My new t-shirt reads, “I CONQUERED GROS PITON!” That’s right! My hubby and I completed this hike on Saturday, February 4th, 2023. It was likely the most difficult hike I have ever completed. The journey up the mountain was filled with boulders, uneven terrain, and steep climbs! Our legs were burning and shaking with fatigue. Our lungs were straining to get enough air from our exertions. Our hearts were beating out of our chests. We were soaked with sweat. And we craved water for our thirst.
The hike reminded me a bit of my journey in life in this world, at times…
Life is hard.
I feel fatigued and drained.
I am out of breath from the pain and grief of heartache and loss.
I am shaky from my emotions due to my trials, challenges, and anxiety.
I am thirsty for more depth of community and closeness with friends, family, and my Savior.
Our Lord does not leave us alone in our suffering or in our journey. If we invite Him into our lives and accept Him as our Savior, He promises to never…NEVER…leave us. He will be with us always, strengthening us and guiding us in our journey. I was struck by this similarity on the hike. The guide did not leave us or give up on us. She walked ahead of us…providing guidance and encouragement on how to navigate the climb. She sensed when we needed rest, but also pushed us to continue and to not give up.
Jesus does the same for His people. Scripture is filled with His words of encouragement to press on and to let Him guide our life. The stories of the Bible describe over and over how much God loves us, His great displays of mercy and grace, His intervention on of His people, and ultimately His sacrifice of His own perfect son, Jesus, to save us from sin and ourselves. The Bible is a love story. It is a love story of our Creator to His creation. Below are only a few verses speaking to God’s encouragement to us to press on and fight the good fight for the Kingdom of God; words of His love; and the Truth about His plans for us.
1 Timothy 6:12, ESV
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NLT)
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Yes, life is hard. BUT we have Jesus standing strong beside us to lift us up! (Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 3:16)
Yes, we will feel pain and loss. BUT we have Jesus and the Holy Spirit to provide us peace beyond our understanding. (John 14:27)
Yes, we thirst for more out of this life that leaves us parched. BUT we have the promise from Jesus that He offers us living water where we will never thirst again. (John 4)
I never thought I would be able to do a hike like this at this point in my life. With my anxiety issues, on-going pain, and vertigo, I thought this would be impossible. But I was wrong. I did it! I am praying that you have confidence through the power of Jesus, determination to press on through the trials, and hope for the future bounty of eternal life. All things are possible with God and He will never leave you alone.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What mountain is in your path of life today?
How do you feel about it? Fear? Anxiety? Challenged? Determined?
What first step are you willing to take today to climb up and press on through it?
Please share your thoughts in the comments. Your story will be an encouragement to all of us and we want to encourage you in your journey!
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
Gros Piton in St. Lucia is the mountain in the front. It stands 2,619 feet tall.Pat…my hubby…and I at the half way point with Petit Piton in the background.We made it to the TOP!! Yay!!
Hello, Sweet Circle! You may have been wondering…”Where did she go?” And that would be a completely appropriate question to ponder. My last post was 8/23/2022. I am shocked by how long ago that was. Bottomline: Life took hold of me with both hands, and I was overwhelmed! Have you ever felt this way? I know the feeling too, and I am here to share that, “It’s okay!” Sometimes this happens and we just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and lift up our prayers ever minute, if necessary!
Here were some of the things that happened to me:
In August 2022, I was made aware that the IN Department of Revenue was going to perform an audit of both our businesses in October 2022. I went back to work full-time to prepare for the audit. UPDATE: That is still going on and we are hoping to receive our reports from the audit in March 2023.
September 2022, I went to Oregon to spend two glorious weeks with my daughter. My Hubby was there for the last week. She was in-between terms in Veterinary School at Oregon State University. We had an amazing time visiting, crafting, and traveling to Crater Lake…BEAUTIFUL!
October 2022, My Hubby and I went to Columbia, MD, to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We saw their new apartment. We visited Johns Hopkins University where Mitch is going to grad school. We went to a Purdue football game at University of Maryland. We went to an apple orchard for the fall picking. And we had an amazing time being with them too.
November and December 2022 were a blur with the holidays.
