Living Living
NEW! COFFEE TALK WITH NEW! COFFEE TALK WITH NEW! COFFEE TALK WITH
KATHY: HOPE IN THE DARKNESS
KATHY: HOPE IN THE DARKNESS
KATHY: HOPE IN THE DARKNESS
MY JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
MY JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
MY JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
Living Living
We believe vulnerability and hilarity We believe vulnerability and hilarity We believe vulnerability and hilarity go hand in hand. go hand in hand. go hand in hand.
We believe we need each other and We believe we need each other and We believe we need each other and there's no there's no there's no shame in sharing our stories. shame in sharing our stories. shame in sharing our stories.
We believe together in tragedy or triumph, We believe together in tragedy or triumph, We believe together in tragedy or triumph, we can remove the veil we hide behind and live in we can remove the veil we hide behind and live in we can remove the veil we hide behind and live in the freedom that God has given us. the freedom that God has given us. the freedom that God has given us.
When we deeply connect with other women, we
When we deeply connect with other women, we
When we deeply connect with other women, we discover that we are not alone in our journey. discover that we are not alone in our journey. discover that we are not alone in our journey. Through our shared experiences, we become Through our shared experiences, we become Through our shared experiences, we become stronger when we stand together in Christ. Living in stronger when we stand together in Christ. Living in stronger when we stand together in Christ. Living in the authenticity God has called and created us to live, the authenticity God has called and created us to live, the authenticity God has called and created us to live,
Unveiled. Unveiled. Unveiled.
Editor-in-Chief:
Tracee L. Padilla
Creative Design:
Tracee L. Padilla
Edwin F. Padilla
Content Editors:
Karen L. Haynes
Naomi Beck
Tricia Clark
Kathleen Knapp
Tracee Lee Padilla
Joy Wendling
Tiffany Snyder Thompson
Michelle A. Balts
Abigail Brown
Margarita Beck
Ashley Haynes
Cedrine Gordon Hosoda
We are starting something new in this edition! We've created Sections that will have relatable topics with featured regular and guest contributor's.
If you would like to be a contributor to Unveiled Living EMag, send us an email at unveiledsubmissions@gmail com for more information
Hands-on practical everyday tips, teaching creative play & resources for moms of all ages
Stories of life and how to learn to stand on the promises of who God says you are N E W S E C T I O N S
Children's stories wrapped around the word of God for interactive conversations with your kids
Devotional focused to help you pursue God with all your heart, soul & mind.
Feature guest writers sharing the deep hidden places of their story cultivating renewed hope for women going through seasons of difficulty with the gentle reminder we are never alone.
Life lessons enveloped through the lens of the writer inspiring us to wrap Jesus into our everyday life.
Taken from topics off her Podcast, Tracee focuses on motivating us to surround our lives with the very tools that God has given us in his written word by activating our faith to believe in God's promises.
Applicable life stories from older generations to help encourage and pass the torch of gained wisdom to us that helps us hold onto our faith in Christ
Homeschooling resources, tips, and wisdom nuggets, to help you in your teaching journey.
With hindsight always providing wisdom we wish we had, dive into real life stories revealing the lessons learned along the way to gain spiritual wisdom and growth.
Table
Table of Contents Table of Contents
of Contents by
Tiffany Snyder Thompson
Hope in the Darkness by Tracee L Padilla
What's in Your Box? by Kathleen
Knapp
Dare to Hope by Ashley Haynes Can I really teach my kids? by Margarita Beck Ever Present Help by Tricia Clark
Illusions by Joy Wendling How to Connect Your Kids to Jesus
Every Thought
Abigail Brown
by Cendrine Gordon Rosoda
More Band-Aid Slapped Promises by Michelle A Balts Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
theEditor theEditor theEditor
Thank you for grabbing an e-copy of Unveiled Living. This edition is dear to my heart as I have prayed, processed, networked and connected with many amazing women like you, to find the very inspiration and encouragement we all need in today's world for this fall edition.
I want you to know that every woman that has contributed in this E-Mag has a story to tell of what God has done in and through her. And for the very reason to let you know that you, my friend, are not alone. Even though our lives are lived separately, we all go through very similar battles. It is my hope and desire that these written stories lead you to grow in faith in who God is, the promises he has in store for your life, and hope knowing that He has grace planted in every place of your life.
There are some exciting new sections added to this E-Mag like Homeschooling ABC's, Kids Corner, The Laughing Mom, What I've Learned so Far, Glitter Wisdom, and more!
I pray you live inspired and shine brightly in this world because the Lord has removed the veils from our face to give us the freedom to be who He made us. From ashes to beauty living life unveiled. Let's dive in!
TraceeLeePadilla
Founder of Unveiled Living Ministries
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the v Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. I Corinthians 3:16-18 NIV
WITH TRACEE & FRIENDS WITH TRACEE & FRIENDS WITH TRACEE & FRIENDS
ILLUSIONS ILLUSIONS ILLUSIONS ILLUSIONS
by Tricia Clark
wondering who she was and how she had gotten here As I gazed at her, I realized how much she had endured The exhaustion, shame and brokenness expressed in her eyes revealed the hard life she had carried. As our eyes met, I became fully aware that I was staring at my very own reflection in the mirror.
I was the girl who had willingly permitted others to mentally and emotionally devalue herself In return, I had welcomed relationships that were built on a false sense of happiness This girl without boundaries had become a woman who embraced unhealthy relationships which led to a path of self-destruction.
I had developed a mode of survival that enabled me to feel accepted, but in the process gradually led to the loss of my very own identity I had the false hope that acceptance gave me value-the false illusion that by surrendering myself this was the way to gain acceptance, worth and approval, albeit a distorted one..
I alone held the power to protect my heart; but of this fact I was unaware. With each unhealthy relationship I surrendered more of myself, leading me to think that ‘I’ was the problem. I thought if only I could commit myself to trying harder, then my relationships would become what I longed to have-problem solved.
I was clueless to the fact that I
needed boundaries No one ever taught me there was such a thing So I unknowingly taught people how to treat me
My heart desperately needed reconstructive surgery rather than just putting salve on a chronic bleed And that's when Jesus stepped in, opened my heart, and began His best work in me
I wanted to feel
whole. Instead, the enemy reminded me I was broken.
