Dear Sisters - Gratitude

Sisters

Gratitude

Dear Sisters Volume 2: Cultivate

Copyright © 2022 By Melissa Heerebout.

All rights reserved

Paperback ISBN: Independently published

No parts of this book may be reproduced without written consent from the editor.

Melissa Heerebout

melissa@dearsisters.org

Cover and Design by Melissa Heerebout

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc ™ Used by permission of Zondervan All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188 All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

CONTENTS

From Melissa

It All Joy

Jenna Tulman

Promised Anchor

Hannah Rule

Faith

Jenny Warfield

for God’s Great Gift in

Olivia Warner

By Gratitude

Melissa Heerebout

The Middle

Nina Burnet

In Need

Courtney McEver

Of God

Katie Nelson

S

S T E R

Graditude

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of turning 42 Over the last few years, as 40 approached, I’ve been trying to shift my perspective on age

I think we can look at aging negatively when living in regret and instead of learning from past mistakes.

As we age, we get this unique perspective on the stories we are telling We get to look back and remember God’s faithfulness. We get to remember how again and again, God has moved in our lives. Shelley Giglio posted on Instagram a little while ago,

"So far, I’ve made it through 100 percent of my difficult moments I want to believe that if God had brought me through so far, He will do it again.”

Every year, we get to co write with the Holy Spirit the chapters of our lives and bear witness to this beautiful story of redemption and transformation

This year I am determined to be a woman marked by gratitude. I hope you'll find inspiration to do the same in this issue!

Melissa Founder of Dear Sisters

Photo MelissaHeerebout

Our Contributors.

Founder: Melissa Heerebout

Editor: Judy Daykin

Writer: Jenna Tulman

Writer: Katie Nelson

Writer: Nina Burnet

Writer: Olivia Warner

Writer: Hannah Rule

Writer: Courtney McEver

Photography Source: Unsplash

Cover Photo: Mateus Campos

EDITORIAL OFFICES

20639

Ridge,

DearSisters

Jesus + Community

Count It All Joy: Gratitude In the Hard Seasons of Life

By Jenna Tulman

As I hold my newborn son in my arms, feeling the smooth movement of the rocking chair rock back and forth, back and forth, I feel the warmth of gratitude fill my heart. October last year looked much different for my husband and me; we were sitting on a patio at a winter resort, sipping wine, watching the snowfall by the fire, and appearing to have it all together as our hearts broke We were processing the loss of our third miscarriage and wondering if we’d ever experience the joy of holding our own baby.

Photo By: Polina Belova

COUNT IT ALL JOY: GRATITUDE IN THE HARD SEASONS OF LIFE

The heaviness of our heartbreak hung in the air. We had dreams that didn't seem possible, and our hopes were starting to die Everything within us was focused on surviving and not thriving. We were sad, tired, and wondering if God would ever remember us in our pain. As I reflect on this time, I can see God's fingerprints. It was God who comforted us and God who mourned with us. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (NIV).

Jesus reminds us that in this world, we will have trouble We aren't promised that our lives will be filled with endless happiness, satisfaction, and prosperity; we're told we will face trouble. As we come into the season of thankfulness, perhaps you aren't feeling joyful. Perhaps you are within your own valley facing your own trials. There will be times in your life when you will experience heartbreak, sorrow, and pain; there will even be times when you wonder where God is in the mess.

Photoby: JohnMcCann

COUNT IT ALL JOY: GRATITUDE IN THE HARD SEASONS OF LIFE

James' letter in the Bible says, "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 NIV). If you're anything like me, this verse does not make you want to jump up and down with happiness

Photo by maxim tolchinskiye

I don't want to consider it pure joy when I face trials, and I don't want to experience pain even if it does produce perseverance However, as I look back, I see this verse coming to life within my own story. In my pain, God was present, and during that season, I grew closer to Him in ways that could only be produced by hardship. I needed to trust Him, trust in His goodness, and believe He was still at work within my story I needed to rely on Him, rely on Him to sustain me and give me strength when I did not have the perseverance to keep going. I needed to be comforted by Him, comforted by the one who loves us so deeply I won't disregard my pain, I was hurting, and the wound was deep, but I do count it all joy to have grown so close to God during that season. So how do we experience gratitude during the seasons where we are in the valley?