Through all of this…I had several relapses with severe break-outs of my autoimmune disease…Cicatricial Pemphigoid…due to stress and anxiety. This took a toll on my health. My stress, increased anxiety and depression, and insomnia were in full swing. Yikes!!
So, I needed to take a break to continue to have margin for rest, yarn-therapy and soul-care. God is GOOD, and met me in my trials. I was never alone. He continued to provide strength for me and hope for new treatment. My family and friends continued to support me, pray for me, and listen when I needed to vent. I am truly blessed. I am praying that you have people you can lean on too, when life seems out of control. Just remember…God is always in control!
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
~ Psalm 73:26
“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? “
~Psalm 27:1
BUT I MISSED YOU!! I missed writing to you, and I missed the chance to get to know all of you better.
I would love to hear from you!! Whether it’s a quick HELLO and introduction, a longer note to share your story, your favorite verse for encouragement, or anything else that is on your mind. Please COMMENT below or send me an email at stacy@stacyturley.com.
YOU are loved, valued and worthy!! Let’s stick together and support each other through our daily lives. I want to know you and pray for you too! Reach out, Friend. You are not alone and I can’t wait to hear from you!
Hello, Friends. I asked for your prayers and support last week during my whirlwind of doctors’ appointments, and I THANK YOU for lifting me up. My appointments grew from four over two days to SIX over three days. Here is a summary…
Thursday, August 18th –
Audiologist for slight hearing loss
GREAT News! My hearing improved and the issues were due to swelling of my ear canal. We used antibiotic drops and my hearing returned to normal. I had no pain during this time. I had no idea my ear was irritated and swollen internally. Thank you, Jesus!
Orthopedic Surgeon for pain in my hips with a lovely limp to match
We have an answer! I have two strained muscles in two different locations. The left hip is a mid-glute muscle strain. The right hip is an upper IT band strain. So different locations of pain but both due to muscular issues. I have to cut back on high impact exercise. No running, jogging, or sharp changes of direction. Walking and elliptical machines are best for now. I am grateful it is NOT arthritis or anything more serious. Thank you, Jesus.
Friday, August 19th –
ADD ON Appt: Dentist for dental trays to soak my gums in a steriod gel to heal my blisters and help prevent more….at least that is the hope!
I love having another option in my cocktail of medicines to FIGHT Cicatricial Pemphigoid! The battle is not over and we keep fighting for a solution. God is GOOD!
Optometrist for a regular check up and vision test. One of my meds may cause blindness so I have to get my eyes checked every three to four months.
No serious issues, but my eye sight changed enough that new glasses are recommended. I cannot wear contacts so I love to shop for “new looks” with my glasses. I am trying something new and a little edgy…for me. That part is so fun!! Yay!!
Colon Surgeon…hmmm, nuff said!!
All is well now. Nuff said!
Monday, August 22nd –
ADD ON Appt: General Practitioner for increased anxiety and a few days of depression.
We have a plan! After a year and a half of trying to find a solution to control my autoimmune disease with little progress, my stress and anxiety has increased. I am currently on the lowest dose of anti-anxiety medication. So we will increase the dose and pray that it controls the anxiety which may be the cause of the bouts of depression. Thank you, Lord, for my understanding doctors and the medical assistance with these emotions.
Yes, I sometimes feel like this is a bummer that I have more and more ailments to keep track of and medicines to remember and food restrictions. However, most of the time I am so grateful that God has blessed me with an amazing team of doctors to help monitor my ailments and provide solutions. God is so good!! I am never alone for I know Jesus is by my side through it all and I am grateful for the gifts and progress of medicine to help bring healing to so many people along with God’s power, strength and peace.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14
I would also like to pray for you! Please leave a note in the Comments section if you have a prayer request. I would be honored to lift you up in the name of Christ. Amen, Sisters!
Have you ever been inspired by the picture or example of a piece of art or craft? I have…many, many times!! My dear husband will attest to that from my stash of projects to work on in my craft closet! I love to take an idea and tweek it a bit to make it my own, so that it speaks to my heart.
