Today we are in the season the church calls Advent. One of the best definitions of Advent I know is “anticipation”. It is something we are looking forward to that has yet to happen!

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, God’s Son! We anticipate celebrating him on Christmas Day. But the promise of God’s of sending him to earth as a baby has already been fulfilled. That is what we celebrate each Christmas! But we continue to anticipate his return! 

The practice of Advent today is more of a remembering of God’s faithfulness of his past promises, which encourages us in our faith as we trust him to fulfill the rest of his promises. The practice of remembering and celebrating Advent every Christmas season is one of the best ways to keep Hope shining brightly in our hearts!

Today I focus on one of my Bible heroines: Mary the mother of Jesus. Scholars surmise that Mary would have been around 14 or 15 years old, but could have been as young as 12. Regardless of her age, her faith in God emulates a much more mature age as she embraces God’s plan for her life with open arms!

Now you might readily agree with me that Mary is an incredible heroine. But you may be surprised that the reason she is my favorite heroine is not because she birthed the Son of God. Yes, of course as a mother of a son, I cherish this aspect of Mary’s life with high esteem. She was chosen to be the mother of our Savior. With that came all the joys of being a mom of a son, but also, all the heartache.

I remember watching my son play football. As the starting quarterback from his Freshman year to his senior year, he was the only quarterback. To say he had a target on his back would have been an understatement!  It would not take the smartest coach in the league to figure out that the way to beat our team would be to take out our quarterback. As his mother, this was not easy to watch. It increased my stress level every game day. However, it also increased my prayer life. There were hard hits and a few scary moments, but all in all God protected my boy.

For Mary, this reality was not true. Her son would be mocked, scorned, beaten and killed. And she would watch it all. This truly does make her a hero!

But the reason she is my favorite heroine goes back to her visit with Angel Gabriel. At her very young age, an angelic being burst into her reality and spoke God’s truth for her life to her.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 28

As I imagine this scene unfolding, all I could think of is how frightened I would be. Alone, young, vulnerable, inexperienced, and the list goes on. Her reaction to the messenger of God is awe-inspiring.

 “I am the Lord‘s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.“ 

Luke 1:38

Mary is my favorite heroine of the Bible because I want to have her faith and her trust. I want to have to quick, clear, and concise response to God, trusting Him wholeheartedly without reserve, regardless of my life’s season, situation, or standing!

Because of Mary’s undaunted, faithful character, Christ our Savior was born in a manger. And we can not only anticipate Christmas, we can also anticipate his glorious return!

Until then, may I strive to have undaunted faith like Mary!

Truth Bomb

Mary’s example is to have a quick “Yes” in our heart to God!

Speak Truth Love

This statement is truly an oxymoron! Yet, I believe it’s the way most of us live our lives.

We rush and hurry, we fret and worry, we scoot and scurry only to WAIT! 
We plan, and prepare, we plot and purchase, all in hopes to make everything work out just right!

The harder we push and the faster we go, the more we find ourselves less in control. The oxymoron seems to live itself out, and we find ourselves in the middle of “THE WAIT!”

Waiting in traffic, waiting in line, waiting for the delivery, waiting for others to show up when they are supposed to, waiting for healed relationships, waiting for answered prayers. 

WAITING, WAITING, WAITING, no matter how we try to avoid it, we find ourselves in “THE WAIT!”

Waiting is nothing new to God’s people! The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, spoke of the coming and long awaited Messiah! The people were waiting with incredible anticipation! He would save them from harsh rule, he would break their oppression, he would be their savior and their king.

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord, you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says The Lord of heaven’s armies.”

Malachi 3:1

They waited and they waited and they waited. For 400 years, they waited!

God never foretold how long the wait would be. The people waited and clung to God‘s promise! Many would not see the promise fulfilled in their lifetime. But they held to the hope and waited!

As we enter this season of advent, the season of anticipation and waiting, my prayer is that we would not “hurry up and wait,” but that we would slow down and wait.

Wait and see what God will do. Wait and see what answers to prayer He will give.  Wait and see what relationships He will heal. Wait and see what Hope He will give. 

“WAIT FOR THE LORD; be strong and take heart and WAIT FOR THE LORD.” Psalm 27:14

TRUTH BOMB

ADVENT IS A SEASON TO WAIT ON GOD IN GREAT ANTICIPATION OF WHAT HE WILL DO!

Speak Truth Love

Many years ago, a pastor I was not very fond of, asked me to identify my main gift from God in one phrase. Up until then, I would say when asked about my gifts that I had the gift of encouragement(that was always the first gift I listed because it was my favorite)…teaching, speaking, discernment, and always last, prophecy, because I didn’t like it and actually would deny I had it. My husband would continuously point out that I did have it. Leadership also would be among the list, but no one likes to admit they have that either.

That day, I was challenged to take a deep and honest look at myself and my life. How did I live? What were my tendencies? Who was I when no one else was looking? How did God use most in His kingdom service? How did I feel after I exercised any one of those gifts? And most importantly of all, how did I best love and bless my family and friends? Then I prayed! Please show me God who am I in your kingdom? Who have you truly made me to be? How am I best used for your glory? How can I be the best me you have made me to be? 