As I became aware of how broken I had become, the healthy stages of my well-being began to take shape, leaving the enemy no choice other than to remind me of the baggage I still owned He was prepared with malicious lies ready to weigh me down again He spoke over me with these accusing words: "You know you are still nothing. They don't know who you are, but I do; you are worthless, and you don't have what it takes to measure up to these other girls. Don't forget all the things you've done You are not very likable because you are awkward and weird. People just put up with you to be nice "
Those are powerful and painful words to a girl, ripping at your core and leaving you with fresh wounds. How is it that the Enemy's voice rings so much louder than the voice of truth in our ears?
I wanted to feel whole Instead, the Enemy reminded me I was broken.
I wanted to be strong Instead, the Enemy reminded me I was weak. I wanted to have wisdom. Instead, the Enemy reminded me I was foolish.
These lies could have kept me in emotional bondage, feeling hopeless.
But God NEVER gave up on me! My mess was His glory:
He repaired my brokenness with His wholeness. He replaced my weakness with His strength
He restored my foolishness with His wisdom.
God is continually cleaning up my life. And though clean rooms quickly become cluttered, I have a much better safety plan set before it can become hazardous to my health-staying centered on Him as my voice of Truth!
Jesus had a lot of reconstruction to do in my heart and mind But this I know: I never want to move back to the place of shame, destruction and brokenness And I know myself--if I allow my mind to linger among the shadows of the past, that's where my heart and mind will surely follow!
One of the best scriptures I have recently clung to is Phillipians 4:8, which says, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-- dwell on these things." (HCSB)
If I have learned anything from my past, it's this: God shows Himself faithful! He makes himself known (sometimes in mysterious ways). He has always been with me, quietly healing deep wounds while soaking up the blood from my self-made gashes.
I am captivated by how the way-maker takes broken people and creates something beautiful of them. All he asks of us is to be willing to trust Him even when we don't understand
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB)
I still don't understand it all, but I have seen and felt his presence moving in my life. Goodness and mercy have been with me throughout my days, even when I was unaware.
I see you shaking your head because you get what I'm saying and are desperate for change! Hear me speak over you right now as you sit at the table with me-- Jesus wants to take you from broken to beautiful!
He never intended for you to figure out the hard places on your own; he made us to depend on him, and he's the only One who can clean your mess; so let's practice searching for Him in our messy and broken places
Maybe you (as I did for many years) have felt like a victim of 'less than,'
‘not enough,’ or the lie that you are incapable of changing your situation If that's where you are sitting at this moment, realize it is not the voice of God--it is the Enemy! He wants nothing more than to keep you defeated so you will stay put! And that's where he likes you
Over time I have developed spiritual muscles I have learned you are the only one who can take steps toward change in your situation by recognizing you have options They might be tough choices, but you always have a choice.
But! Jesus doesn't expect you to handle change without Him; I promise! He wants us to call on Him, and if we seek His face, He will show us what transformation looks like, but it will be up to you to take those steps.
I have finally gotten to a place where I am not draining my emotional tank by pouring out all of myself to satisfy someone else in unhealthy ways. I want to live consumed with how Jesus sees me: fully loved and beautifully created
Seeing myself beautiful and loved has been a struggle, maybe for you too? If so, I challenge you to ask God to show you things you've never noticed
about yourself before Write them out so you can read them back to yourself when doubt creeps in like a thief trying to steal the best of you.
Let Him show you dreams, hopes, and passions you long for. Then look for little pieces of Jesus filling in the empty places. Seek Him and you will find Him.
One last thing I want to share; if you are in the middle of a destructive battle with another, let me give you a name of a book that changed the direction of my life. The author is Leslie Vernick, and she wrote the book, “The Emotionally Destructive Relationship.” She also has YouTube videos, as well as a Facebook page
I hope this helps you in your journey to wellness It certainly did for me!
About the contributor:
Tricia has been pursuing the hearts of women to empower, equip, restore, and validate them. She does this by helping them recognize their value, worth, and identity in Christ - giving them strength to overcome their shame, fear, and defeat.
Tricia and her husband reside in Lakeland, Florida.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
Glitter Wisdom Glitter Wisdom Glitter Wisdom
A VERY PRESENT HELP in trouble
by Margarita Beck
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-3, 11 NIV
It had been a difficult pregnancy. I was too young to recognize the danger signals that had been flashing for several months. Somehow I thought that being pregnant was synonymous with being sick. The doctor could tell I was getting very large too fast, but he just kept remarking, "You must be eating like a horse!"
bed, but it was too late for precautions. Less than 24 hours later I went into labor. Over the phone the doctor encouraged me not to fret about an early delivery. As large as my abdomen was, the baby certainly would be big enough to survive.
At the hospital, after 14 hours of
Over the phone the doctor encouraged me not to freak about an early delivery. As as as my abdomen was, the baby certainly would big enough to survive.
On Thursday I went for a regular checkup. The doctor reprimanded me again for gaining too much weight. In six months I had gained 24 pounds. As I was about to leave his office, the doctor decided to check my blood pressure again.
labor at home, I got on the bed as the nurse instructed me and she began a listening session over my protruding abdomen. Finally she said, "You're going to have twins!" I could hardly believe it. I was so miserable at the time, though, that I
There was a lot of confusion in my room then, too. Nurses in and out. Mother caught part of one conversation, "She has toxemia." That didn't tell Mom anything. All she knew was that for the next ten hours I was delirious and getting worse as the hours went by.
Mom tried to reassure me all the while. Over and over she told me God was with me. I could depend on Him to help me. I heard her from time to time, but I had little faith in the truth of those words.
Saturday morning the doctor's voice broke through to me that.I had delivered two tiny boys. The joyous news filled my head. The doctor came to talk to me again when I was back in the room. What was it he said? Something about the smaller twin having difficulty breathing. Both twins had been put into incubators.
"No need for concern," I told myself as I drifted back to sleep. "The incubators will help them....no problem..." I slept most of the day. By suppertime I was awake, hungry, and anxious to see our sons. I walked the few steps to the nursery and beheld our firstborn sons. My arms ached to hold them, even to touch them, but their glass cages allowed me only to look at them.
"They're so darling," I exclaimed the nurse, "identical, and so dark!" The nurse avoided my eyes as she scurried me back to the room.
Jim waves as he passed my room. "I'm going down to see the babies. Be right back, Hon." I waited...and waited. My parents waited with me. When Jim came back, we were all puzzled. He came into my room sobbing, unable to utter a word.
A nurse came in at that moment. Little Jeff had just died. Little Jimmy was experiencing the same problem. We weren't to get our hopes up too high for him, either.