In Matthew 5-7, Jesus was sharing with the crowds who had gathered many instructions and words of wisdom in the passage called the Sermon on the Mount. Within the text, Jesus explains the posture we should take when praying. We should not proclaim our prayers loudly in a crowd where we draw attention to ourselves. We do not need fancy words or flowery language. He tells us in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” He reminds the people and us that God already knows what we need before we utter a word! He knows us that well! Jesus goes on to give us the exact words we all may use to commune with God. Jesus gives us the prayer of the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
Just like the crafting projects that I like to make-my-own, I find comfort in doing the same with the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. I like to pray-through-the-prayer. This helps me truly internalize what the prayer is saying and how I may pore out my heart to God with the Lord’s Prayer as my foundation. Let me show you what I mean. (The words in CAPS/BOLD are from scripture. The Italics/Normal text represents my prayer within the prayer.)
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN,
Abba, Father, you created and oversee everything from Your throne in heaven.
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME.
You are holy, mighty, glorious. You are so pure my mind and eyes cannot comprehend.
YOUR KINGDOM COME,
Lord, may you come in glory. May you set right all that is broken in this world. I await eagerly for your coming again when Eden is made perfect again.
YOUR WILL BE DONE,
Lord, I pray that your will be done, not mine. That through the obedience of your people, we may change the world in Your Name for the better. I pray we set aside our selfish ambition. We focus on loving of others and our service to others just as You served us with Your very life.
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Father, let earth be restored to perfection as it is in heaven. I pray You will conquer all evil and remove it permanently from existence in Your perfect timing.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,
Lord, give me what I need for this day only. Help me to live in the moment and be content with what I have…that which You have provided me.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
Lord, Jesus, forgive me. Help me see where I have sinned so I may repent and be made right in you. Cleanse me, Lord. Purify me. Open my eyes.
AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
Lord, Jesus, as You have forgiven me and set the example of grace and mercy, help me extend the same forgiveness to others. To show others the love of Christ by my actions and words.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
Lord, when I am tempted, please be with me and give me the strength to overcome and not submit to what my humanly body and mind may want. Help me to live righteously for you. Even under the pressure I may feel from others.
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
Give me a way out, Lord. When evil is in front of me, help me to call out in the name of Jesus, “Get Out! Leave me, in Jesus name!” Help me feel the peace and strength of your Holy Spirit in me to overcome and squash the influence and deception of Satan in my life.
AMEN.
Amen!! Thank you, Jesus. You are mine and I am yours.
Sometimes I feel like I cannot find the words I want to say. Using the Lord’s Prayer as my foundation, it lays the ground work for my heart and soul to speak through. Jesus gave us these Words to speak to the Father. When you need to pray and don’t know what to say or how to say, take time to slow down and say these words which Jesus gave us. Pause after each line, and let your heart speak.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please respond in Comments section below.)
Do you pray through scripture? If so, what passage do you pray through most often?
How do you battle temptation?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. You are so generous! You have given us the very words we may use to come to the foot of your throne. Thank you for the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father. Thank you for the guidance on how we may approach you. Humbly, quietly, with no fan-fare. Lord, help me remember to bring my laments and celebrations to you. That you are my Savior, my Comforter, and my Creator. Only You know what’s best for me. Amen.
Are there days when you can literally feel your age in your bones? The little creaks, pops, and pain? The sagging skin and weakening eyes? Do you feel sore after doing a chore or task that you have done for years and years and it never hurt before? Maybe you have a new ailment or diagnosis that leaves you wondering …where did this come from??
I am one of those people who absolutely LOVEs my birthday!! I love to celebrate the day that God brought me to the world. The first day of a new plan for His kingdom with me (and millions of others who were born on April 10th,) in mind. I have cherished each year of aging as a gift from God. Another 365 days to reflect on where God has shown Himself in my life and the lessons that I learned.
I normally take the day off of work. I like to celebrate “my day” by filling it with activities that bring me joy. These activities definitely start with COFFEE! I love to explore new coffee shops, find a quiet place to sit and knit, read, maybe get a facial, share a meal with a friend, and normally end with dinner with my hubby, Pat. Phone calls from my kids, my parents, my brothers, and my friends are part of the days smiles and warm fuzzies too!
