Updated on March 27, 2015
Sunday Scripture: 3/29/15
Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
– Psalm 10:17
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 27, 2015
Recommendation Saturday: Hope for the Hard Days
Hope for the Hard Days: A 30 Day Devotional for the Tired and Weary
From Rachel, the author:
It is here! I am so excited to share Hope for the Hard Days with all of you. God has given me much encouragement and comfort through His Word, and I want to pass on that encouragement and comfort to you. I pray that you will not despair when the hard days come, but that you will cling to the hope found in Christ.
I live with a chronic illness, and there are days when I am spiritually weary from the fight and need to be reminded of the hope I have in the Lord. Some of the devotions in this book were written on the days when I struggled to cling to hope. I wrote the words that I needed to hear on those hard days. Perhaps they are the words you need to hear too.
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I had a chance to review the book prior to it’s release. I can honestly tell you it is one of my favorite go-to books for the difficult moments. It’s a wonderful way to start each day, and it’s a perfect mid-day re-focus tool. The devotionals are filled with honesty, the sweetness of scripture and the hope that is so lacking in today’s world.
I hope you’ll download it. It’s free.
And it’s bound to bless you.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. – Romans 5:4
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog and then simply click on the “Add your link” button below and enter your blog information.
Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button below, and place it on your website or post, so that others can find their way to our little Saturday community! You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag #recommendsat so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community is spreading our hope and love to others by visiting some of the other inspirational sites linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
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If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 26, 2015
What Did God Write About Your Life Today?
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).
The above verse assures us that each of our days were ordained and recorded before we were even on this earth. That thought amazes me. It’s very comforting to me to know that God isn’t surprised by the things that catch me off guard.
Before I was even breathing, God wrote about the moment my breath was taken away by news of rare chronic illness taking over my life. Did He write about my fear? Or how I turned immediately to run to Him?
I hope you’ll join me over at Rest Ministries,
to finish reading this post.
While you’re there, check out the wonderful support they offer to the chronically ill!
See you there. <3
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 25, 2015
Locust Here, Locust There, Locust, Locust Everywhere…
“Then I will make up to you for the years
That the swarming locust has eaten,
The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.” – Joel 2:25
The years that the swarming locust has eaten. Oh yes. How many for you? It’s coming up on 7 for me. Eaten. Consumed. Dare I say it? Pooped out. Yep, feeling those years have been digested and are gone.
The creeping locust. He’s the sneaky one, right? And creepy. He scares me. He hides in the dark and hops out right at the moment I’m feeling at all secure. His eyes bulge out and he makes that horrible noise that makes me squeal. He’s always around, but never in the same place twice.
The stripping locust. Sometimes I feel stripped completely bare. Exposed and raw and hurting. Then this guy comes around and finds something new to gnaw on, reminding me that I still had something to lose after all. And that nothing’s off the table.
The gnawing locust. He just sits in that one sore spot and keeps at it. He’s relentless and he draws blood and he has the stamina of the energizer bunny. He never tires of destroying and harming and wasting.
But God…
Our God…
He says that He will make up to us for these years. For this loss. For the devestation.
They’re no match for His goodness and generosity and great, great mercy.
I’m clinging to this promise today. Won’t you cling with me? His promises are true.
Holy One, continue to remind us that You are here and that You are greater. We know You are not blind or uncaring for our losses and suffering. Thank You for Your great love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 24, 2015
If Words Matter
Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. – 2 Peter 1:12-13
So there’s this script I seem to follow on the harder days. It’s not something that I consciously think about; I’ve been doing it so long that it’s habit. And it’s a bad one.
I’ve been more and more convicted lately that it’s time to replace the self-defeating words I say. Words matter, even the words you say to yourself. Maybe especially those.
I can think of nothing better to replace them with than the Word of Truth. Today I’m digging into Scripture to find a better way to process.
Here’s my top 5… maybe it’ll get you started.
I say, “I’m done!”
He says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
I say, “I can’t do this anymore.”
He says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
I say, “What have I done to deserve this?”
He says, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13
I say, “What good can I possibly do for others, when I cannot handle my own grief?”
He says, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:4
I say, “I hate this.”
He says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” – Hebrews 13:14
Which ones could you add?