I needed to trust Him, trust in His goodness, and believe He was still at work within my story.

COUNT IT ALL JOY: GRATITUDE IN THE HARD SEASONS OF LIFE

First, we pray often We don't forget that God is with us, comforting us, and walking with us. God is our friend, and He loves us dearly; we can talk to Him about everything. God cares about the valley you are facing, and He is walking with you on your journey. Talk to Him. Tell Him your sorrow, your pain, and your hardship. Share with Him about your anger, fear, and frustrations. Being able to walk with a friend is a gift even during the hardest of times, and God is your friend

Secondly, lean into the community God has gifted you with. We were built to shoulder hardship together and to weather storms side by side. Who in your life loves Jesus and can walk faithfully with you? There is joy in getting to lean into each other's burdens and living life together as the body of Christ. Allow others in, it helps to have people praying for you, checking in on you, and crying alongside you Your local church community is the family God has given to you

Finally, practice thankfulness. Where has God been faithful in the past? Where is God within the mess? How is God leading you forward? Look for His fingerprints, they will be there because He is holding you. Each day look for one glimpse of God and thank Him for being close to you He loves you dearly

Even during the good times and bad, God is faithful, and so we can be grateful for His love, faithfulness, and presence. You, dear sister, are beloved by the King of Kings and He will never leave you or forsake you.

Jenna Josina

Follow Jenna at Here!

@jenjosina

Jenna is on the Pastoral team at her local church in Langley, BC Jenna and her husband have a son who is 6 weeks old and they’re learning about the joy that comes with parenthood Jenna enjoys blogging, paddle boarding, biking, and walks

Photo by JOhn McANN

PhotoBrookeCagle

THE PROMISED ANCHOR

By Hannah Rule

Are you desperately trying to tread water but are being crushed by massive waves? You aren’t alone.

A little bit about me: I’m a helper. I help my family, friends, coworkers, strangers, people in need, etc. This would be why I am starting my second career as a counsellor when I finish my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health degree at 35 next year.

I have this pull, this passion for walking next to others in their valleys and helping in any way I can.

The problem with this? Helping others is morphing my identity into a helper instead of a witness of what Jesus has done in my life, and burn out. Lots of burn out.

It has become really hard to help everyone I see when I have extra weights that I don’t usually carry around.

Photo nias nyaladae

THE PROMISED ANCHOR

I’m currently a full time graduate student, counselling intern, part time behavioural aide to foster children, newly married wife, daughter helping my mother through a difficult year, and a woman grieving the death of a man that became her second father. I’m holding a lot of weight, and I don’t think treading water is going to work anymore.

I need an anchor. Google gave me a great anchor definition that I never thought of before

/ anchor / a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.

Remember that feeling of treading water but can’t hold your head above the crashing waves?

Sometimes, the waves never stop coming and depending on how strong the waves are, you may never get solid footing. I looked for a solid foundation to plant my feet in my marriage, friends, hobbies, and small vacations

Unfortunately, these were not lasting foundations even though they helped for a brief moment. I needed to feel grounded.

Photo by joel muniz

Photo

We sang this song at church recently, Promises by Maverick City, and these lyrics stopped me in my tracks:

“I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground

My hope and firm foundation

He'll never let me down”

I got this clear picture in my head of a strong anchor holding a large ship in the raging sea. The waves hit the ship, but they did not overtake it. I realized I wasn’t looking for something to carry all the weight, I was looking for an anchor for my weary soul. I was then reminded of this scripture:

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV

Photo alexander mils

Hannah Rule

Follow Hannah at:

This got me thinking more about anchors. Did you know that anchors are not pretty? They are rusty, covered in seaweed, and banged up. They go through a lot to hold a ship steady But they’re strong, and they last That is the kind of solid foundation I need right now: one that can take the crashing waves of grief, anxiety, and sorrow and not break under pressure.

My anchor has not been Jesus, and I think that may be one of the reasons why I can’t find my footing. He is the firm foundation that will take on the waves and the muck to keep me grounded, but I have to trust in my Anchor.

Another week has started Are you being tossed around by the angry sea? Find your Anchor. Hold on for dear life. He’ll never let you down.

