7 Scriptures to help with loneliness

Living with chronic illness can be lonely, heartbreakingly lonely.

At times our friends call less, our family struggles with acceptance and people who don't know us very well pass judgement.

I've struggled with loneliness all my life, but when you add "sickness" to the mix it takes on a whole different level of discouragement and sadness.

If anyone can relate to us, it's Jesus. He faced all of our struggles and feels all of our pain. When he was arrested in the olive grove right before his crucifixion, all his friends left him.

But he was never alone. 

And neither are we. Our God is always with us - at all times, in all circumstances - even when we can't feel his presence. Here are some scriptures to encourage and help you if you're struggling with this powerful emotion . . .

I hope you will write out the ones that spoke to you and carry them in your pocket when you need a little pick me up.
                                                                                      Be well, love well.

Sunday Psalms and Stories: God Answers Prayer

On Sundays, this space is reserved for God's stories. As one of the redeemed, I'd like to share just some of the many things he's done in my life. I hope you'll be encouraged by them!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:1-2

Scripture can be hard to understand. For instance, a few years ago, my girls and I were traveling in London and before we went touring for the day, we had Bible study in our hotel room. Basically, I stuck my finger randomly in the Bible and read the scripture. Here's the one I poked out:

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19.

This was a verse I'd pondered over for years and I couldn't explain it to my children. After all, what did it mean to "speak in poetry, hymns and spiritual songs?" We cracked some jokes and tried singing to each other, but it wasn't helpful. 

Fast forward to sightseeing: After visiting the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, we stumbled upon Westminster Abbey. It was awe inspiring and too huge for one camera lens...

It was late afternoon, we were exhausted but hoped to see inside. We circled the building to find that we'd just missed the final tour. The girls were happy, but I was sad - there are tombs inside and I wanted to see them!

So we're milling around the front entrance, trying to figure out where to have dinner and all of a sudden, this massive door is opened by a priest in a long robe.

My mother-in-law (that's her in the bottom right corner with the huge bag) decides to ask the priest what time the tour will be tomorrow. As she approached he said, "Are you here for the service?" She looked at me with my wide eyes and said, "Yes. Yes, we are."

As she coaxed my irritated daughters inside, I whispered, "Oooh. You just lied to a priest!" She said, "Well, let's go inside and ask for forgiveness."

The Abbey is one of the most beautiful and sacred places I've ever been in and since cameras aren't allowed, I can't show you. They held a service in the middle of it and we watched as a row of priests and choir members glided in. Then the service began...

It was entirely in music - even the scripture was in song. Not one word was spoken.

My kids were bored to tears but as I followed along and read the program, I was overcome with joy. My Heavenly Father was showing me: This is how it's done.

Just hours after I'd asked him to help me understand that difficult verse, he answered my prayer in a way I'd never dreamed.
                                                                             
                                                                                                  He is faithful and wonderful!

Weird Word Wednesdays - # 1 (Salt)

Sometimes God's word is weird. Really, it can be.

God already knows I think this and I believe he understands. It's just that over 2,000 years have gone by since Jesus walked and taught on this earth, and though his word is truly timeless, time changes things.

Time changes words and the meaning of them. Since I love words and research, I thought I'd help us all out by explaining the scripture passages that stand out as I come across them.

So for this first Weird Word Wednesday, we'll look at this passage:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Matt 5:13

This passage is often used in conjunction with the next one that talks about believers being "light." But I'd always been curious to know what on earth He meant about us being salt. I love salt. See I even dress  it up...

Just a few of my many shakers:)

and I get that it enhances my food and even that our bodies need it to live. But what does it mean to be salt? And what does it mean to lose our saltiness?

The Greek word for salt is halas and it was extremely valuable in ancient times. It was a condiment, preservative and was used on sacrifices. Because the people's diet mainly consisted of vegetables, it was necessary for life. It was also used to make alliances and to buy and sell people; it's where we get our word "salary" and the phrase, "She's not worth her salt."

Here's the part I like the best. Salt was lightly applied to soil as a fertilizer. It was used to stimulate the soil and was valued for its purity. Commentators often refer to it being used as a preservative in this passage, but in context with the part about us being light, scholars believe it's more likely that the proper translation is, "You are the salt for the earth."

We are salt for the earth!

Really, think about that. Our world stinks and we're here to make it better. We're here because we can produce good things and make the world healthier for others.

