Updated on December 4, 2014
Where Do You Place Your Hope This Advent?
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,
And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
– Isaiah 11:1-5
We’re halfway through this first week of Advent. This week as we do our best to focus on and hold to HOPE, the enemy seems ever more determined to rip any joy he can from our grasp.
To mar any light that begins to shine.
Take a deep breath with me mid-week, will you? I made this in hopes that you’ll join me in remembering what we’re the world was waiting for 2000 years ago. Where are you placing your Hope?
Lord Jesus, we await You now as they waited for You then. Thank You for being Hope in the flesh. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 30, 2014
When Rocks … Aren’t
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God… – Psalm 18:31
Have you ever seen those older movies and tv shows where the rocks are actually styrofoam? They look like a rock. Right shape, right color. Big huge boulders that a dozer couldn’t move… until the actor accidentally leans on one. Oops. Gave that away, didn’t it?
Life fools me like that pretty often, too. I think something is strong and sure and steady. Then I lean on it and it gives. Or I sit on it and it holds the indention of my derriere. It’s soft and light and insubstantial.
I forget, see. Do you?
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God…
Holy God, thank You for being a Rock for all of us. Thank You for never moving or changing or failing. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 25, 2014
My Praise
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
– Hebrews 13:15
Sometimes, especially during hectic weeks like these past few have been, it’s so hard not to focus on the things we can no longer do. It can be overwhelming.
This week especially, I am focusing on things I still can do. The most important is praise God. I can still praise God. It might not sound or look like it once did. I might find the imperfections. But God hears only beauty and joy and worship.
I offer Him worship through prayer, through reading His word, through encouraging others. But my favorite praise to offer is song. I’ve always loved to sing.
And so I offer this to you, my Dear Ones. In all it’s imperfect honesty. This is real and I pray that it blesses you.
What can you still offer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gzdyg61z40
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 November 23, 2014
How to Handle the Holiday When You Have Nothing Left to Give
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:16-17).
Thanks and Giving. Not the first two words that come to mind when you live a life with chronic illness, pain, and disability, is it?
For many of us, this season only heralds the beginning of the rush, the stress and the feelings of inadequacy that seem to loom larger as the year draws to a close.
God has been reminding me of three things that will remain true, no matter my feelings or the time of year. May I share them with you?
I hope you’ll hop on over to Rest Ministries to join us. <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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 21, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 11/23/14
Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. – 1 Timothy 4:13
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 November 21, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: Depression & Perspective
…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2
What is your focal point?
Keep Looking Up
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
Loading InLinkz ...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 November 19, 2014
Of Small Beginnings
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. – Zechariah 4:10
When a chronic diagnosis flies into your life, it sure does feel like starting over again. Square one. But not in a good way. Not at all.
It feels like you can only tiptoe one centimenter at a time, and not until you’ve been curled in a ball on the floor for at least 20 years. It feels… small. Hardly even worth the effort, especially when you have not a clue of where you’re going or how to get there.
Please remember today, whether you’re starting out fresh in this crazy journey or you’re starting over again in faith for the 5th time this year… or week… okay day… that God rejoices to see the work begin. You are laying the foundations of His temple.
Do not despise these small beginnings. Trust Him. Just begin.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. – Philippians 1:6
Heavenly Father, help us to begin, whether for the first time or the hundredth. Show us Your joy. Share a bit of your plan. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 18, 2014
The Truth About Love
Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. – Matthew 27:20
Sometimes I feel like that crowd. I’m so easily persuaded to believe a lie about my Savior. I’m so willing to sacrifice Him yet again. It grieves me, this fleshly weakness that I have.
The priest of pain whispers into my ear that Jesus has no idea how this feels. Surely He wouldn’t have expected me to be thankful in this circumstance.
The elder of grief sidles up and smiles and reassures me that it’s perfectly normal to lose faith in moments like this. Go ahead. Blaspheme.
