The Promise for All We Need

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The Promise for All We Need

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

The rich smell of Douglas fir fills my nose as it wafts through the air. The white lights from the Christmas tree catch my eye. Watching the glowing beauty surrounded by the darkness outside my home, calms my spirit and gives serenity to my heart. 

Knowing what the tree represents––the celebration of our Savior’s birth––and the fulfilled promise of the peace it stands for, reminds me of the familiar verse in Isaiah 9:6.

The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus’ birth and revealed the great gift His coming to earth would provide. The ultimate gift of all we need to make it through this life––Jesus Himself!

Friend, if you’ve come to this Christmas season (and the end of another year) filled with uncertainties, unanswered prayers, and unmet expectations, join me in sinking deep into how Jesus fulfills the promise for all we need.

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3 Steps to Gain Hope in Life’s Disappointment

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3 Steps to Gain Hope in Life’s Disappointment

Life will bring disappointment to each of us. Discouragement knocks when a valued relationship suddenly ends, we’re denied the job opportunity, or an unexpected health crisis throws us into a tailspin. I’ve endured all these things.

One particular season filled with disappointment was the long years of chronic illness I endured because of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Stripped of my independence, enduring physical pain, and watching my friends celebrate milestones that seemed impossible for me weighed heavy on my heart. 

When fall rolled around, I experienced another blow to my spirit. I was unable to return to my role as a classroom teacher.

I watched the yellow school buses drive by my house, signifying the beginning of schoolhouse festivities. Yet I sat in the same place as….

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New Hope for Never-Ending Seasons

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New Hope for Never-Ending Seasons

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

I swept the brown needles from the dying Christmas tree into a tidy pile. The smell of fir still wafted through the air, but the discarded tree slumped on the woodpile outside my window, awaiting a bonfire. 

As I cleaned, my cell phone chimed several times, alerting me to New Year’s greetings from friends and family. But instead of celebrating, a weight of despair hung heavy on my shoulders.

In all the newness, nothing had changed in my painful circumstances––not in that year, nor …

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A Reason to Hold on to Hope

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A Reason to Hold on to Hope

HOPE is a beautiful four letter word.

But sometimes it’s hard to hold onto hope when all I see are the struggles, strife, and hardships in the world around me. Constant reports of growing crime rates, increasing prices, and rising global conflicts fill my newsfeed. And that’s besides the difficulties to get by day to day in my own life. It’s enough for me to question whether there is any hope left in this world.

In the Old Testament the prophet Jeremiah endured his own battles with hopelessness, both internally and externally. He was appointed to spread God’s Word in a time when people…..

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Keeping a Heart of Thanksgiving

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Keeping a Heart of Thanksgiving

Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:18c-20 ESV

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. But giving thanks is not something set aside for a certain time of the year and to be forgotten outside of that time.

The apostle Paul implores us to: “[Give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20 ESV). I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to give thanks for everything.

Yet, this scripture encourages us to do it. But it doesn’t stop there. It tells us how we can do it. We can do it in the name of Jesus. Praying in the name of Jesus is praying in faith. And praying in the name of Jesus gives us power to reach the throne room of God. Today, let’s lift our hearts in a prayer of thanks for all He has done.

Aren’t you thankful that the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit living inside of us (the children of God) gives us the strength to give thanks ALWAYS and for EVERYTHING.

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Seven Promises that Remain in Changing Seasons

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Seven Promises that Remain in Changing Seasons

“For I the Lord do not change.”

Malachi 3:6a ESV

Red and gold leaves flutter in the wind. They flow from one tree among hundreds that are still stuck in summer. The tree is lit on fire with seasonal change and hails the first visible sign of fall. Once again, I am reminded that this life is ever-changing.

Just as nature cycles through seasons, we all experience different seasons in this life. Seasons of difficulty, loss, and loneliness come to everyone. And so do seasons of beauty, joy, and fruitfulness. I’ve experienced the ups and downs––and know that more are sure to come.