At 53 years old, I am coming to realize that along with the celebration of the years since my birth, I also have a few unwelcomed guests…aches, pains, medications, more frequent doctors’ appointments and unwanted diagnosis’. It seems like I knew this was coming as my mom always warned me, “Getting old is not for the weak.” My Grandma Saltsgiver told the same thing to my mom when she was growing up, and I am sure I will pass along the same words of wisdom to my daughter!
Oh my word! This week I am living that reality with four doctor’s appointments in two days!! Yikes!!
Thursday, August 18th –
Audiologist for slight hearing loss
Orthopedic Surgeon for pain in my hips with a lovely limp to match
Friday, August 19th –
Optometrist for a regular check up and vision test. One of my meds may cause blindness so I have to get my eyes checked every three to four months.
Colon Surgeon…hmmm, nuff said!!
Yes, I sometimes feel like this is a bummer that I have more and more ailments to keep track of and medicines to remember and food restrictions. However, most of the time I am so grateful that God has blessed me with an amazing team of doctors to help monitor my ailments and provide solutions. God is so good!! I am never alone for I know Jesus is by my side through it all and I am grateful for the gifts and progress of medicine to help bring healing to so many people along with God’s power, strength and peace.
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14
So…would you pray for me at all the upcoming tests and appointments this week? I would also like to pray for you! Please leave a note in the Comments section if you have a prayer request. I would be honored to lift you up in the name of Christ. Amen, Sisters!
It has been a week! I have struggled a little bit emotionally over the last couple weeks due to the accumulation of several unexpected changes. Here are some of the changes that came my way over the last 10 days…
New meds to add to my routine for my autoimmune disease as the other meds are not strong enough on their own.
New dietary adjustments due to new meds.
Close Contact exposure to a COVID positive person.
Five days of isolation and five days of masking to ensure my safety and the safety of others.
Cancellation of my small group social activity due to isolation.
Cancellation of volunteering at church due to isolation.
Feelings of loneliness due to staying home and away from people during this time.
It felt like a lot of change to me and honestly, I was down in the dumps for a few days. However, I love that my God (and my loving husband) did not leave me there. I was not alone, and I am finding peace of mind and peace in my soul by reading some of my favorite verses in Scripture. I wanted to share these with you too in case you need a little pick-me-up!
REST:
“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” ~Genesis 2:3
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” ~Psalm 4:8
PEACE:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7
“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” ~Psalm 29:11
“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” ~Romans 8:6
THANKFULNESS:
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” ~Psalm 107:8-9
“Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” ~Colossians 2:6-7
“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” ~Psalm 30:11-12
“The Lord is my strength , and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” ~Psalm 28:7
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:18
COMFORT:
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” ~Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” ~Psalm 34:18
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.” ~Deuteronomy 33:12
HEALING:
“‘I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security,’ says the Lord.” ~ Jeremiah 33:6
“He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” ~1 Peter 2:24
“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” ~Psalm 103:2-3
Oh, my…this barely cracks the surface of the life-giving words and truths I have found in Scripture. I have found so much comfort in tough times by resting in the arms of Jesus the words of love He shares with me in His book. I have also used it to celebrate with passages of praise and worship to honor our God. I pray that you too find the passages above to be helpful and I hope to share more with you in our time ahead.
I have come to love a good Bible concordance which provides an alphabetized list of words found in Scripture. If you are needing scripture on strength, or peace, or courage, or even scripture on finances, a concordance will lead you to those topics in the Bible. Biblegateway.com is a great online concordance and Scripture reference tool. Many Bibles offer a concordance in the back pages. We also may consult with Dr. Google…as my daughter’s professor likes to call it…to lead us to some websites that have already compiled these lists by topic. Have fun searching for Scripture that will breathe life and love into you!
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please share in Comments section.)
What are your favorite Scripture verses?
Do you have any reference tools you like to use?
Do you remember a time when God met you in your pain through Scripture or a song? Tell us about it!
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. You are our Creator and Comforter. You desire all our praise and thanksgiving. Thank You, Lord, for Your words of love and guidance to us through the Holy Bible. Your Word give us life and hope through your Son Jesus. Help us to turn to You and your Word before we turn to worldly places and people in our time of need and in our time of celebration. You are our center, our foundation, our strength. Thank you, Lord, for Your sacrifice and unconditional love. Amen.