I looked at my Mom through my tears. My eyes glared, "Where is God now?" Two hours later the nurse came in again. I didn't cry this time. I wanted to. But there was only numbness and confusion.
"Why, God, why?"
A deep sleep enveloped me. For the rest of the night I didnt' have to think about the baby sons I never got to hold.
Sunday was agony for me, listening to the cries of the other babies. But again, I didn't cry. Maybe I was afraid if I did I would be consumed by the screams that were building up within me. I went home the next day. Immediately I gathered up all the baby things and I threw them to the back of the closet.
Again, I cried, "What did I do, God? Where were You when I needed You?" God seemed like a stranger to me, a far-away, unloving stranger. I knew He existed, but I
"God seemed like a stranger to me, a far-away, unloving stranger." really didnt' know Him at all. Mom tried to soften my hurt and to assure me that God really did care about my agony, but I wouldn't listen. How could a loving God take my babies?
For months my resentment and agony mounted. Neither Jim nor I wanted to see or hear any babies. I didn't' want to hold somebody else's baby or see a mother holding her own baby.
About eight months later we spent a weekend with Jim's parents. While we were in Lakeview we decided to look up some old friends from our courtship days. It was a warm summer evening. Jack and Laura greeted us on their front lawn. As we exchanged greetings, I became aware of a sickening realization. We didn't know that they had a baby. I now heard the baby's cries from inside the house.
We had just gotten there. We couldn't just leave. It was now or never. I steeled myself as I walked
determinedly into the house and followed the baby's cries to his room. Without hesitating I plunged into the bedroom, made my way to the baby's bed, picked him up and squeezed him to my chest.
A few sobs escaped me. The baby was startled into silence. It quiets my sobs, too, and I allowed the healing process to begin.
After that experience I forced myself to be with babies and to hold them. It was hard to do. I still hurt. For two years the bitterness and resentment lingered in my heart. But each time I held a baby the resentment toward God and each mother's baby grew less.
I began listening more closely to Mom's reassurance about God. One verse she shared with me was Psalms 107:43. "Who so is wise....shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." (KJV) "Who so is wise..." At 18, I certainly didn't feel very wise or understanding. The more Mom persisted in her assurances, however, the more I allowed her words to penetrate my heart. I still didn't understand why I wasn't allowed to keep my babies, but I began to see God differently.
In church one Sunday, when the twins would have been a little over two years old, the minister read from Lamentations 3:20-26. "For I can never forget these awful years...Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends...The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him. It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (TLB)
Hope. There was hope. God wanted me to wait for Him, for His salvation, to set me free. I didn't have to live in resentment. As the minister continued, I quietly surrendered my resentment and my life to God. God's love became a reality as I understood and accepted Christ's death on the cross for me.
Dear God, thank you for setting me free. I still don't understand. I still have questions, but I do know that you are "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (KJV)
Contributor: Margarita Beck lives in Nashville, TN with her husband of over 60 years.
a t h l e e n K a t h l e e n K a t h l e e n w w w . k a t h l e e n k n a p p w r i t e r . c o m
Hope Hope
by: kathleen knapp
I laid awake in the darkness, the numbers on my clock showing the hours as they passed. I huffed and rolled over, willing myself to sleep, knowing it would be a tiring day. There was so much to do but I couldn’t turn my brain off from worrying and fretting.
As I lay there staring at the ceiling, my mind whirred through my ‘to-do’ list. There were people to call, family appointments to make, both household and work obligations to be filled. My brain worried over the finances, health issues and family relationships. I began the downward spiral of ‘what ifs’ that often lead me to a dark place of fear, worry, and fatigue.
Do you ever have nights like this?
Do you lie awake with worry? Trying to solve your problems and coming up with scenarios which may never happen?
Do you make plans with back up plans and then alternate plans?
THE DICTIONARY DEFINES HOPE AS A "FEELING OF EXPECTATION AND DESIRE FOR A CERTAIN THING TO HAPPEN" OR "A FEELING OF TRUST "
I like to be organized and “in control” so that I can be on top of anything that happens in my career, my family, and my life. But life isn’t always like that, is it? Sometimes things happen outside of our control. A health crisis, a financial hardship, or a relationship challenge. Those worries can rob us of our peace and our joy.
As I turned over in bed again, I was reminded of my focus word for this year. Hope. The dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen” or “a feeling of trust”.
Just the day before, I had read the verse “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
I felt my body begin to relax and took a deep breath. I began to silently pray, thanking God that He is in control and to put my worries in His hands. With hope and trust I could relax and know that God is in control. I don’t have to worry, fret, or fear. Why do I always take my anxieties to God as a last resort instead of a first response?
I felt my body begin to relax and took a deep breath. I began to silently pray, thanking God that He is in control and to put my worries in His hands. With hope
and trust I could relax and know that God is in control. I don’t have to worry, fret, or fear. Why do I always take my anxieties to God as a last resort instead of a first response?
As I drifted off to sleep with that promise in my mind, I silently thanked God for the peace and joy that comes from knowing Him. I may not be able to control all the circumstances in my life, but I can rest and trust in the hope that He is in control. He knows the details of my life and has the best plan for my future. I just need to relax and let Him hold me in the palm of His hand while I fall into a perfect and peaceful sleep.
My hope is in you, Lord.
Contributor: Kathleen lives in western Canada with her husband She is the mother of 3 children; one son with autism still living at home; and one medically complex, non-verbal son now in heaven and a married daughter living abroad. She shares her heartfelt experiences as a parent raising and releasing children with special needs. Through her personal exper-iences she shows understanding and compassion for parents struggling, feeling isolated, and losing faith.
She is recently retired and enjoys new hobbies such as photog-raphy, painting, piano, line dancing and playing pickle ball.
From ashes to beauty.
God's
promise
BY CENDRINE GORDON HOSODA
n o m o r e
BAND-AID SLAPPED PROMISES
AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDINGTOHISPURPOSE ROMANS8:28
This promise has been one of my lifelines during my most painful losses. Engaging in this promise in my past has looked a little something like this:
Get hit with a painful betrayal, a devastating event, a deep loss. Quote the promise. Move on, trying to be about God’s business, doing all the right things as far as it depends on me.
That is how I grew up understanding this promise. It wasn’t until I started hearing people complaining about spiritual bypassing and slapping verses on problems like Band-Aids that I started digging deeper into how I might have been missing out on more depth to the promises of God.
