Category Archives: Spiritual Encouragement

CORD=HOPE

Christ's rest, Discouraged Christian, Freedom in Christ, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , ,

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A cord, an attachment….

When you think of a cord, what comes to mind? Is it a telephone cord? (Then you are my age).  Could it be a computer cord? (You might be in your 30’s).  How about the cord to charge your iPhone? (You are much younger).

What do all these cords have in common?  What is their purpose?  What do each of them do?  They attach to something!  The telephone, the computer and the iPhone.  All are attached to the power source with a cord. Here is where it gets good.

“Find rest , O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.”  Psalm 62:5.  

The word “hope” in this verse is “tiquah”, which literally means “a cord, as an attachment.” (Strongs)  So our “CORD” or “HOPE” must be attached to GOD alone!  A cord is strong.  If we hang onto any thing else, it is like hanging on with a thin string.  

There seem to be so many people right now without “hope”.  They are “hopeless”.  But friends, if we have Jesus Christ, we have HOPE.  We are attached with a cord to HIM.

My song, or the song that the Father has used in my life for years is “In Christ Alone”.(Shawn Craig and Donald A. Koch, 1991) The words in that song have ministered to me in so many crisis in my life.  It would play on the radio at just the right time…always.  Micheal English,(http://www.michaelenglishmusic.com) my all time favorite artist, sings it best…

“In Christ alone will I glory …Though I could pride myself in battles won. For I’ve been blessed beyond measure and by His strength alone I’ll overcome. Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands, But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand.
[chorus]In Christ alone …I place my trust ..And find my glory in the power of the cross …In every victory …Let it be said of me …My source of strength, My source of hope ….Is Christ alone 
In Christ alone do I glory ..For only by His grace I am redeemed. For only His tender mercy, could reach beyond my weakness to my need.  And now I seek no greater honor in just to know Him more, and to count my gains but losses to the glory of my Lord!

Dear friends, our attachment is strong, our cord will hold.  Our HOPE is in Christ.

Blessings dear ones,

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

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*google image, Strongs, IN CHRIST ALONE lyrics by Shawn Craig and Don Koch)

The M and M World

Christianity, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, , , , , ,

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The M and M World!  Sounds like a candy title to me!!  

Mary and Martha actually….

I have never been much into housekeeping.  I did it because I had to do it.  I got no joy out of washing dishes, making beds, folding clothes, dusting….I know, I know…some moms take the time to pray during this time or get up at 4 a.m. to accomplish these chores.  Nope, not me.  I felt the need to “educate” my sons in these areas, so I would wait.  I am pretty sure I had a dust cloth in the eldest hand by the time he was 4!  Or was that 3?

I did have a friend that was just the opposite of me.  She always was buzzing around her house getting things done.  She was super organized, enjoyed housework and I would never catch her sitting down. She believed that no time should have ever been “wasted”, and activity was too important to ever relax.  Seriously, she wore me out.  

 But which one can you relate to?  Which Mom are you?  Are you constantly up doing something?  Do you have a hard time just sitting and being still?  Or is your life pretty balanced?

In Luke 10:40-41 Mary and Martha were dealing with very much the same issue. “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!’  ‘Martha, Martha’, the Lord replied, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'”

Sibling rivalry at its best!  And you are probably thinking…”Well if Jesus were visiting, of course I would sit and visit!” But do we now? That is a battle that we all face at one time or another.  Can we take time out of our busy schedules to sit at the feet of Jesus?  Do we have to learn to “Practice His Presence”?  Do we have to learn to be still?  I confess, I do.  In an age that is very goal oriented, we are all encouraged to be busy.

Jesus knew the importance of spending time with him.  Notice he did not tell Mary that what she was doing was wrong (there goes that Biblical excuse about not cleaning), it had to be done. But he did tell her not to be upset. Don’t get entangled in the things that can wait, those things that take you away from the foot of the Savior.

So our challenge is this…can we sit and be quiet and listen when we feel the “nudge” to do so?  Or do we put it off so we can finish up the vacuuming?  I have done that many times in my life…I have put the pressure on myself and I will miss that gentle “nudging” only to forget about it all together!

  I grow older, I would much rather be at HIS feet….and besides, my hubby has always preferred to do the housekeeping his way…so now I just let him… while I eat a few M&Ms!

Blessings dear ones~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image*

And It Begins

Grace, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , ,

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And it Begins!

Silly me. My heart is beating at a rapid pace. Why you ask? The wind is blowing and we are under a tornado warning. I have made progress though. I am not hiding in my closet. However, my purse is around my shoulder, cell phone in pocket, and dog on leash.

As I have posted on a previous blog, we lost our home to a tornado in 1982. Then, in 2009 a huge oak tree fell through our roof and we had to move out and have major renovation. So, I do have an aversion to wind.

People who have NOT been through storms like this think I am over reacting. It use to make me mad, but now I understand their feelings. They have not experienced my storms.

It is not much different from our emotional storms. I have learned that I have not experienced other people’s storms, so I have no idea how they feel. I have to legitimize their feelings, their fears, their troubles. I have no right to minimize their storm. And even if a person has been through a similar situation, I still don’t totally understand, but I can empathize.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I can then minister to those people. I can love them with the love of Jesus. I cannot fix it, I can not always make it better. In fact, most times I cannot. But the peace that passes all understanding can be present. I have personally experienced that peace many times. And I know it was the Father, because the circumstances would dictate otherwise.

How wonderful to know that Jesus has overcome the world! My storms, your storms….He is our strength and our peace. He doesn’t always calm the storm, but He will calm the child. And just maybe we can be part of that calm through Christ.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

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So get ready…storms will come!

Blessings~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9