Recently, my husband and I went to the auto shop to pick up my vehicle after some work was completed. When I went to the Cashier desk to check out with credit card in hand, she shook her head and said there was no charge. I questioned her again because I thought we owed money for this service and the part, and I did not want to leave without properly paying for it. Again, she said there was no charge since we must have prepaid for it. For a split second, I thought, “Well. Ok.” Thankfully, I double-checked with my husband before leaving, and he verified we did not prepay for it. We were both relieved to have caught the error and returned a third time to the Cashier to notify them of the mistake.
However, there was a moment of temptation brewing in me to take their word for it and leave.
In Matthew 4, versus 1-11, Jesus was tempted by Satan three times while in the wilderness after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. So Satan tempted him in three areas where we tend to be weak and easily influenced by our human nature.
TEMPTATION #1: Satan challenged Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by tempting Jesus to turn stones into bread to satiate his hunger. Satan was appealing to Jesus’ physical needs and desires.
TEMPTATION #2: Satan challenged Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by tempting Jesus to throw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple and let the angels save Him. Satan was appealing to Jesus to show off His power.
TEMPTATION #3: Satan challenged Jesus to submit to him and worship him. If he would, then Satan would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Satan was appealing to Jesus’ pride and possessions.
We all are tempted in these areas as well…physical needs, desires, power, pride and possessions. Thankfully, this text also provides us with some warnings to look out for and also the actions that Jesus’ used to battle the temptation. We are able to learn from these examples in our own lives.
WARNINGS:
Satan will try to use us during times of weakness to sin by tempting us in the areas of physical needs, desires, power, pride and possessions.
Satan will manipulate us by bending the meaning of scripture to make us think we have “permission” to sin.
Satan is the great deceiver and will lie to us about what is right and what is wrong to draw us into sin.
ACTIONS:
Fasting is a spiritual discipline we may use to draw us closer to the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Through fasting, we learn that we are able to overcome our human desires through prayer and discipline from the Holy Spirit.
We are not alone. Jesus was tempted and overcame the temptations. He will give us strength to overcome as well.
Jesus uses scripture in all three cases to battle Satan and stand up to the temptations.
Jesus exclaimed to Satan, “Be gone!” We also have the ability to rebuke Satan in Jesus’ name through the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
Standing up to temptation may be a daily battle for us. It may also be one of the most difficult battles we face to say NO to sinful behavior when we believe it will provide us immediate gratification and happiness. However, sin will never bring us happiness and joy, for sin ultimately leads to death. (James 1:15) Sin often brings pain, regret, and hurt either to ourselves or others or both. So where do we go for happiness and joy as well as other wonderful qualities?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And thsoe who belong to Christ Jeuss have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” ~ Galatians 5:22-24
We run to Jesus! Jesus as our Savior along with the Holy Spirit in us will provide us with the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self control. Isn’t this wonderful? The passage says there are no laws against these things. And why would there be? All of these qualities will only bring good things to ourselves, to our friends and family, to our neighbors and community. These are the qualities that will change our world! Amen. Amen.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What are the areas where you are most easily tempted?
What actions do you have in place to fight and/or avoid these temptations?
What can you do today to prepare yourself for future battles with Satan and the deception he uses against us?
PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for the lessons you have taught me in this passage. I am reminded that I am not alone. You were tempted and you know exactly what I am experiencing when I face temptation. I know I have the Holy Spirit on my side and the power of God to help me battle Satan. Lord, please help me recognize when Satan is trying to deceive me. Give me the strength to say, “Be gone, Satan, in Jesus name!” Amen.
My father-in-law James Turley was passionate about the genealogy of his family. He had traced back the Turley family, in some cases, to before they immigrated to the United States. He had a great deal of knowledge of the maternal branches of the family tree as well. He knew where many of the family members lived, what they did for a living, and where they were laid to rest. He spent many hours researching the details of their lives and many more hours traveling to visit the cities where they lived and were buried. He knew their names and in many cases he had pictures of them from various historical documents. His mission was to document the Turley family history for future generations. Dad Turley did not want his family tree to be forgotten after he was gone. He wanted all of them to be remembered.
