“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” – Isaiah 12:2.
Blog
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Thoughts after the Boston Marathon bombings
How do we make sense of hate crimes such as the Boston bombings this week? Crimes that maim and even kill innocent people and alter lives forever?
My finite mind will never reason it out. There is no justification for senseless, needless killings. Humans have free-will choices. Many choose to use their choices to do good. Unfortunately, there will always be those who choose evil.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” — Jeremiah 17:9/NLT.
And what about those who wake up this morning with no son, daughter, sister, or brother? What about the injured with missing limbs, brain or head trauma?
How do we counsel them? What words could possibly ease their pain?
Amidst this horrific situation, God stands ready to comfort, to extend his caring, loving arms. To wrap those arms around bleeding limbs & hearts. God’s love is deep and strong — able to shelter the worst storms. He extends his hands and says, “Come to me, my bruised child. I will ease your pain.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God … but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 9.
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Share your story
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” — 2 Corinthians 4:7.
God gave each of us a message, a song, and a story in our hearts. He gave us this message to share. Not to keep it stored up inside.
Your story is different than mine. Your story is yours. My story is mine. My story includes joy, pain, trials, defeat and victory — so does yours. Our stories involve different details, but similar characteristics. The Author-Creator of our stories remains the same God.
Isn’t it time to pen those words, so others can be blessed & encouraged? Ask God to fill you with his all-encompassing power. He will give you and me the courage to write that story burning deep inside!
Let me fill you with my Love, Joy, and Peace … Glory-gifts #JesusCalling.
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Focus on what you do have
When you focus on what you don’t have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened – #JesusCalling.
Rather, offer “the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord” –
Psalm 116:17 (NKJV).
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Nothing is impossible with God
“With Him, nothing is impossible” — (Luke 1:37).
I’m considering the words to the famous song written by Chris Tomlin, “How Great is Our God.” Only five one-syllable words, but packed with power and meaning. Let’s look at a few attributes of this great and awesome God:
Sunset over Lakeshore Yacht Harbor – Muskegon Lake * Clothed in majesty (compared to my filthy rags)
* He is Light (I sometimes hide in darkness, how about you?
* King of all Kings (I am nothing without Him)Yet when I humble myself and call on his matchless name, I am called a daughter of the King. God desires my fellowship and bids me to walk in the light as he is in the light. He truly is a great God — worthy of all my praise.
* Have you thought about the hugeness of God, creator of the universe
* Have you told him your worries (none of which are too big or too small for him to handle)? -
Spring: it’s just around the corner now!
Finches display yellow once again
Spring is close at hand
Winter passes
Have no fear
Hang on
Orchid, Frederick Meijer Gardens Put winter garb away
Sun shines radiantly
Vibrant color palettes replace
Dismal grayOur God truly reigns!
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Psalm 115 Muse
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice” – (He listened to me! No one else on planet earth always has the time or even the inclination to listen to me all the time).
“Because he turned his ear to me (He listened so intently), I will call on him as long as I live” – vs. 1, 2
Orchid Water Lily – photo by Steve Lasher “The Lord is gracious & righteous; (it is he who makes things right — not one person, not an acceptance/rejection slip) our God is full of compassion” – vs. 5.
“The Lord protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me” (when I find no time to finish my tasks and words don’t come) I cry out to God who hears my plea. In my own strength, I am truly helpless.
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” – vs. 7… (showered me with blessings and dealt bountifully with me.)
“Here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service!” – vs. 16.
Thank you, God, for giving me life, breath, and stories to pen and share with others. Even if only one person reads my story and responds, I know I must tell the story.
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Broken, yet chosen
Shells on Clearwater Beach, Florida Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to travel south. One of my favorite pastimes is to look for shells while walking the beach. Each shell’s intricacies never cease to amaze me.
Some portray wholeness
Others appear broken
or partial pieces
Chipped and greatly wornI see spiny traces
Translucent, fragile exteriors
Various patterns with
Random indentationsVarying degrees of color intensity
Brown, pink, black,
Blue, gray,
and off-whiteSunlight causes one to
Glisten and shine
While another remains flat
and non-descriptJust like shells, people are unique. We display unique characteristics and qualities given to us by our creator, God. We all matter to God. Each represents degrees of stains, joy, and sorrow. No two of us are alike because God created you and me as a special design for a unique purpose in life.
All of us have stories to tell whether they be tragic or more ordinary. Our words may come in the form of an encouraging note to someone hurting. These stories may appear in journal form, newspaper or magazine article, novella, or memoir.
Do you know what special purpose God designed you for?
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it… You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” – Psalm 139:14–16/NLT
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Seek Rest for your Soul
Grand Haven Lighthouse (photo by Steve Lasher) “Go somewhere fear told you you couldn’t go. Find your edge and push it. Speak that truth. Joseph Campbell said, ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.’
The treasure is growth, risk’s reward. Turns out the cave is more amazing than frightening; spacious, pristine and liberating.” (from Soulseeds.com)
Is fear speaking to you right now? Maybe fear is preventing you from submitting a magazine or book proposal. Are you a bit afraid of going to the edge and signing up for a writer’s retreat? Have you considered a retreat or conference might be the jumpstart you need to go to the next level?
The treasure is awaiting you — you need only step out in faith. Reserve your spot now. Don’t delay another day. Is it time to begin Writing in Harmony with your Soul? A perfect opportunity awaits you to join fellow writers for 30 hours of writing, reflective time, learning, brainstorming and much more!
Find out more about finding your treasure and dispelling crippling fear. Come join us on March 22–23. For more information, see:
https://www.meetup.com/wordweavers-wmi/events/101252082/
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock & my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken” — Psalm 62:5–6.
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Time to withdraw?
“Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.”
Going through a rough patch right now? Possibly your creativity has all but stopped. Maybe life seems unfair as you battle depression, a job loss, or rejections from numerous publications? Has the weather got you down due to seeing only snippets of sun in the last week? It’s tough to write from an empty heart, but then again, it could be rewarding in the end.
“Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.” Take comfort in the fact that Jesus himself felt the need to withdraw from the crowd. In fact, Luke 5:16, states that he often withdrew – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus felt it necessary to come aside, how much more should I? While away, scripture says that he prayed to his Heavenly Father.
Dear God, you are my Rock, my everlasting shelter in the midst of a storm. You do not waver and your love and mercy has no limit. Thank you for being my steady, solid anchor. I can depend on you no matter what I may face today. Amen.
There’s no reason to feel guilty about taking the time to take care of me. This valuable period is worthwhile, nurturing, and necessary.
When you and I do return to the masses (or just our family and friends), we will be a much better happier and healthier person for having taken the time to slip away into the wilderness.