I am currently a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student working towards becoming a licensed counselor I received my Master’s of Divinity from Mercer University’s seminary school in 2020 and have worked and served in the church through youth ministry for over 14 years. I am an ordained minister and am currently a Family Coach and Behavioral Aide working with foster children at the Methodist Children’s Home. I live in Macon, GA with my husband of four years, Patrick, and we absolutely love being aunt and uncle to our three nieces and nephew I am excited to be writing more and hope God uses my words to reach those that need to know they are loved

Photo malik skydsgaard

He is the firm foundation that will take on the waves and the muck to keep me grounded, but I have to trust in my Anchor. Hannah Rule

Unfiltered Faith

By Jenny Warfield

In the midsts of the unknown or the seasons of change, we can still be thankful. Two years ago, in September of 2020, my husband was hit head on. The worst call I had ever received, but thankfully I heard my husband’s voice on the other end of that phone instead of an emergency responder His truck was so old that it didn’t have airbags, but he survived with only a broken tibia and fibula. I rushed to his side. Thankfully it was only a few minutes away from our house. It was hard for me to see him hurt, and it was heartbreaking to see him struggle with even ordinary things, both physically and emotionally. I carried all the weight of helping him physically and emotionally, along with everything else. I can’t imagine the sadness in God’s eyes when He sees His child get hurt.

He was out of work for about six months, and so was I It was a tough time for us both. At the time, we didn’t know how we were going to eat and pay our bills. Through the mighty grace of God, we had enough food, never paid any of our bills late, and never once used a credit card. Some people might not understand, and sometimes we reflect on it without full comprehension besides “but God.” We are forever grateful for that and the many times we have seen God work in our lives.

It was incredible to see the hands of God during that time in our lives and to see Him move through our time of trouble. I remember people messaging me on Instagram about how blessed they were to hear our story. As Christians, we rarely want to talk about our troubles, but I shared on Instagram and received messages about how our faith and gratitude blessed them Even when you are in the midst of a storm, God will bless it.

Photo by: sabina sturzun

UNFILTERED FAITH AND THANKFULNESS IN THE MUNDANE

Often we tend to overcomplicate the small and the simple. We do this in our Bible studies, with praying, in our homes, and even in our faith. Today, we can get too caught up in our homes looking like they came right out of an Instagram post and busy striving for it to be “Pinterest worthy.”

Have we lost sight of what genuinely matters inside of the home? Now, there’s nothing wrong with making your house cozy But it can go too far when we go crazy about the paint colour on the walls or the next trend for the fireplace. That is when we lose focus on the things we are thankful for.

It doesn’t matter what our house looks like if we don’t care about what fills the home The people inside and all those who enter, serving with love, and hospitality, are important. However, our number one goal should be to always strive to make sure our home is Christ filled. There cannot be peace if God isn’t in it. We all have gone through tough times, and even times, we have tried to do something without God in it Talk about some rough waters.

Photo by: gabby orcutt

Photoby:ClayBanks

UNFILTERED FAITH AND THANKFULNESS IN THE MUNDANE

Not every season we go through, and every trial we face will be smooth sailing. But there will be peace when we trust and rely on God to help us through.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” - Psalm

Think about a fresh apple pie baking in the house on a crisp fall morning the rays of the sunshine glow against the floor and your kitchen table. You can know just by the aroma that an apple pie is in the oven. It feels cozy and warm, right? To me, that is what God’s peace feels like The warmth from the morning sun rays and the aroma of a freshly baked apple pie on a fall day. It gives a sense of “home” not only in our house but in our hearts as well.

Photo By Ana Markovych

It is wonderful to do when I have the opportunity, but sometimes we need to dial it back and grab a Bible to dig into.

Often we can let society fill our minds with trends and slogans more than we have let the Word of God fill our minds. Reading the Bible and studying it thoroughly can be challenging; sometimes, it feels like a defeating task. For me, I realize I overcomplicate just reading the Word itself, and I thought I needed to spend hours digging deep into every word of scripture.

