Tag: Hope

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Hold Still

Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash

I remember the moment vividly. It was an early summer morning and dad and I were working together outside, using a wheelbarrow to haul rocks and dirt.

All of a sudden, we heard a tremendous buzz. I looked up and the sky was filled with bees–thousands of them! They were flying together like a giant morphing blob in the sky.

Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash

Every instinct told me to run. But, sensing my fear, dad took my arm. “Hold still, son.” Sure enough, the bee swarm passed us by. It probably took a full minute for them to clear the sky!

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

According to bible scholars, King David wrote these words while under great personal and political stress. And things had been that way for years.😬

It’s hard to be still when your life is a constant chaotic mess. Pandemonium and peace don’t necessarily mix. But stillness–somehow, some way–is a better choice.

Can you picture David as a young shepherd, sitting on a hillside watching his father’s sheep? Maybe he played his harp there and sang songs to the Lord. Or did he just listen–to the wind, and the birds, and to God?

Today, may we find the courage to hold still a minute longer. To know God, no matter what comes swarming through our lives.

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.

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Christian Blog Christian Living

The Frozen Heart Softener

Photo by Irita Antonevica on Pexels.com
Photo by Irita Antonevica on Pexels.com

This past fall we had a water softener installed in our home. A plumber patched into the main water supply lines and routed new ones— through our attic—-down to a cylinder shaped tank in the garage.

Fast forward to this winter: something absolutely chilling happened.🧊 When the temperature dropped well below freezing, the water lines in our unheated loft began to ice up.

A frantic call to our plumber brought the following advice, “Let the water drip.” I did, and it worked! But on frigid days I now daydream about our water meter spinning like a pinwheel.😳

If I’m totally truthful with myself, I must acknowledge that my heart–before God–is sometimes like those vulnerable lines in the attic. Frankly, there have been a few glacial moments in life that almost turned me into a pouty popsicle.🥶

Thankfully, by the grace of God, I “let the water drip.” For me, this meant looking to Jesus, rather than fixating on my own navel (Hebrews 12:1-3). Was this easy peasy? In a word, NO.

But it sure beat freezing up completely! I’ve lived long enough to know there are few “cookie cutter” answers. However, I found one that makes all the difference: “God is love.”– 1 John 4:16b (NIV)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️

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Christian Blog Christian Living

When Little is Much

Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

Proverbs 15:16 (NIV)

I had a friend in grad school who came from a rather wealthy family. I’ll call him Howard, because, to middle class me, he may as well have been Howard Hughes. His parents had a cabin in the mountains and a cottage on the beach, plus a large home in a gated community. Yet my friend often spoke of his family’s unhappiness.

Howard’s father was a workaholic attorney. His mother was an alcoholic socialite. He and his three siblings lacked nothing, yet fought over everything. I’m talking knock down, drag out, hair pulling fights! Christmas at Howard’s house meant rooms full of presents but little love.

One such winter break, I invited my friend to spend part of the holiday with me at my parent’s modest home. Mom and dad were both teachers, so I wondered what Howard would think of our rather simple lifestyle. But he didn’t seem to mind.

When we took a side trip to my grandparent’s little farm, my well-heeled companion acted like he’d gone to heaven! As we walked along a tree-lined creek I commented, “Though we come from much different backgrounds, you’ve never looked down on me Howard.” “How could I?” he said. “You have the life I’ve always wanted.”

Kind reader, like me do you sometimes long for more? I was awed by Howard’s pedigree and family wealth, yet his heart ached for a life like mine–one filled with God’s love. Today, and every day, may we remember the secret of contentment in all circumstances: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”–Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Photo by Gary Fultz on Unsplash