The priest of self-pity slides his slimy arm around my shoulders. He looks me right in the eye, like he’s so concerned for my well-being. He oozes comfort as he poisons my mind toward the only One who truly cares.
I pray that today I will be more discerning in the voices to which I choose to listen. Because God is love. And love is what He wants for and from me.
And love…
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
May the truth win out in your heart today, too, dear one. May it always be heard.
Dear God, whisper more loudly than the enemy today. Make me bold enough to stand for the truth that You are Holy, You are loving, and You are here. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 17, 2014
The Place
I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells. – Psalm 26:8
I honor the stillness that echoes in these hallowed places
You’ve created in my soul
perfect measurements, fine materials
only the best for You
the silence heals and settles and beckons
May Your glorious light always shine through my windows
colored and stained
fired and redeemed
casting color and bringing life into stagnant places
dust motes dance through the warmth of these slices of your splendor
Let the padded pews and marble pathways
be always open and accessible not only to You but to your children
who share this world with me, if not this temple
when we meet here, let us find not only you
not only ourselves
but the best of each other
as we see with your eyes
Help us carry the merciful burden of this temple
into the dark
light as a feather
bright as a beacon
may we always stand in awe
that You, our God,
would choose to dwell in us
Holy Lord, reading the Old Testament scriptures with the details of your temple leaves me dumbfounded that those sacred and beautiful places were Your second choice. What You wanted all along was to live in me. Make me worthy. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on November 16, 2014
The “Other” Layer
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” – Romans 10:11
Guilt… sigh… it’s just another layer, isn’t it? As if this pain, this loss, this change, this discouragement is not enough in and of itself. The guilt piles on, and the weight it adds is suffocating.
I wanted always to be the kind of wife that was attractive to my husband, who kept the home and made it a retreat for him to step into each evening. I wanted our free time to be filled with fun and laughs and adventures.
I wanted always to be the kind of mommy that dances while she cleans, who was known by name at her children’s school and was available as chauffeur and cheerleader as they grew. I wanted our time together to be something that carried them through the rough times and brings us out of the other end stronger and closer.
I wanted always to be the kind of daughter that her parents can be proud of, who is eager to come and to give and to share. I wanted to take care of my parents the way they had always taken care of me, relishing that role reversal as we both got older.
I wanted always to be the kind of sister who could stand as a rock and a shield for her baby sister, who would be there in a blink and bring more laughter than clean underwear with her. I wanted to never hurt, only heal, and to prove that sisters are the best of friends.
I wanted always to be the kind of friend who is raring to go at a moment’s notice, who answers on the first ring and never waits to be asked for help. I wanted to gain friendships and strengthen old ones as we walked into the future together, ever widening our circle of love.
I wanted always to be the kind of Christian who is there when the doors are open, who is the first to volunteer and the last to go home again. I wanted to lead and follow and submit and stand strong.
Some days the weight of all that is lost is stifling.
But do you know what’s really changed since these old photos were taken? Not a single thing. Not a single true thing.
The dross has all been burned away. The paths I thought would get me to the destination are overgrown with brambles, all but invisible now, but I’m realizing that wasn’t the right path after all. Those were just useless distraction paths.
Oh sure, my hair is shorter now and my smile is a bit crooked. I have at least one more chin, maybe more (I try not to look too closely). But that’s still me. A better me. A slower and more compassionate and less distracted and busy me. A me who is learning that relationships are not based on what I can do for people. They are based on who we are and the connections we make. They’re so much deeper than I realized.
I wanted to remind you today that you are the same, too. Don’t believe the guilt and the lies that the enemy will try to pile on you. Let the dross burn away. Don’t be afraid to stand naked without it. You are beautiful and wonderful, just as you are. And you are oh-so-loved.
Heavenly Father, touch each heart reading this today. Please show them their value and their importance right now. Please show me, too, because I forget so quickly. 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.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