While I survey the tree in its metamorphosis, I’m prompted to question: In the midst of change, what things are certain to remain?

There are promises found in God’s Word that offer us hope and….

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16 Biblical Affirmations for the New Year

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16 Biblical Affirmations for the New Year

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

There’s a false narrative ringing throughout our culture.

We’re told that we can muster up strength in ourselves, attract love, and use the power of positive thinking to bring wealth, health, and happiness to our souls. But believing these lies only leads to disappointment, defeat, and despair.

The truth is: our humanity is broken.

I’ve lived long enough to realize that I am nothing––and I can do nothing––apart from Christ. Thankfully, I don’t have to face one day alone or rely on my own resources. God is with me, and He will help me make it through whatever comes my way.

As we embark on the journey through 31,536,000 seconds this new year, I’ve compiled a list of biblical affirmations to help us face any situation that arises. There may be fear, discouragement, disappointment, uncertainty, weariness, and insecurity. But we can focus on who our God is, what He’s doing, and what He will do for us. Surely, we will overcome with Him.

Here are 16 Biblical Affirmations to stand on in this New Year:

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The Weary World Rejoices

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The Weary World Rejoices

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11 ESV

Heavy clouds burst from the weight of their moisture, and I hear the splattering of steady raindrops. Outside my window, gray has settled across the atmosphere. Yet as I scan the horizon, flickering tiny lights catch my attention. My neighbor has adorned her balcony with Christmas lights. In the middle of my weariness, my heart remembers that there is a reason for great joy.

When rainy days loom, it’s not too difficult to hold on to hope. We’ve experienced enough cloudy hours to know the sun always shines again. But it’s not easy to cling to hope when darkness infiltrates our hearts and trouble enters our lives. I’ll admit, it’s a real struggle for me to bask in joy when the world around me is crumbling beneath my feet. We all know those times––whether it be illness, loss, rejection, or long days with unanswered prayers.

Perhaps God’s people felt that way before the birth of Christ



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3 Things to Remember to Inspire a Heart of Thanksgiving

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3 Things to Remember to Inspire a Heart of Thanksgiving

Give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV


“Am I supposed to thank God for this?” I clasped my hands into a fist as I stared back into my counselor’s wise eyes.

“No. You don’t have to thank God for the storm. But you can thank Him for who He is in the storm.” Her quick reply immediately set my upside-down perspective upright again.

Weeks before this encounter, flood waters from a passing hurricane left damage to my home. It was the last catastrophe on a list of tragedies that occurred in my life during that season. And “broken” is the only word that describes how I felt that day years ago. Words of thanksgiving and praise were not on my lips, and they were a galaxy away from my heart.

Sometimes it is difficult to be thankful when we’re hurting. Our thoughts war against offering praise to God when our lives are seemingly falling apart. But as challenging as it is––offering thanksgiving and praise––open the doorway to victory for a heart burdened by worry, fear, and defeat.

So how do we give thanks in the hardest times? Here are three things to remember when it’s difficult to praise:

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The Promise of Beauty for Every Season

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The Promise of Beauty for Every Season

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

The crunching and swooshing of freshly fallen leaves under my feet prompt me to look down. I reach for one single leaf and twirl it around and around in my hand. My eyes focus on its vibrant colors and I'm amazed at how the deep red, yellow, and orange seamlessly bleed into one another. The pattern for the leaf’s shift from a green Summer leaf to a colorful Fall leaf contains no real definition.

Staring at the beauty of this dying leaf, my gaze drifts to my hand effortlessly holding it. I take note of the creases and lines that are increasingly prevalent on my skin. Aging is taking place in tiny increments, and now that I am rounding the curve to 50, I’m acutely aware of its signs.

The Teacher’s words in Ecclesiastes echo in my mind: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. And I’m reminded of the constant change taking place in this life––the shifting from one season to the next. Some are hard seasons of illness, grief, loss, or financial struggles. Yet others are filled with laughter, joy, success, and fulfillment.

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