As anyone who has children knows, a decent parent does not leave their little ones to tend to their own wounds, getting their own Band-Aids. I didn’t know that’s what I was doing to myself with God’s promises. Somehow I learned to grab those promises separated from the connected-relational parent God wanted to be for me.
This key verse is preceded by a passage in Romans 8 about us being God’s adopted children, calling Him ‘Abba, Daddy.’ It alerted me to a piece I had been missing.
I had been interacting with his promises as an independent, grown adult rather than from the place of being His child. How would I interact with his promise differently if I did it from the perspective of a small child of His as my loving and caring Dad?
I sensed God inviting me to engage in His promise in a new way, and that is: with Him, as opposed to being separate from Him. To do so he made me picture my own little toddler hurting herself on the playground. She would come running to me the moment she was hurt. She would tell me all about her hurt, I would hold her, rock her, let her cry. I would let her show me the wound and I would acknowledge the pain involved and that would be the sole thing happening at that specific moment in time. She would be recognized and seen. She would get heard. She would receive comfort. And even then, I would probably not reach for a Band-Aid yet. I might get some disinfectant and a wipe to clean her up first. Only after all that would I finally reach for a BandAid and gently place it on her.
IsensedGodinvitingmetoengagein
Hispromiseinanewway,andthatis: withHim,asopposedtobeingseparate fromHim.
God’s promises are not meant to be slapped on our pain like I had been doing. God’s promises are supposed to comfort and encourage, not cover up prematurely. I have gotten really careful about telling others in their struggle and pain that God will work it all out for good. After all, did Jesus tell Martha and Mary when they were in the depths of their pain over Lazarus’ death that they should not cry because he was going to work it all out for good? No, even though the Lord knew that that is exactly what He was going to do. Instead, He was just with them, crying too. This realization didn’t come to me for a long time. His promises are still true. But I recognize that
there is grace for compassion and empathy for the pain and the emotion of the moment. Snapping out of it does not need to be the first order of business. Taking time to validate the pain takes nothing away from the truth and potency of the promise that still stands.
When things go wrong, I hold off slapping that Band-Aid on right away. I give myself permission to be God’s little toddler. Even though in my logical, grownup self I know that God will work all things out for my good, I also know God knows when I am hurting and my first reaction is that I revert back to a childlike state where all that matters is the pain. He is not faulting me for feeling the pain and being temporarily not in line. He meets me there.
So I come to God with the thing that happened--the injustice, the pain, the loss. I tell Him all about how it feels. I feel safe to fully feel and express it as allencompassing and overwhelming, unafraid to be judged for being emotional. He has got me and is bigger than my temporarily limited perspective of things. When I am ger, the sadness, the g it feels, I then focus ks me. Maybe he sings ow He feels about me dge how painful it is. I needs washing out, I naturally I remember creative in making a game then, like He is ow He is turning this al for me, healing me m off, running back to pation to how I will n that situation, where anything good coming
Daily Application:
1. Write out a prayer of thanks for working things out even while you may not comprehend anything good in the making in that moment.
3.
Start to document in a journal the hard things you go through to the Lord with.
2. Occasionally return to these journal writings and ask the Lord to help you see if some good things have already come from these seasons of suffering or loss.
I have discovered some amazingly good things as I do this. And the best thing is, I feel those are happy ‘added in for good measure’ benefits. I believe God is still putting the finishing touches on many of our most painful circumstances. I know this, because I also remember another promise He has made: that He will far outdo whatever we can ask, think or imagine!
About the Contributor:
Cendrine is a Swiss native who has lived in the States for the past 25 years. She is a retired homeschool teacher to her two kids. She is embarking on a new adventure as a Life Consultant and writer.
She loves reading, enjoys cooking, has a passion for healthy living, and for deepening her walk with God. She also really enjoys her two cat fur babies who make any day better.
byJoyWendling
I grew up in Southern Virginia where church and Jesus were a part of the culture. From a very early age I knew stories and songs about Jesus and becauseIbelievedinJesusIfeltIwould gotoheavenoneday. Isaidthesinner’s prayerandwasbaptizedbecausebeing a Christian was just the ‘right’ thing to do.
Iwassecretlydrawntothelargeleather Bible that sat on a pedestal in my grandmother’sfamilyroom.Aroomonly used on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and when special guests came to visit. I knew there was something special aboutthatbook,butIdidn’tknowwhatit was.
I don’t remember anyone ever telling me not to touch it, but it was simply a feeling that I had--the way the Bible was displayed, the golden edges, the leather cover. It looked ‘holy’, but God didnotintendonitbeing‘untouchable.’
Onedefinitionof‘holy’”istobesetapart for a particular purpose. This Bible, whichIinheritedandnowsitsonashelf with many of my other Bibles, literally looked ‘set-apart’; that is, ‘set-apart’ fromdailylife. Mostofourfaithfeltthat way,‘set-apart’forSundays,holidays,or when we needed something. That kind offaithwasallIknew.
Finally, in college, I was introduced to a personal relationship with Christ. Not just this relationship with Him that means I get to go to heaven when I die, but a powerful life-changing, daily relationship with the Triune God. The One who created me, died and rose for me, and continues to pursue and guide me.
Honestly, I felt cheated. Oh, having a friend like Jesus could have changed so much of my early and teen years--the loneliness, the bullies, the feeling out of place. What would those years have looked like with a knowledge of and companionshipoftheRisenSavior?
HowcouldpeopleknowthatJesusloved me this much and not have told me as achildinawaythatmadesensetome? Howcouldadultslivingwithadeepand authentic walk with Jesus have forgotten to tell me in a way that mattered and changed things? The possibilities of living a daily life in the power of the Holy Spirit is something we shouldn’t keep from children we know andlove.
Now, I know that no one kept this secret on purpose, and I am sure that sweet Betty Wren, my favorite Sunday School teacher, and countless AWANA leaders triedtotellme,buttheysawmeforonly an hour every week. They didn’t have the relational leverage of my family or thesameamountoftimeandinfluence, andmyfamilydidn’tunderstandfaithin awaythatcompelledthemtoshareit.
Yet,thisfeelingofmissingoutonhaving Jesus as a bigger part of my childhood and teen years sparked my passion for family ministry: to help families feel encouraged and equipped to share Jesuswiththekiddosintheirhomes
Kids deserve to know and experience that God created them uniquely and with a purpose. God loves them incredibly. Jesus calls them ‘friends.’ The Holy Spirit is always with them and will help them when they ask. Kids deserve to hear this in their own language and in ways they can understand and process. THESE things canchangeakid’slife.