His answer was clear…

“SPEAK MY TRUTH IN LOVE!”

I did not argue with God this time, oh yes, I have foolishly argued with Him before, but this time I knew. I felt the answer come together so clearly from Him. It is not easy to speak His Truth, but I am able to when He fills me with His Spirit and gives me His strength, His wisdom and His words.

But the key is….

“Speaking His Truth in Love!”

His love, not my love!

My version of love is what feels good and what seems to be right according to my standard. God‘s version is loving, even when it hurts, costs you deeply, and you may receive nothing in return. God‘s love is sacrificial. It is selfless and always puts the other person before yourself.

God’s Love cost Him the cross!

What must God’s love cost me?

That pastor said many other words that I did not like or agree with, but the words he spoke that day challenged me to define my gift from God in a nutshell. And that has been life-changing. For that, I can be thankful to him.

As we approach the day of giving thanks, that our country set aside every fourth Thursday of November, you may find yourself in a personally hard place to Give Thanks.

Life may seem anything but thankful right now. I believe that the powerful Love of God, which took Jesus, the holy, perfect Son of God to a cross, held Him there, buried Him, and on the third day, raised Him from the dead, can also supply you with that same love to forgive, find the good in even the hardest and worst of situations and Give Thanks to our great God on this Thanksgiving day!

TRUTH BOMB

GIVE THANKS TO GOD EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD, HE IS WORTHY!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His faithful love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1

I am thankful for you, Friends! I am thankful for the relationship we can have, even over social media because of our great God’s love for us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Speak Truth Love

“Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!”

The words of this hymn kept running through my mind over and over and over again. As I cried out through the day, as I lay awake at night, seeking His face, these familiar words rang over and over again in my heart and mind…

Run to the foot of the cross, lay at His feet.  

He sees you, He knows you, He loves you! Every day He has given you everything, His very life, so that everything that you go through in this life, no matter how big, no matter how small, no matter how just or unjust, no matter how cruel, traumatic or harsh, Jesus knows it, has endured it and He has paid the price for it!

We can run to the foot of the cross.

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, no matter what you are going through, no matter what you are enduring, find your strength and comfort at the foot of the cross!

TRUTH BOMB

Find your true healing at the foot of the cross.

Speak Truth Love

Jesus is with you in the storm and with Him there is perfect Peace! Jesus is able to rest in the middle of the storm because He knows God is in control! 

God’s got you no matter what kind of storm you are in. When Jesus was on the lake with his followers, “a terrible storm, came up, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” And Jesus answered, “Why are you so afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.“ Matthew 8:24-26 

When we truly understand who Jesus is, we will know that He can calm whatever storm we are facing. Jesus can calm a storm in nature, and He can also calm the storm in our hearts! 

TRUTH BOMB

Jesus is with us and He is our PERFECT PEACE! 

Speak Truth Love

It finally feels like Fall!

I walked out of my Lifegroup last night and it was raining! The wind was whipping everything in sight around and my shacket was soaked by the time I ran to my car. Fall had arrived!

This morning the temperature had dropped and I actually wore a sweater to school! 

“Sweater Weather, Sweater Weather, Sweater Weather!”  Try saying that three times fast? You will be tripping over your tongue as you slow down and speed up.

But it will leave you laughing every time!

And Friends, sometimes I think the best thing we can do is laugh! 

Laughing doesn’t mean everything is great, but it does mean some things are!

Laughing also makes the natural endorphins God put in our bodies, surge, and we feel better.

I saw a short GIF today on two women repeating the words, “Sweater Weather, Sweater Weather, Sweater Weather,” over and over and over again! I could not stop watching it. It made me laugh until I cried! I really needed it! My endorphins kicked in and my day got brighter!

What makes you laugh?

What makes you smile?

What makes your heart lighter when the weight of the world seeps in?

Remember what the Word of God says:

“A MERRY HEART IS GOOD LIKE MEDICINE!” Proverbs 17:22

So, instead of following your doctors orders, follow your Lord God’s orders and LAUGH!

TRUTH BOMB

A CHEERFUL HEART IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

Laughter truly can be the best medicine!

HAPPY FALL FRIENDS!

Speak Truth Love

He is my refuge and He is my strength, no matter what I am going through!

Many people believe that I love to worship God because I am passionate! But the truth is, I crave worshiping God because He is my refuge and my strength! I run to Him no matter what is going on in my life. I lift up my hands, and I cry out in worship!

Much of the time my cries come through the beautiful and eloquently written words of others as they cry out to God. Sometimes my worship is inaudible, as my spirit cries out to Him from deep inside my soul! At times, my worship is loud, as I stand in the middle of a crowd with my hands raised high and repeat the words over and over again as my soul cries out for strength! 

Worship is my lifeline! I am in good company! 