Prayer should be a daily thing for us as Christians, and with our to do lists, sometimes it feels like it gets swept under the rug. Finding time to write down my thoughts and prayer gives me more focus on actually praying. I need to put away all distractions and just take a few minutes to talk to God Some days the prayers can be nothing but sitting still in God’s presence, and other days the Lord hears your cry with your tears. Prayers don’t have to be a whole sermon. They just have to be from the heart.

UNFILTERED FAITH AND THANKFULNESS IN THE MUNDANE

We have to fully rely on God with every ounce of our being and have faith. There were times our faith wasn’t as big as the grand canyon, but small faith can still move mountains. Even in times of stress, God will make a way. We can still praise God for all we have through our mundane tasks daily in our homes, jobs, and family. Before, during, and after, we go through something that strengthens us.

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

We can be as thankful in the small as we can be thankful in the big. May we never stop praising Him through the blessings and through storms. God deserves our thankfulness, and we don’t deserve even a fraction of what we have.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18

I challenge you to reflect on what you’ve been through and what you have now, then give Him thanks for it all. Everything that we have, our home, our jobs, our money, our family, the list goes on.

JENNYWARFIELD

Follow Jenny at @jenniferdreamsss

I’m Jenny, married to my best friend for four years, and I’m a multi passionate creative/entrepreneur. From being an author of a Christian faith based book to being the founder of my faith filled and Jesus centered community, Servant hearted sisterhood I love being able to encourage women and to also serve my clients with all things social media and fulfilling my God given purpose through it all!

Photo by matthew hamilton

FINDING TIME TO WRITE DOWN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYER GIVES ME MORE FOCUS ON ACTUALLY PRAYING. I NEED TO PUT AWAY ALL DISTRACTIONS AND JUST TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK TO GOD.

DEAR SISTERS

Jenny Warfield

Photo By Sixteen Miles

V E R S E S

2 CORINTHIANS 4:15

A l l t h i s i s f o r y o u r b e n e f i t , s o t h a t t h e g r a c e t h a t i s r e a c h i n g m o r e a n d m o r e p e o p l e m a y c a u s e t h a n k s g i v i n g t o o v e r f l o w t o t h e g l o r y o f G o d

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

B e t h a n k f u l i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s , f o r t h i s i s G o d ’ s w i l l f o r y o u w h o b e l o n g t o C h r i s t J e s u s .

COLOSSIANS 2:6

S o t h e n , j u s t a s y o u r e c e i v e d C h r i s t J e s u s a s L o r d , c o n t i n u e t o l i v e i n h i m , s t r e n g t h e n e d i n t h e f a i t h a s y o u w e r e t a u g h t , a n d o v e r f l o w i n g w i t h t h a n k f u l n e s s .

T O H O L D O N T O 00102 3

GRATITUDE FOR GOD’S GREAT GIFT IN COMMUNITY

By Olivia Warner

Is the gift of God any less immeasurably great than this on any given day, even on the most difficult and distressing days of a Christian community?”

The question sank into the pit of my stomach. You know that place where conviction hits like a punch to the gut? It settled right there as I felt my heart being nudged by the Holy Spirit.

I was reading Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in search of some kind of tip or truth to pull me out of the funk I felt I was having in my relationships. On any given day, I was full of complaints and criticisms, and I had a laundry list of my unmet expectations and hurt I was harboring from feeling rejected and ignored by others. But reading Bonhoeffer’s words flipped the narrative in my head Suddenly, my bold pronouncements of where community was failing me quieted on my lips

While it was true that the people around me were imperfect, it was also true that any community I had was a gift from God.

I was lost in my relational wishlist and building a case for why I had been failed, and I felt entitled to gripe about it.

PhotoBenjaminRobynJespersen

Community wasn’t measuring up to my expectations, which frustrated me, leading to questions about what God was doing. Yet when I was confronted with the truth that any community is a blessing from Him, I was forced to reckon with my attitude.

I had experienced plenty of great days in Christian community, but I wasn’t ready to put the hard work in when the tough ones came. I just wanted life always to go smoothly and feel satisfying, with some kumbaya attitude making us all get along That’s not a healthy way to live, nor is it fair. If I wanted to keep score of how often others fell short, then I needed to track just as closely all the times they served and loved me well. Going further, I ought to have acknowledged my own sins and weaknesses that I brought to these relationships too

As long as I was unwilling to consider all that, I remained stuck in my point of view and trapped by my discontentment.