Father in Heaven, You are glorious. Thank You for giving us so many of the right words, right at our fingertips. Help us to hide them in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 23, 2015
When Waiting Expectantly Involves Cringing
But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. – Micah 7:7
Oh, friends lately I’ve been feeling such anticipation. I think some of it has to do with the fact that we’ve just moved and have a new beginning. But the greater part of it feels like it’s coming from a peaceful, expectant place inside… maybe the Holy Spirit?
So I’d say I’m about 75% hopeful and expectant, and about 25% cringing. Do you know what I mean?
When you deal with the constant discouragement of disability, you learn to tamper your hope. When you go through letdown after letdown, you begin to raise your expectations a little…. lower.
Maybe it’s just me.
I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean, a good day is surely a fluke, right? Or some shot of adrenaline that’s bound to wear off before I can begin to enjoy it. I surely don’t ever dare to count on it. No, never.
The truth is I’m a big chicken. I don’t dare to hope 100% anymore, because I’ve been let down too many times. Too many new diagnoses, too much doubt and disdain from those who don’t understand, too much hard and cold and dark.
It’s a shame when we’re only comfortable in those situations. It’s sad that understanding people make us want to cry and cling to them, they are such a wonder and a blessing. It’s horrible when a believing doctor literally is one in a thousand. It’s ridiculous that hard and cold and dark are what we wrap ourselves in because they are familiar. Soft makes me distrustful. Warm makes me wary. Light causes me to shield my eyes.
It shouldn’t be this way.
He is the God of my salvation. Yours, too. He will hear us. He does.
So as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord. No more cringing. I won’t let the harsh realities of life dull my hope anymore. I’m coming out of the shadows and getting out the light to better recognize my blessings.
Anticipation… something is coming. And it’s going to be something wonderful.
Dear God, nudge me when You catch me bracing for the blow. I want to live free in Your Hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 20, 2015
Will Illness Separate Us From God If We Allow It?
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:31-34).
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (vs. 35).
What condition can then separate us from the care of Christ?
Shall pain or chronic illness or cancer or fear or financial hardship or the world’s doubt and disdain?
Click on over to Rest Ministries, where this post is featured, won’t you? See you there! <3
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 20, 2015
Sunday Scripture: 3/22/15
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
– Isaiah 26:3
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 20, 2015
Recommendation Saturday: I’m a Billboard
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
What message are you sending?
No matter who you are, you have an audience and a unique way to reach them.
It’s so beautiful, it’s gives me chills.
Tell the world, tell ’em…
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog and then simply click on the “Add your link” button below and enter your blog information.
Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button below, and place it on your website or post, so that others can find their way to our little Saturday community! You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag #recommendsat so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community is spreading our hope and love to others by visiting some of the other inspirational sites linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
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If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on March 19, 2015
My Most Recent Treasure
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ – Philippians 3:8
I got this in the mail last week. It is now one of my most treasured possessions. I keep it next to me on my table next to my recliner, and I read it every single day. It brings tears to my eyes when I look at it. I show it to visitors like a proud parent. I cannot explain to you what this simple scrawled note means to me.
See, it was written by a sister of my heart who was told she’d never write again. Who was told she’d never understand the language intricacies to relearn to read and write anyway. Much less hold a pen. She had a catastrophic stroke. She died. She had 6 more strokes in the following days after being revived. She wanted to give up. She missed heaven. She was broken.
This note has come to represent so much more to me than it seems on the surface.
It is proof that what is treasured is not the perfect and the worldly standard of beauty. It brings to light that what matters is not how much one can do or how well one can do it.
No, what matters is that we persevere. In some way, all of us who miss heaven every day pick up that pen and bite the tip of our tongue as we struggle to complete what once was a simple task. All of us stare the darkness in the face and stick our tongue out and our fingers in our ears at it.
We think we are less because we are different. We think we are lower because life is harder. We think no one would want what we have to offer, even if we manage to figure out what that is. We feel this way because we think our offerings are pitiful and therefore have such little value, if any at all.
But oh, I know for a fact after receiving this note in my mailbox that our offerings are even more precious to the recipients than they ever have been before. The reality is exactly the opposite of our perception.
So just in case you didn’t know, every single tiny challenge you meet matters. It ripples and delights and inspires.
Keep going. Keep making a difference. Trust the truth and block out the whispered lies.
Send out your best into the world and know, with certainty, that it will thrill.
Dear Lord, thank you for my precious friend whose love fills my heart up to bursting. Thank you for reassuring me through her that what I have to offer is still valuable, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