While it may seem intimidating and overwhelming,asifyouholdyourchild’s eternal destiny in your hands, rest assured, you don’t. God does! He loves your kids more than you can and He doesn’twantyoutofailatthisanymore thanyoudo.
The Holy Spirit is actively wooing your children to Himself. Your children will ultimately be responsible for choosing to follow Jesus, or not But, that doesn’t meanyouarewithoutresponsibility.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 lay out your parent responsibilities,anditissimple....
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NIV
Start with your own relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, in the power of theHolySpirit.
Our faith is vitally important. Not just for modeling to our kids what an active relationship with God looks like, but in order that we might have the fruit of the Spirit alive and working in our life. Giving us strength from the Lord, and the continualsanctificationthroughChrist'sworkonthecross.
OurfaithisnotjustapassivelovingofGod,butadailypursuitoflivingintothelife we have been called. It is where we get patience when another cup of milk is spilled, another kid gets pushed over, or another eye is rolled at us. Our walk is when we learn to discipline our kids like the Triune God disciplines us: with gentleness, wisdom, and consistency. It is where we and our hope is renewed eachmorning,dayafterday.
Share the Gospel with your kids. It's the incredible privilege we ' ve been given. Sometimes " go and make disciples" looks like simply leaving your bedroom and ministering to your family. Your kids are your mission field. If you have children, youareachildren'spastorwithorwithoutaseminarydegree!
Teaching our children about God and his Word won't happen over time. It gets repeated"againandagain,"justasitsaysinverse7 GodandHisWordgoeswith us whever we go. He doesn't just go in Spirit, but in conversation. Mamas, he has shownusthatouropportunitiestosharetheGoodNewswithourkidsisendless.
We can talk about Him at the breakfast table, in the carpool lane, at the grocery store, dropping them off at soccer practice, while playing dolls, and wrestling themintotheirshoes Whenwehugourchildrengoodmorningandwhenwekiss themgoodnight,Godisthereandaskingtobetalkedabout.
It is your kids learning to see Jesus in each of those moments with you that will preparethemtorecognizeHimwhenyouarenotwiththem.Itdoesn'ttakeaseminary trainedpastortoteachyourkidswhoJesusisandwhatitlooksliketowalkwithHim.
Ittakesawillingheart,prayer,andlisteningtotheHolySpirit.
You can do that, Mama!
AbouttheContributor:
Joy Wendling is a Parent Coach, Speaker, and Writer living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of 12 years and 5 daughters She equips and encourages Christian moms toplaymoreandparentbetteronherpodcast,PlayfullyFaithfulParenting.Youcanfind outmoreaboutherministryatcreatedtoplay.com.
A word from Tracee
HEART SOUL
MIND
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Mark 12:30
Pursuing the heart of God through His word.
I battle with thinking right thoughts about myself, God, and others, so much so, they've consumed my thoughtsforyears,like:
Theyhaveiteasier Iamnotenough Why does everything havetobesohard? Whyme?Whynow? IsGodenough? What's going to happen next? Is God even listening to myprayers? i'mnotagoodwriter. I'mnotagoodartist. I'mafake. I'mnotthatinspiring.
by Abigail Brown
H O L D I N G E V E R Y
C A P T I V E thought
Now looking at me you may think I k some of these houghts, though, eful, jealous, and . These thoughts nworthy, lacking and feeling y writing teacher ples, asked me if dered hiring a to help me with hesitant about it by the second herightdecision me retrain my thoughts. It has and there's still 22, I decided my uld be, capture. It one ' s possession
The verse that came to mind when I saw that word was 2 Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringingintocaptivityeverythoughtto theobedienceofChrist."
This verse doesn't say, "only ablebodied people bring every thought captive..." No, ma ' am or sir, it does not! I am not exempt from this command. The Lord desires me, a person with a disability, to become more like Him. Yes, I have stumbled and gotten stuck in my head countless time, feeding myself lies, this month even. It's going to be a daily battle with Satan and a dailysurrendertotheLord.
I'm so thankful that the Lord keeps molding and working in my life to makemewhatHedesiresmetobe.
ThispastJanuaryIwrotethisprayer.
ke into one ' s ntrolbyforce.
DearJesus,
IamnotfullypersuadedtoYou,butIdesiretobe.Iwantto believe.Iknowyouwillgivemethedesiresofmyheartand answermyprayersandthelongingsofmyheart.Iknow yourtimingisperfectandyourwaysarehigher.ButLord, teachmehowtowaitsolelyonyouandtrustinyourperfect timinginmylifeasasingleperson.Igiveyoumytime, relationships,futurehusband,futurehouse,finances,writingIgiveitall,Lord!Isurrenderall.Remindmetolookatthis everyday.CapturemyheartandmindthisyearinawayI've neverseen.Youknowmetomycore,howsinfulIam. Transformmeintowhatyouwantanddesiremetobe.Give meanewperspectiveandshowmewhattraitsIneedto workonmost.Iloveyou,Lord!
H O L D I N G E V E R Y
thought
has only been a few ad this prayer today, I e is transforming and ind. I am learning to s a precious and of God because he aluable part of the God.
d have a purpose in ,atthistime
d artist who creates aintings and products ood writer and am o hone my talent for pursued by God in everknowabout. going through this ealone.
of the many thoughts ncourage myself with e also found several songs to comfort me ays. Verses like Isaiah :14, and Psalm 73:25w.
C A P T I V E
Recently, while singing a particular hymn at church, "Teach Me Thy Way," I noticed the second verse which says, "When I am sad at heart, teach me thy way! When earthly joy departs, teach me thy way! In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, in failure or success,teachmethyway!"
As I was humming along, not really paying attention to any of the other verses, the Lord halted my thinking and brought times of loneliness in my mind. In those moments, He reminded me He is an ever-present Father when I have had it with my disability, dystonia, and I'm weary of everything. He is, in those moments, bringing songs to my mind that I've listened to that day. He is so faithful in those lonely moments when I think, "is this really what the rest of my life is going tolooklike?"
I honestly was so blessed that night during the song service that I really couldn't focus on anything else during theservicebutthatsecondverse.Iam so thankful the Lord used that verse to encouragemysoul..