I was convicted because there wasn’t any sense of appreciation in my heart, even though I had to acknowledge God’s provision of community for me in many ways. Maybe it wasn’t always exactly what I wanted or expected, but He had come through plenty of times.

And as imperfect as my relationships seemed to me, if I was honest, I could admit I still had some support and encouragement from others.

Bonhoeffer challenged me to reflect on God’s gift to me and practice thankfulness I started making note of all the ways I had experienced positive community and thanked Him for what I had.

Photo by mitchell mccleary

I want to say that my whole perspective shifted immediately, and all my friendship woes were solved, but that wouldn’t be the whole truth The reality is that true heart transformation takes time and slow, intentional work But gratitude was the tool that helped me gradually chip away at my bitterness and begin to experience peace and joy.

The more I looked for the positives around me, the easier they were to see and the better I felt. While my whiny pity parties had felt good at the moment, they did little to help me in the long run Instead, they became a pattern of complaining that was hard to break and made me isolated from others

I was waiting for the next failure by someone else, and other’s actions completely dictated my whole outlook.

Gratitude helped me extend grace to others and have a more balanced view of my circumstances Complaining made me self righteous, impatient, and judgmental. Thankfulness helped me start to let go and recognize God’s hand at work, even in hard situations. I still struggle at times with a “this isn’t good enough” mindset, but I’m continuing to work on it.

Photo Omar Lopez

When I slip back into bemoaning my circumstances, I’m a bit quicker to shift my gaze and see the good. I keep returning to God asking for His help and trying to thank Him for even the smallest blessings. My attitude of gratitude is a work in progress, and maybe yours is too

We all wish relationships were easier, or we could wave a magic wand to make all conflict disappear. But that’s not our reality, and if we are readily accepting of community when it blesses us, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it the moment it’s complicated or inconvenient. It’s not easy, friend, but may we remind ourselves that God’s gift is no less immeasurably great today than on our best days in community and decide to praise Him no matter what

Olivia Warner

For more of Olivia's work follow:

@on acent

Olivia lives in Greenbelt, MD just outside DC with her husband Jimmy Much of her life revolves around writing or communicating in some capacity whether as a public health communications consultant at work, microblogger on Instagram, or chatty extrovert. She has a passion for serving in the local church and being a friend for people like you looking to grow in their faith If you’d like to connect and find support to love Jesus more during life’s transitions and challenges, you can find Olivia on Instagram @on.ascent.

PhotoByBrianaTozour

PhotoByNicolasJLeclercq

Marked By Gratitude

By Melissa Heerebout

Happy Birthday rang out. Between my husband, my kids, my family and friends, I felt so incredibly loved. Messages, social media posts, hand delivered flowers, gifts and my favourite strawberry rhubarb pie, I ate the whole thing,) were all loving and thoughtfully given to me I sat down to reflect on turning 42 and knew what I wanted most. I thought about the coming year and what it might hold for me. In my journal, I wrote that I wanted to be a woman marked by gratitude.

Being grateful changes perspectives. When I pause in the middle of a moment of complaining and choose to find something to be thankful for, it helps me process the moment that I am experiencing. I want to be a person who sees the gifts in my life and then passes that attitude on to others

PhotoByKristapsUngurs

Choosing gratefulness means choosing happiness

In Harvard Health they say: “The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. In some ways, gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals whether to other people, nature, or a higher power Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” (Harvard Health Article)

As believers we understand that we are connected to something larger. And so sometimes we can get stuck in the middle of messes. That’s when I need to flip my perspective and view my world through the Holy Spirit instead of through my problems.

A number of years ago I was struggling to see things at a distance. Over the years reading signs at the grocery store, the screen at church and even some road signs were becoming a bit fussy I finally booked an appointment with the optometrist.

" I N E E D T O V I E W M Y W O R L D T H R O U G H T H E H O L Y S P I R I T I N S T E A D O F T H R O U G H M Y P R O B L E M S .

Photo by: priscilla du preez

The first time I put on my new glasses, it was like I was seeing things in high definition. I was shocked at how well I could see. For years I had been used to squinting or making other adjustments, and all I needed was the new perspective that my glasses gave me. That’s what the Holy Spirit can do for us. It’s like a pair of glasses that help us see the world from a new perspective. We can ask the Holy Spirit to give us glasses of gratitude and the mindset to seek out thankfulness throughout our day.

