart still hurts for my family, but I know God’s comforting
hand is on us. When someone in my family hurts, I want to take the burden from
them and carry it myself, but because I’m not the one who has the strength for
such a task, I seek Jesus and ask for his help.
God's servant David struggled and lived a life of turmoil,
even in his dedication to God. At times, his heart shattered over the suffering
he endured. In the Psalm, he broke down and cried out to his Father to deliver
him.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus carries my burdens when I can’t. He takes the exhaustion
and worries and lifts them on his shoulders and walks beside me. I am so grateful
for his care for myself and my family.
Seek Jesus.
Psalm 37:23-24
The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
So many rocks.
If you walk far enough on the hiking path at our park,
you’ll find an uneven incline filled with rough rocks of all sizes. When we’re
feeling energetic, Tim and I take Rosie to the top. Tim and Rosie amble up the
rough, rocky terrain, but I have to stop and take a breath. Honestly, it’s not
that steep, but for me, who generally walks on a flat surface, it’s a challenge.
And it’s one I like to take occasionally.
With the help of my hiking stick (thank you, Zeke,) I pick
through the rocks and take careful steps, because this old girl doesn’t want a
broken hip.
I love the verses in Psalm 37 that remind me the Lord has me
in his sights, and because I love God, He watches over me and helps me when I
might stumble, whether over literal rocks or in everyday life.
With each step I took on the rocks, I measured the
consequences if I’d fall. I considered how to move through the path without
harm. Isn’t that how I should live my life? Instead of hurrying and fumbling,
it’s important to check my steps, even as God holds my hand. It’s too easy to
stumble along and possibly fall on the path and in life.
I need to take caution in the words I say, the actions I
take, the attitude I carry, and how I treat others. Am I judging when I should
be praying? Am I criticizing when I should be compassionate? Am I causing
someone else to stumble when I should be helping them along the path?
As you walk the path God prepared for you, discover ways to
move alongside other people and help them navigate life as God helps you.
When mysterious holes are discovered on Abbott
Island, Lucy Grayson wants answers. She also longs for a special someone in her
life.
Local farmer, Owen Miller finds himself
helping Lucy solve the mystery. As they dig into the island history and gather
clues, will they find more than hidden treasure? Perhaps they’ll discover love?
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with
you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Tim and I walked Rosie along the paved path at the local park. As we rounded a curve, we stopped. The night before, a storm had blown through and the wind had knocked over a couple of trees. We couldn’t see the path beyond the downed trees.
We had a choice, turn around and head the other direction or
climb through the mess and try to get to the other side. Wisdom told us to turn
and hike back along the path we’d taken. Out of curiosity, we walked all the
way around and checked out the other side of the fallen trees. By the time we
finished, a crew of groundskeepers arrived to clean up the trees.
When I saw the barrier, my first thought was, “What’s holding
me back?” Then I wondered, “How do I move forward?” Both good questions.
At times, I’m stopped in my tracks and have to reevaluate what
to do. Sometimes, I need to move forward past the obstacles in my way, other
times I need to turn around and reassess my circumstances. If we’d tried to
climb over the trees, I’m sure one of us (me) would’ve been injured. So why
chance it when I know it’s not the right move?
But there are times when God calls us to move forward, and it’s
scary, or I simply feel uncertain. In Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the
Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Moses is old and won’t
be going with them, but he reminds them of an important truth. God is going
with them. Moses calls them to be strong and courageous.
Every day I make choices. Sometimes roadblocks like fear and
discouragement stand in my way, even guilt over a decision that may affect
other people. God calls us to ask Him for guidance. He’s with us and He assures
us He listens and loves us.
With God by our side, we can be strong and courageous no
matter what tries to hold us back.