I know there are many voices that take hold of our minds: social media,Netflix or any streaming outlet, podcasts, music, family, friends, church....The list could go on and on. Right now, for me, it's obsessing about how many likes and commentsIgetonmyblog and social media accounts But the Lord has been probing and prodding me to really look at my 'why' I write--period. All I can say is it is convicting and I am working through it. It's not easy. I can't get victory in my own strength. But with the Lord's help, teaching and stretching me, I am learning how to hold every thoughtcaptive.
Contributor: Abigail Brown lives in Stillwater, OK. She enjoys shopping an encouraging audio books. She is also an artist. She shares lessons from he Lord has taught her while living 25+ with a disability. She also sells reprod art and has created several notecard collections with her artwork on them
Looking over the past 40 years of my life, I thank God for his protection in many areas of my life. However, along the road I've been walking, I realized that I was keeping God tucked in a box; and in another 'box' I kept myself tucked away with the misconception that I was protecting myself.
Stuck inside that lie, I didn't even know what kinds of gifts God offered outside of his box that were available to me to use and offer back to Him.
At an early age my innocence was stolen from me creating an outlook on life that summed up like this: 'How could a good Heavenly Father do or allow this to happen to me?"
So, in return, I became emotionally vulnerable in friendships, or the lack thereof, no matter how hard I would try. I seemed to be stuck in a
fog of immaturity until the healing process with God began after many sleepless night pouring over God's Word, tears dropping onto the pages of now duct-taped Bible, with worship music blaring in the background.
My healing journey started off rocky. And all the while I would have the Bible in hand while cursing at the Lord for allowing such things to happen to the younger version of me. Why God? Why did this happen to me? Being taken advantage of,
not only sexually but mentally and emotionally, which carried into my adult years.
In those moments, I learned to begin thinking outside my 'box' and started thinking of what was in God's 'box.'. No longer was I confined, nor keeping God confined, as I learned to trust him with complete surrender and total abandonment.
When I was walking through my darkest season in 2012-2014, I had to learn to trust in God all over again after experiencing so much hurt, divorce and loss of my firstborn son. But, honestly speaking, this past May was my first loss since my healing process had begun years ago. My Granny passed away 92 years young. She was the only one in my family who never judged me, or at least she 'got me'; she understood me. She was a fighter, a prayer warrior and one that would take authority over any situation in her own battles and the battles of others. And from her, I continued growing spiritually seeing Jesus from her perspective.
Since her passing in May, I have found myself wanting to call her countless times; but yet I've found myself praying, "Lord, why is this so much easier for me to cope now than it was years ago? Not long ago my heart would have had a heavy weight pulling it down but I felt a new
strength within me. The sting didn't hurt as bad because I now knew WHO my Granny's trust was in; it was an unwavering trust and belief in her God and Savior.
In her final days, she and I would pray, love and worship together. In her weak but yet strong voice she would say, "Now Tiffany, please listen to what I am about to tell you....Don't do it like I did or give it all away." She would speak the promise to me that God will never leave me or forsake me. Granny's faith was BIG. She knew the meaning of digging into all that God had for her. You see, she was diagnosed with renal failure 3 plus years ago with only 6 months to live. It never phased her. It was like what the Dr. said, compared to what her Heavenly Father made available to her that were coming from two different boxes. One contained the diagnosis, the other was the Life Giver where nothing was impossible.
What great faith is that! The box of faith overflows into all our circumstances and doesn't define who we are. She believed outside her box.
At 40 years of age, I would like to know that I have that faith to overflow just like her, and not be defined and controlled by my circumstances--gleaning from His strength and not my own. The God we serve sees us right where we are and where we've been. While my journey has not been easy, steeped in pain while growing, trying to shut out the noise from this past decade, causing me to doubt at times, I'm holding onto hope. God knows my future and has given us the promise of hope. Through my tears and trembling, doubt and fears, no matter what, I will speak the powerful name of Jesus to break through the lies.
Life is just that, a 'box' in which we have broken out of the mold, generational curses, or addiction that have enslaved us. The true life comes by opening the 'box' of life through the power of God's word that contains the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. I believe this realization comes with a daily walk with our Creator. It is
a choice. As I look back on my life, seeing what I've walked through so far, I see how in each season I grew. Each 'box' in life offered me life or death. Still to this day, when I make decisions I ask myself, "Is this decision helping me or hurting me?" Some boxes I open have not brought life and through which I have learned 'instant gratification boxes' are NOT the answer. Jesus is.
My friend, whatever you may be facing today, open up the box of life that God is offering to you today. A box that is filled with joy, love, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and the big one I still need help with, which is 'self-control.' Galatians 5:22:23
Scripture Study:
Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 1:6; I Corinthians 13; I Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18
Contributor: Tiffany Snyder Thompson lives in Rockville, TN, just outside of Nashville. She is the mother of Salem, 12 years old. She loves to write, encourage, and spread joy everywhere she goes.
THINGS TO PUT IN YOUR BOX
HEART HEART TALK TALK with Tracee
Dare to Hope
In times of adversity and hardship, hope arises. If it weren't for facing these challenges, dare we say hope would be required? When we encapsulate the true meaning of the word and embed it into our daily life, it means we are choosing to place our confidence in God. To trust that He is able. But sometimes, defeat can come in like an unexpected flash flood and consume our minds with fear and apprehension, leading us to turn the other side of the coin speaking words of doubt, "Well, I hope I can get through this." Instead of, "I know I will get through this".
You've heard the saying before - how big is your God? This statement resonates daily by the very actions we live out, decisions we make, thoughts we think, words we speak. Crazy to think that we can speak life and death in one sentence alone. Butwedo.
One particular evening back in 2000 as I put my oldest son, Caleb, to bed, we would always say a prayer to the Lord. His father and I had just been commissioned to go to Ireland as missionaries. With that in mind, every night when we would pray I wouldalwaysasktheLordtoprovideusahomeinIrelandthatwasfullofhispeace and comfort.--one that would meet the needs of our family and be a home surrounded by God's love. Having been to Ireland on several missions trips, I knew thetypicalhomeusuallyonlyhad1bathroom/3bedroomssomyfaithandmyhope didn't see 'past' that but it was quite the opposite for my five-year-old. Every single time I would pray for our home he would add, "And Lord, let there be stairs to my very own bedroom." The first thing I wanted to do was gently tell him that wouldn't be possible. I didn't even know if a home like that would even be within our financial reach, let alone exist, on a missionaries' budget. But every time I would begin to tell Caleb to stop praying that way, the Holy Spirit would nudge me toremainsilent.SoIdid.