These verses in 1 Thessalonians 5 are packed with practical applications of how to live out our journey.

15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.20 Don’t despise prophecies, 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

Photo by: priscilla du preez

a pastor, writer, public speaker, lover of Jesus, coffee and all things creative! She is the founder of Dear Sisters and loves supporting writers and inspiring others in their faith journey. She resides just outside Vancouver, BC, with her husband of 20 years and their three amazing kids!

Melissa Heerebout

Photo by: priscilla du preez

I want to be a woman marked by gratitude. Melissa Heerebout

Photo

IN THE MIDDLE

Have you ever experienced the strain of being "in the middle"? In the middle of "not yet," a season of unknowns, or just in the middle of a good ol' personal crisis?

I have.

I watched many of my close friends and family get married and have kids while I struggled in my dating life.

I felt fear and ache when someone close to me went missing

By Nina Burnet

I have felt my body struggle under an unknown diagnosis

I sang to my newborn daughter in the middle of the night, not knowing if she could actually hear me trying to comfort her.

We have all experienced the undeniably intense strain of being in the middle, stretched like rubber bands, feeling like we are about to fling out of God's hands into the abyss. Or maybe just feeling like we are going to snap altogether.

photo by Derek Thompson

For years I would pray through these situations, asking God to fix them and asking Him to give me relief and ease the tension, asking Him to rescue me so I could finally relax and be fully present in my life.

In one such situation, after visiting the counsellor and feeling the need to process something, I headed to a nearby park to journal. I sat down and was instantly distracted by the tiny daisies that frequent the parks in the greater Vancouver area. I picked a few and rolled onto my back to feel the sun on my face. It was very bright, so I took my ballpoint pen and held it up, and for a moment, it blocked out the sun

A pen blocked out the sun.

Of course, it couldn't block the light out, but for a moment, I contemplated how something so tiny could cover up something so huge And I realized it's all about perspective. Life is so full of troubles, and if I held back living amid a stretching time, I would probably miss most of my life. And I would inevitably miss out on the good God had for me in the midst of it all.

THE MIDDLE...

When we find ourselves stretched in the in-between, it is so essential that we redirect our perspective off of the uncertainty and back on to the truth of who God is. If God never changes, then who He was in the midst of past struggles is who He is now and who He will continue to be: loving, faithful, present, kind, good, and so much more

Remembering this can give us the strength to survive the stretch. And choosing to be thankful for who He's been will increase your hope and joy so you can move towards thriving in the midst of it.

If you are new to your walk with Christ and don't have a long shared history with Him to look back on, I encourage you to seek out Godly sisters/mothers/aunts who can lend you their faith through their own experiences I would also encourage you to look at how God has been faithful to His people since the beginning of time (Joshua 21:45; Psalm 119:90; Hebrews 11; etc).

I don't know how you are being stretched today and I don't know what unimaginable pain you may be facing, but I pray that the Holy Spirit would bring just one memory to mind that would strengthen and realign your perspective on Christ

If you can, take a moment to do that right now.

Did a memory come to mind? If it did, write it on a piece of paper and tape it somewhere visible in your home.

Photo by Amanda Bear

In the Middle...

Now whenever you see it, I encourage you to thank Him for being with you. Praise & meditate on Him (see the song list on the next page if you want some inspiration)

Put your trust in Him again and again, and know, if there is a time where you step out of that hard situation, that He will be with you in the next one, and the one after that, until you see Him face to face.

Nina lives on a blueberry farm in beautiful BC with her husband, 1 year old daughter, and her crazy dog. She is a vocalist with a BA in music ministry who enjoys the fine art of Karaoke She spends most of her days recruiting for her family’s company and her nights relaxing at home

NinaBurnet

Photo by: jessica delp

Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of Earth

Will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace Helen Lemmel

Follow Nina at @ninaburnet

IN THE MIDDLE PLAYLIST

Faithful

Great

Praise

PHOTO BY LUIS ALBERTO SANCHEZ

When we find ourselves stretched in the in-between, it is so essential that we redirect our perspective off of the uncertainty and back on to the truth of who God is NinaBurnet

I woke up that morning off. Focused on me. Focused on my load and focused on my to do's, and my busting at the seams schedule I was concentrating on the hard, draining people that my path would cross and focused on measuring my strength, ability, reservoirs, resources, and energy against this monster day and falling short. Way, way, waaaaaaay, short.