In Matthew 1, verses 1-17, we read about the genealogy of Jesus. Many times in the past when I read this section in Matthew, I frequently skimmed over it. I did not really see the need to read through all these names…so-and-so, the father of so-and-so, the father of so-and-so…and on and on for 42 generations. It seemed like details that were not necessary. Oh, how wrong I was!
“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.” ~ Matthew 1:17
I believe that this section is so revealing of the character of God and His love for us. This Holy Spirit-inspired scripture reminds us of how intimately God knew those who lead to the birth of His son Jesus. He did not only remember the people who did “big things” in His name. He remembers ALL of the people in the family lineage of Jesus. Those who made many bad decisions, those who were deceitful, those who were prostitutes, those who committed adultery, and on and on. God knew all of them by name and loved them all. So much so that He allowed His perfect son to be born of a lineage that was full of dysfunction and sin. Why? Because Jesus came to conquer that very sin and bring healing and restoration.
God’s awareness and intimacy did not stop with the birth of Jesus. God knows our names too. And not just our names….he has put our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8) and numbered the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). He knows us intimately and He knows our family lineage…all of the branches! Matthew 1:1-17 is a beautiful example of how much God loves each one of us. He shows us how well he knows us by saying our names, naming our children and parents to the beginning and end of the ages, numbering our hair and bottling our tears. We are KNOWN. We are LOVED. We have VALUE! This is a passage to celebrate and find comfort in. For Jesus knows more about us than we know about ourselves.
While we may have missing links in our family tree or we may rather not remember some of the more interesting characters of our lineage, God remembers and knows all of us. Our background and our sins do not matter. God is not afraid of dysfunction. He has the power to overcome and defeat all sin, to redeem our story, and to bring beauty from the ashes of our lives.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please share in Comments to encourage one another.)
How does this make you feel that God knows you by name, sees your tears, and knows you intimately?
Have you seen God redeem parts of your story? If so, how?
Is there anyone in your family who may need to hear about the love of Jesus?
What is one step you may take to help a family member or friend feel known, loved and worthy…to show them the love of Jesus?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you sharing with us the genealogy of Jesus. For showing how important we all are by naming and documenting the ordinary people with ordinary lives who lead to the extraordinary Jesus. Help us to remember that we are known by you, loved by you, and valued by you. Help us also share this same love and care to one another. Amen.
“Are knitting and crocheting idols for me?” That is the question that I recently asked my counselor. It seemed to me that there was a brief look of confusion on her face when I asked that question. I honestly did not want to explain because I feared that if she said “yes” that they were idols for me then I would have to give up two activities that bring me so much peace and joy. Let me explain…
In my blog post on 7/26/2022 called “In The Word #8: My Idol Was All About Numbers”, I shared about my obsession with body image that dominated my life in my mid-30’s. Body Image, weight, clothing size…all of them…were idols to me. After writing that post, I began to reflect on what my idols today might be. One of the things that I thought about was my love of knitting and crocheting. I shared with Kim, my counselor, that when I am stressed and overwhelmed, I typically pick up my needles to calm my spirit before I open my mind to prayer. As the needles click together rhythmically or the rotation-and-pull of the hook glides through the stitches, I feel my tension and stress fade away. My mind becomes occupied with a gentler and more calming activity rather than the spinning and spinning of the day’s anxiety. After I have a moment to calm down, I am able to pray and have a conversation with God. In all honesty, I don’t pray every time, but it is easier for me to pray after I am settled a bit. My fear was that since I pick up my needles before I speak to the Lord, I may be treating these activities as idols.
I thank the Lord often for my counselor who also shares my faith. She is able to observe and process more clearly my obstacles from a faith-perspective than with the lens I am using for myself. She is a gift to me. She asked me if I thought if it was possible that God Himself gave me these talents and activities as tools to slow down first so I may come to Him more fully. As she asked the question, I felt a sudden peace in my spirit. Her words felt right in my being. Almost as if God was saying, “YES! This is a gift I gave you. Do not fear.”
The process of knitting and crocheting remind me of how God created me…how He knitted me together in my mother’s womb (see Psalm 139). He is using these tools to calm my spirit and pave the path to come to Him in my time of stress. When I remember who I am in Christ as I reflect on this passage of scripture while each stitch is made then I am preparing my soul to hear Him more clearly. I respond to Him with a more open mind rather than being blocked by my human emotions.