Night after night, my heart honestly broke hearing Caleb pray that prayer failing to see it could really happen. I didn't have hope to believe but he did. Instead, I was looking at it from a human perspective. But even then, I was careful to not quelch thefaithresonatingwithinhim.
The day arrived for us to move to Ireland, 17 suitcases, a 20' container of all our household goods heading that way, a 10 week old baby, a 4 year old daughter, and 6 year old son. Within a month we found our first home but it wasn't 'that' home. With a heating system that didn't work and a change in ministry focus, we moved to a home an hour and a half away in the brisk but beautiful seaside village of Greystone.AdmittingIwasworriedwhathomewe'dfindinthisupperscale
neighborhood with such a tight budget, a home appeared on the rentals section. I quickly called our agent who gave us a 'look' as they say in Ireland, the very next day. Upon arriving, I stood back in wonder. How could this adorable home fit our budget but yet it did! We went on the grand tour and as we went from room to room my pulse began to rise with excitement, already falling in love with the look and feel of it. As we went up to the second story, from the advertisement it said it was a 4 bedroom home. Once on the second floor landing, I realized that their were only 3 bedrooms. Quickly glancing over to my left before the agent led me into the master bedroom, my heart gasped at what I saw. Another set of stairs going to the 4thbedroom!
Rushing through the rooms, I had to get to that 3rd story. As I reached to the top of the stairs, a blue painted room with the most creative and fun layout stood before me with it's very own bathroom off to the left. It was almost as if the Lord put his tender hand on my chin and lifted it up to say, "I heard Caleb's prayer for his very own room with his own stairs...and I heard your prayer for a home that would be full of peace." Standing there in awe of the mighty God we live our lives for, he did truly hear the little prayer of a 5 year old boy. How I couldn't wait for Caleb to see hisnewroom!
Without a doubt, that home became a home of peace, and yes, Caleb was ecstatic too! Little did I know that in the months to come would begin the journey of some of the most difficult days ahead of us there in ministry. The peace the Lord brought in that home surrounded me. It wasn't until living there that I figured out the 'why' to when I would pray for a home with peace before we ever moved to Ireland. God knows all. I didn't have a clue what was coming ahead, but he did. This included Caleb as well. He needed a place of peace too. Before we moved to this new home and school for the kids, Caleb encountered such bullying at his first school for being an outsider that as we were pulling up to a McDonald's drive thru one day (yes, they are rare there but they do exist there), he said, "Mom, if this is life, I don't wanttoliveitanymore."
TheGodofhope,thelifterofourheads,knowstheverythingsweneed.
I don't know where you are today, and I don't know what hope you've lost but just like a little 5 year old boy praying for his very own stairs to his own bedroom...that same God is listening in to your hearts cry. Don't give up my friend. Dare to hope and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you. He IS the lifter of your head...yourshieldandfortress,forever.
HOMESCHOOL ABC'S
Homeschooling....
If in reading that statement you took a minute to pause and think about the answer, then let me tell you, you are already halfway there. As parents, our nature is to think and question if our choicesarethebest,ortowonderifwe are doing things ‘correctly,’ this is what makesustheBESTteachersforourkids. I have been a homeschool Mom for 10 yearsnowandIdonotbelievethereisa monththathasgoneby…wait,“Whoam Ikidding?”–thereisnotaweekthathas gone by that I do not ask myself this question in some form or another. This is what keeps me moving to find the curriculumthatworksforourkidsorour family situation; it is what keeps me setting new goals and continually reevaluating to make sure our family’s prioritiesareinline
byAshleyHaynes
Asintimidating
asthatquestionmaysound,IalsoknowthatI have a bigger God and through Him I can do ‘ALL things.’ I realize that I am not alone; I realize that God has blessed us with these children to ‘train them in the way that they should go’ and I find comfort and peace in knowingthatIamdoingwhatGodhascalled metobeasawifeandmother.
Homeschooling....
Now,ifyoureadthatandthinkthatyou do not have any school-aged children and this will not pertain to you, then let me assure you that it does We never know how God will use us. Maybe you havegrandchildren,nieces/nephews,or a co-worker with children We are in a spiritual battle and our children are being placed at the front of the battlefield with little armor to protect them! You have a chance to come alongside a family and be an encouragement. When I first started homeschooling, I would become nervous if someone asked me why my childrenwereoutofschool.Thisusually led to a multitude of questions about my qualifications or how can I be with mykidsALLdaylong.Mykidswereeven testedbyadultswantingtoaskthemto do a math problem or spell a word to see if we were actually teaching them. Butnow,sincetheworldhasbecomeso politicized and with school boards making decisions that make you question ‘why are my kids going here?’, the need for homeschooling is even more important And since the popularity of homeschooling has increased, I now seldom receive that response Instead,myfamilyismetwith wordsofencouragementandstoriesof their family or friends who are also homeschooling People are seeing the benefits and the freedoms That is where you can come in--to be an encouragement to a young mom and family and to let them know that they are a blessing through their trust and arehonoringGod.
But what if you read that headline and said, ‘um…no,never’?’Letmeencourageyou:Iwant to encourage you to see all of the moments that will be shared around a table learning together, seeing a lesson “click” after working on it so hard, finding out your kid’s strengths andinterests.Therearesomanyamazing
aspectstohomeschooling,butmybiggestis thefreedom Wehavethefreedomtogo outsidewhentheweatherisnice;wehavethe freedomtochooseacurriculumor curriculumsthatfitourkids’needs Wehave thefreedomtoschoolatnightifthatfitsour schedulebestandthefreedomtoworship andputGodfirstinallthatwedo Iwouldlove totellyouthatyoucan
Homeschooling....
do this and that you will never face adversaries, never have meltdowns, neverhavebaddays,andneverhidein thebathroomquestioningwhyonearth do we need algebra?? But you will and we do. But God…God is bigger than any of our hard days, He is bigger than our struggles and He sees and knows our hearts for our kids He will walk alongside you during this journey; He willbeatthecenterofyourday.Nothing is more amazing than that and being able to provide that daily life for your kidsandfamily.