The taunting question that sinisterly shouted at me in surround sound, "DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TODAY?" was quickly followed by a resounding, "NOT EVEN CLOSE "

G R A T I T U D E I N N E E D

BY COURTNEY MCEVER

Gratitude In Need

"Why am I so off, God?" I asked.

The answer came quick, "What if you're not?"

This answer felt almost offensive.

What if I'm not??? What about this anxious, frenzied, needy, inadequate ball of chaos that is me right now was NOT OFF?!

The response came quickly again, "Why does needing mean you are off?

Why does not having enough mean you are at fault? The hallmark of a Saint isn't piety. It's need."

Mic drop. God 1. My whiney excuses, complaints, and worries 0.

Need.

This word has a tremendously negative connotation in our culture, particularly for women. Listen, and you'll hear its overtones touch everything from our relationships to our emotions, bodies, business savvy, intelligence, domestic powerlessness, and fashion sense.

"She needs a lot of help. She's so needy.

She was an exceptionally needy child She needs too much from me

My ex girlfriend was annoyingly needy.

She needed extra time on her test.

She needs extra help with that dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

Please help her with her outfit. She needs to lose weight.

I had to step back from that friendship because she was too needy. Her needs overwhelmed me." She needs... It is never a compliment.

Photo by: marcel strauss

Dear sisters, we are conditioned by this message, and it sinks deeply into our souls, leaving a profound stain.

In the converse, not needing is seen as a hallmark of strength, skill, and resilience. It is something to be celebrated, eliciting admiration and awe

She did it all herself!

She designed it herself.

She watched a DIY video on YouTube and did it herself… fixed it herself…. went by herself….built it herself….ran it herself… decorated it herself…built the company herself…changed the tire herself…painted it herself

Applause. Praise. Approval. Validation. Esteem.

I acknowledge these attitudes didn't appear out of thin air. Yes, being a responsible, hardworking, emotionally healthy woman is wise. Yes, it is admirable to see abilities, talents, and gifts displayed. Still, the point here is to examine how these mindsets have stamped themselves on our perspective toward God.

Photo by bucography

We can all, on some level, talk about our needs concerning God, but under the surface, do we still secretly loathe our need? Do we really wish our need wasn't there? Does our need shame us? What if we start viewing our needs in Christ as a good thing, a positive, a bonus? Dare I say what if we had gratitude for our need?

GRATITUDE in need. Why we can:

NEED means I am a human. "The Spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4

NEED means God is God. "Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture " Psalm 100:3

NEED connects us to the mercy of Jesus "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Hebrews 2:17 18

NEED is the conduit through which the power of Christ flows through us "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2

Corinthians 12:9 10

Photo by:priscilla du preez

What if instead of cringing at our need, we embraced it with joy and hearts overflowing in praise?

What if we woke up each morning and proclaimed:

Jesus, thank you that I need today.

Jesus, thank you that my need connects me to you. Jesus, thank you that I need your peace Jesus, I need your energy. Jesus, I need your self control. Jesus, I need your protection. Jesus, thank you that I need your love for the unlovable. Jesus, thank you that I need your help to completely forgive Jesus, thank you that I need your perseverance. Jesus, thank you that I need your hope. Jesus, thank you that I need your freedom. Jesus, thank you that I need your healing. Jesus, thank you that I need your singlemindedness to only focus on the things you have for me. Jesus, thank you that I need your help. Jesus, thank you that I need your perseverance. Jesus, thank you that I need your kindness. Jesus, thank you that I need your patience Jesus, thank you that I need your confidence. Jesus, thank you that I need your grace. Jesus thank you that I need your poise. Jesus, thank you that I need your strength.