Thank you, Jesus.
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”
~ Psalm 139:13-14
My counselor also reminded me that the enemy loves to warp our perception of right and wrong, good and bad, righteous and not righteous. The enemy is the master deceiver, the father of lies. (John 8:44) With every gift from God, the enemy takes great pleasure in trying to destroy it by making us doubt its goodness and turn away from God’s promises and gifts. (1 Peter 5:8-9) I was reminded that it is possible that the enemy was deceiving me to think these gifts, these tools, given by God to me to bring me His peace and tranquility were bad and wrong. Now when I pick up my needles, I thank God for the peace I feel, and I rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus! I demand that he leave me alone.
What are my idols today? I am still processing this question and asking God to reveal to me all the things that I am putting before Him in my life. I know it will be a constant battle throughout my time here on earth to resist my selfish desires and continue to put Jesus first. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit in me who acts as my counselor to nudge me and say, “Here’s one, Sister.”
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Please share in the Comments section below.
What are your idols?
How are you making changes in your life to put God first?
How is God meeting you where you are today to help calm your spirit and bring you peace?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for the gifts and talents that you have given of each one of us. I am so grateful that we are all uniquely made, knitted together by your hands, Lord Jesus. You know us intimately and desire a relationship with us. As the body of Christ, we are all needed for your Kingdom and our talents compliment each other. Help us to see where we are creating idols in our lives above You. Help us to respond actively when the Holy Spirit says, “Here’s one,” by accepting and repenting. For when we accept and repent, the power of Jesus will redeem! Amen.
My eyes were damp with tears as I finished reading an email and listening to a song sent to me by Beth at Proverbs 31 Ministries today. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have a rare autoimmune disease that leaves me in pain most days. A few weeks ago, I sent a prayer request through the website of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I was having a tough day and my meds were not working. I wanted to know that someone was praying for me. I had forgotten about the prayer request until today. I heard the ding on my computer alert me that “You’ve Got Mail” and there sat the email from Beth.
I don’t know Beth personally, but I felt bonded to her through the words in her message. She let me know that she prayed for me by name. She lifted up my pain and struggles to the Lord. And she prayed on my behalf for God’s comfort and “holy confidence that all things are possible in the mighty name of Jesus!” Her words were a salve to my soul. A reminder that we are not alone. Not only is God with us always, but our brothers and sisters in Christ and the Holy Spirit are also with us to lift us up to God’s throne when we are too tired or in too much pain to do it ourselves. (Romans 8:26 ESV) Sometimes we only need to ask for help…for prayer…and others will rally to our aid.
Beth showed me compassion, care, and the love of Christ by being willing and obedient to care for God’s people by praying for me specifically as well as many others, I am sure. I am so grateful for her note to me and her prayers for me. I am also grateful for the song that she sent me to relay the message that my sisters in Christ at Proverbs 31 Ministries are praying for my spirit In Jesus Name!
Dear Friends, I too want to pray these words over you. I want you to feel loved and worthy of the hope and power we have in Jesus. I want you to feel safe to ask for help and prayer. I want you to close your eyes and listen to the words of the song In Jesus Name by Katy Nichole or follow along with the words below. Know that I am praying these words for you. I am praying for healing, for peace in your sorrow, for a breakthrough in your circumstances. I am praying for miracles, blessings, and God’s promises to wash over you too.
IN JESUS NAME BY KATY NICHOLE
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek heaven
And pray this for you
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee
In Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in
Jesus name
In Jesus name
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings
And every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
he’s the God of possible
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee
In Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in
Jesus name
In Jesus name
Come believe it
Come receive it
Oh the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Come believe it
Come receive it
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible
I pray for your healing
That circumstances will change
I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough
Would happen today
I pray miracles over your life
In Jesus name
I pray for revival
For restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come alive
In Jesus name
In Jesus name
My Friends…if you feel drawn to respond, please email me if you would like for me to pray for you personally and specifically. Or share your prayer requests in the Comments below so we may all lift you up In Jesus Name. I hope you feel the love of Christ today in whatever you are going through and may you feel the love of Christ with you always.
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