If you are interested in starting and do not know where to begin or want to share information with that coworker, startbypraying PrayforGodtoprovide a way. Sometimes that comes by trustinginHimandseeinghowheworks outthedetailsasyougo PrayforHimto move through you and give you the strength and courage you need to withdraw your kids from public school. PrayforHimtospeakintoyourspouse’s heart if you have wanted to homeschool, but your husband does not PrayforGodtomakeaway
An amazing resource for those starting out and even those who are seasoned is the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA provides resources specific to your State along with additional resources to get you started.Theycoveramultitudeoftopics fromstartingout,tolawsandevenhelp in connecting you with groups Cathy Duffy is another excellent source of information. She has a website full of curriculumreviewssothatyoucanstart tofindwhatmayworkforyourfamilyat
wwwcathyduffyreviewscom-Onceyouknow what your State requirements are start searching for co-ops, or homeschooling groups in your area Homeschooling has grown and the opportunities available to homeschoolersarefullofpossibilities Co-Ops and homeschool groups can help you find those resources or classes available to you, plus give you a place to come back to for support and encouragement Just remember that there are 100’s of ways to homeschool andfindingwhatisbestforyourfamily,ISthe rightone
I pray that as we continue to explore homeschooling you will gain an understandingofthefreedom,flexibilityandgrowth that comes along with it I pray that you see Jesus in all that you do and know that in making this decision you are making Him a priorityandhonoringHim
“Therefore encourage one another and build oneanotherup,justasyouaredoing”
1Thessalonians5:11
AbouttheContributor:
Ashley Haynes is a wife of 11 years to her wonderful husband, and mother of 2 children, 9th grade and 8 years old Her youngest was born with a congenital heart defect that requiredopenheartsurgeryat5monthsold
Shehasbeenhomeschoolingfor10years She is thankful and constantly reminded of how much of a blessing homeschooling is for her family. God has laid Proverbs 22:6 on her hearts, "Train up a child in the way that it should go; even when he is old he will not departfromit."
She and her husband and 2 children live in NorthPort,Florida.
KIDS KORNER
with Michelle A. Balts
Small like a mustard seed. MIGHTY in God
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it
Proverbs 22:6 NLT
Alongtimeagotherewasatalethatwentsomethinglikethis....
Once upon a time in an enchanted forest there lived a damsel, that's a girl, called Little Red Riding Hood
As the story goes she wanted to see her grandmother to deliver some custard that her mother had made, but along the way she was met by a big bad wolf who asked her where she was going. Not knowing that it was unwise to listen to a wolf, she told him all that she was doing and the location of her grandmother's house
So Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf both set off in different directions to her grandmother's house The Wolf quickly arrived at Grandmother's house before she did, disguising his voice to Little Red Riding Hood.
Finally reaching her grandmother's house and tapping on the front door, Little Red Riding Hood heard the voice of the Wolf instead of her grandmother's. Startled, yet thinking that maybe her voice was just hoarse, she entered her grandmother's bedroom.
As she approached the bed she gasped and said, "Grandma, what big arms you have!" "The better to hug you, my dear." "What big legs you have!" "The better to run, my child." "What big ears you have!" "The better to hear you, my dear child." "What big eyes you have!" "The better to see you, my dear one." "What big teeth you have!" "The better to eat you up!"
At the end of the story we find the Wolf in bed disguised as the Grandmother waiting to make a meal of Little Red Riding Hood just as he had her grandmother. Sounds scary and not a pretty sight to imagine.
Contributor: Michelle A. Balts lives in Wisconsin with her husband of 22 years and their homeschooled daughter She is the sister of Tracee, friend, school teacher, lover of God and His Word She enjoys sewing, quilting, hand-stitching, drawing, painting, and walking on the beach
Did you know that we have an enemy who wants to eat us up, too? He's compared to another animal that prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. But our part is to be calm and alert because the adversary, the devil, is stalking around looking for someone to gobble up.
You may ask why we should pay attention to this adversary who's against us. Well, we have an enemy who is also called a thief. What does a thief do? He steals, right? One main thing to keep in mind when it comes to the devil is that he wants to completely destroy our lives which includes our relationships, our physical and emotional well-being, our provision, just to name a few things
Another thing to know about our adversary, the devil, is he disguises himself too, in different ways, hoping that we won't even know that he exists. He wants to catch us off guard by keeping us too busy with other things or he tries to trick us into believing lies about ourselves, our family, or friends.
But our Creator God hasn't left us on our own to try to figure things out for ourselves. God is love. And love never fails. So we really have nothing to fear because love casts out fear
So what do we do? First we can let God work His will in us and tell the devil to go and watch him run in terror. So say 'yes' to God and 'no' to the devil! It's really that simple.
This is your personalinvitation to the greatest party ever!
There's someone bigger and more powerful than a lion or a wolf. He is our Creator and Father of all in heaven and on the earth; Who so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
We each have to choose Him to be our Father God. We choose to believe that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins, and that Jesus was raised from the dead three days later.
So if you're ready, believe in your heart and say with your words, "Jesus, be my Lord. Take my life and do something with it."
The Power of Tears through Prayer
By Bob Perry
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest serving monarch, a beacon of stability through the decades of her long reign, I was reminded of how powerful tears are unto GOD.
There is plenty to cry in this season, whether from pain, disappointment, loss, sickness, or devastation. Yep, some of us have found this a weighty, burdensome time to be alive.
I have been on a discovery tour the last few years, exploring a new frontier: finding tears as a new way of entering into a different quality of communion with God.
I pray that this subject the next few Wednesdays will help you to acclimatize to the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits for crying before Abba Father God.
Tears are a natural response to stress, fear, and physical and emotional pain. Each one of us probably have experienced the natural response to suppress crying, due to fear that others will think we are being emotional. Or even the apprehension of feeling the emotional pain that you are not sure you want to feel.
Yet crying has many scientifically proven benefits.
Lord God, you displayed your sympathetic care for David. He wrote in Psalms that God noticed his misery.
King Jesus, you have kept track of my every toss and turn through the pain, through the loneliness and sleepless nights. You account for each tear entered in your ledger, each is written in your book of life. They are never wasted nor forgotten.
You have taken note of my journey through life, caught each of my tears in your bottle.
Heavenly Father, you have kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You have stored my many tears in your containers that hold liquids not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of life and remembrance.
Father, you remind me that with my eyes are on you with my tears being offered unto you that I can have faith in the midst of the fear and terror.
Sovereign King, I know this confidence in the midst of my pain, because I realize that it is true, that my God is for me! Even in my wanderings and difficulties, I know that you, O God, are not against me. I have confidence that God is for me and will rescue me.
In Christ’s love, amen.
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