Photo by Ashlyn Ciara

Dear sisters, let us together hold hands, and instead of looking inside ourselves, at ourselves, around ourselves, behind ourselves, and ahead of ourselves, let us look up and, with spirits of gratitude and praise, "make music and sing…. ALL my fountains (sources, springs of life) are in YOU!" (Psalm 87:7)

Do you feel the freedom? Do you feel the divine ease? These things are ours in Christ. So praise Him for your need today and watch His power manifest through it.

Prayer: Jesus, give us gratitude in our need so that your power may rest on us. Please forgive us for our petty, small, self focused thinking. We long to live supernaturally unexplainable, Godsized, expansive lives that pour your grace, beauty, and power out into the world. Let gratitude in our need free us up to run towards the good things you have stored up for us Let gratitude for our needs grant us freedom that radiates and shines for you. Amen

Photo by cristina gottardi

CourtneyMcEver

Courtney McEver

What if instead of cringing at our need, we embraced it with joy and hearts overflowing in praise?

CHILD OF GOD

By Katie Nelson

Photo by sercan solmaz

It’s taken me a long time to confidently believe in God’s goodness. There’s a song by the band Cain that says, “On my best day, I’m a child of God, on my worst day, I’m a child of God… I’m so blessed.”

I’ve grown incredibly grateful that this is true I have experienced extremely difficult days, and I’ve had some amazing days. Life can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster taking sudden twists and turns yanking you one direction and then suddenly spinning you the other way. One day you have your hands thrown in the air with carefree abandon, and the next, you’re hanging on for dear life.

I became a Christian when I was 16, and as a young Christian, I had this overwhelming fear of being alone I fell in love with the idea that God would write an amazing love story for me. Then, it wasn’t happening. I saw friends dating, getting engaged in college, and then getting married right after. I felt like God had forgotten me.

I know that’s not a life or death situation, but I’ve been disappointed in the face of some of those challenges. A few years into my faith journey, I remember praying and praying for God to heal someone, only to have them pass away days later. My trust and faith in God were shaken. I experienced a deep depression after that. Was God not as good as I thought?

Even when I’ve doubted and questioned, He’s never let me go There have been times when I’ve been hanging by a thread. I’ve ignored His guidance and went my own way more than I’d like to admit. But, His love and devotion are strong.

H I S L O V E A N D D E V O T I O N A R E S T R O N G .

Martyn Lloyd Jones said, “This eternal everlasting God has become our Father, and the moment we realize that, everything tends to change. He is our Father, and He is always caring for us, He loves us with an everlasting love, He so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son into the world and to the Cross to die for our sins. That is our relationship to God and the moment we realize it, it transforms everything.”

I know that life isn’t going to get easier. There will always be ups and downs, joy and sorrow, gain and loss. But, I hope I will always rest in the fact that God is my Heavenly Father. The band Cain ends the song by singing, “It doesn’t matter about the rest. I’ve got you, Lord, hallelujah I’m blessed ” Sometimes I have to remind my heart of that truth, but it still stands. As a child of God, I’m so blessed. Thank you, Lord.

Katie knows that life is full of challenges, but she wants to remind readers that it is also full of joy, redemption, and grace When she's not writing, you can find her chasing after her energetic family, watching adorable dog videos, or drinking a chai latte

For more information about Katie's books, head to her website katies journal org or connect with her on Instagram @mustlove romcoms

Photo by: omar lopez

Katie Nelson

FormoreofKatie'sworkfollow:

Photo By Roland Denes

Even when I’ve doubted and Hquestioned, e ’ s never let me Kgo atie Nelson

FOSTERING A HEART OF THANKSGIVING

T

his month as a free gift to you, we would love to help you continue in your journey toward gratitude. We have a 48 page journal called "Fostering A Heart Of Thanksgiving" that will guide your increasing gratitude in your life

Throughout the journal, there are questions to reflect on and devotionals for you to read if you feel like you need to increase thankfulness in your life head over to our website and claim your copy of "Fostering A Heart Of Thanksgiving" today.

Free Gift!

Did you love This Issue Of Dear Sisters?

If you are interested in supporting Dear Sisters Magazine, you can order your own hard copy on Amazon! These beautiful bound copies are printed on premium paper They make an excellent gift, and the proceeds go towards the cost of running Dear Sisters.

Photo

Mateus Campos

DEAR SISTERS

e s u s + C o m m u n i t y