David cried out in worship to God as he was being stalked by Saul. Saul sent his men out to hunt David down and kill him!  In the midst of his stress and pain, David cried out, “My God is my rock, and whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior.” 2 Samuel 22:3

Paul and Silas also cried out to God as they were imprisoned and chained to the ground in a filthy jail. They joined in worship of their refuge and their strength in the most desperate time of trouble…

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

I cry out to my great God to be my refuge and my strength as I go through desperate times of trouble!
He is my light in the darkness! He is the truth among the lies! He is my Rescuer and my Redeemer! He is my refuge and my strength!

TRUTH BOMB

When I am desperate, God is my refuge, and when I am weak, He is my strength!

Speak Truth Love

“Sing to The Lord a New Song”

“His Mercies are new every morning”

Do you remember the words to that song…

“Sing, Sing a song, Sing out loud, Sing out strong…

Don’t worry if you’re not good enough for anyone else to hear…

JUST SING, SING A SONG!

Maybe you are too young to remember this tune, but regardless, the sentiment is timeless!

I have been “singing“ a song to God now for over three months(It’s actually been the same tune for 5 years)!

I have sung out praises, requests, pleas, and everything in between! My voice has been strong and my voice has been strained. My voice has been loud and my voice has been quieter than a whisper. But through it all I have kept singing!

Oh, I wanted to stop. I wanted to give up! I wanted to SCREAM instead of sing. But every time I got close to giving up, that sweet, soft, but firm, melodic voice came through!

“You are not alone! I am with you! I have been faithful in the past! I will be faithful till the end!”

My God is Faithful!

He always has been!

He always will be!

The hard part is…

His timing is not mine!

But, HIS TIMING IS PERFECT!

So as I wait…I must keep singing!

My favorite part of the song I was quoting earlier is the ending…

 It simply goes,

Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana, Nana Nana!

Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana Nana, Nana Nana!

The words don’t matter.

Just keeps singing!

Our faithful God will always answer and His answer, and His timing will always be perfect!

TRUTH BOMB

IN THE WAITING…KEEP ON SINGING,GOD IS FAITHFUL!

Speak Truth Love

TRUTH BOMB

GOD’S DAY IS EVERYDAY WHEN WE COMMIT OUR DAY TO HIM!

I have missed you, Friends! I know it’s only been a week…But are you with me when I say, “Sometimes, a week can feel like a year?“ I’ve had one of those weeks! In fact, I’ve had one of those weeks…Followed by another one of those weeks…Followed by another one of those weeks…You get the picture!

But at any point throughout any of those weeks, has God been any of the less near to me? Has God been any the less powerful? Has God been any the less present? The answer to all of those questions is no, no, and no!

God is near to us, God is all powerful, and God is infinitely present with us at all times! The key is, we have to set our minds on him every morning of every day and ask him to be in our day!

When we do this, Friends, He is faithful!

I was blessed with a God-fearing Grandma that taught me to get out of bed, set my feet firmly on the ground every morning, and say,“This is the day The Lord has made,

I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!”

Each and every day, no matter what we are facing, no matter whether we see the answers we desire from God or not,

GOD HAS GOT US AND IT’S “GOD’S DAY!” All we have to do is give it to HIM!

So, please forgive me, Friends for my absence last week, when I allowed myself to get overwhelmed, and I lacked the margin to write one more word.

This week, and every week I commit myself to make it “GOD’S DAY,” and remember that…

HE’S GOT ME!

I love you all! I pray for all of you! May this be a day that you feel God in it from beginning to end!

“This is the day that the Lord has made;

    let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

Speak Truth Love

You have a tool belt given to you by God!

When you fill it with the tools God gives you to both Thrive and Survive, you have God-given power to wield to accomplish both!

LOVE is the greatest tool from God in your tool belt!

This week I was reminded in two powerful ways that God’s love is both simple and powerful!

First way I was reminded was after receiving very difficult news about my mom’s tragic illness of Alzheimer’s. 

Not only is it progressing, which it is, it is progressing rapidly! As I watch her mind and body deteriorate, my heart breaks with each progression. Last Wednesday my heart could not sustain anymore.

I broke down BIG TIME!

My broken heart could take no more. I cried out to God loud and strong!

He heard my cry!

He reminded me that He holds my mom in the palm of His hand. He cares for her, holds her tight and wraps His tender arms around her so she is never alone!

He reminded me gently by bringing to mind this song that she repeats over and over and over again, even though her mind cannot remember the ones she loves the most!

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”

These simple but powerful words demonstrate God’s great love for her, for me and for you!

God’s LOVE is greater than any disease, loss, pain, grief, or trial that we go through!

God’s love helps me rise above my circumstances and survive!

And then, in the most tender of ways, God gently reminded me that He not only loves me so that I can survive, He loves me so that I can thrive!

Last night I was putting my two youngest grandchildren down to sleep. I was reading them books and cuddling with them both! After we said prayers, I said what song do you want to sing…

They both shouted out,

“JESUS LOVES ME!”

My heart was swelled overflowing, as God had gently reminded me my love is sufficient for you! I love you, no matter what! I can both survive and thrive because of the true and pure love of God!

TRUTH BOMB

JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW!

Speak Truth Love