Salt was often mixed with impurities like gypsum dust and when that happened, it became worthless. When we're impure - when we lose our saltiness - we become worthless in the same way a hidden light does no good for those who need to see. We can fail to be stimulating for others.

Heavenly Father, help us to always remain salty! Amen.

If there's a weird word you're curious about, post a comment and I'll see if I can help get you clarity.

The gift of words

Years ago, my kids attended a Montessori school that had a gentle and loving environment. Each month they held a small celebration for all the children having birthdays. Parents were invited to visit, bring food to share, and we all had an opportunity to present the gift of words to the birthday children.

One child at a time would sit in the middle of a circle, surrounded by parents and peers, and anyone who felt led, would say kind words.

I'll never forget my daughter's five-year old celebration because her teacher, Kathy, gave me a gift of words. I can't remember what the kids said, but she said, "Dania has a quiet integrity." I'd been worried about Dania. She was shy, behind in reading and apprehensive about trying new things, but Kathy's words encouraged me that day. She made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

I'm convinced mothering is one of the most challenging tasks on Earth. It's hard to maintain balance and a healthy perspective when trials and trouble threaten to tear down all the good things you've built into your kids. But lately, I've noticed something. As I begin to question my mothering ability, and try to squash the feelings of failure that frequently arise, I'm being encouraged.

It happened a few weeks ago on the beach. A person I barely know came up to me and said, "I just wanted to say that I admire how tight you and Sam are. It reminds me of me and my mom. I saw you walking home together from school the other day and I bet you walked all the way there and back. You're a good mom." I was delighted by this man's compliment because the relationship he has with his mom is something I've noticed and admired.

Then, the other day when I went to write down the weekly chores on the white board in my kitchen, I saw this note from Kennedi, a teenager who hangs out with Dania.

Yesterday, as I was driving Dania's friend Britt, home, she said, "Britt told me she wants to be just like you."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She said, 'I want to have exactly what your mom has. I want to get married, have a nice home and be a stay at home mom and raise my kids.'" This young woman is 18-years old and when I came back, I noticed something else had been added to my white board.

I now know the encouragement isn't just coming from people, it's coming from God. Look at what this passage of scripture says:

"But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus."   2 Corinthians 7:6

Is God encouraging you in a way you may not have realized? Has he sent someone to be a comfort to you in a time of need? Keep your eyes and ears open this week and you just may get a gift of words sent directly from heaven.

Dear God, thank you for caring about our deepest struggles and for meeting our every need. Help us encourage each other and thank you for never leaving or forsaking us in our troubles. Amen.

Faithless Unbeliever

Infidel

Does that word conjure up any images for you? It does for me, and they're scary. I wondered why that was. How could a simple seven-letter word make me bristle with fear?

After all, I don't even know what an infidel looks like.

Later that night, as I took off my makeup in front of the mirror, the eyes of the infidel looked back at me.

Earlier that morning, I was chasing scripture around in the Bible, cross referencing one verse with another and came to 1 Timothy 5, which is Paul's advice to Timothy regarding widows, elders and slaves. In fact, the subtitle in my Bible (Life Application Study Bible, NIV) says, "Instructions for leaders."

So, I'm reading about how Paul directs Timothy to deal with these differing groups of people and this scripture jumps out at me:

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."   1 Tim 5:8

That word "unbeliever" is rendered "infidel" in the KJV and is used only twice; the other instance is 2 Corinthians 6:15. It's also linked to the word "faithless."

The problem is that there are widows in the community who aren't being cared for. Paul tells Timothy to give help to those that actually are in need, but if she has family of some kind, her care is to be provided for by them. "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God." (emphasis mine)

I thought of my own elderly grandmothers, both sick and suffering with various ailments. They are, thank God, being cared for by their children right now, but if they weren't, would I be willing to step in? I live far away. What could I do? What would I do? Am I providing now? And what does providing mean anyway?

I send cards and letters and make phone calls and try to visit when I can but...

In order to help myself answer the question, I went to my concordance and looked up some key words:

Provide - Greek word: proneo - to provide for, care for, to consider, have regard for.

Denied - Greek word: arneomai - to deny, disown, renounce, repudiate

Worse - Greek word: cheiron - worse, more severe than.

Unbeliever - Greek word: apistos - lacking in trust, outsider, one who does not believe the Gospel.

If immediate family goes all the way down the line to the grandparents, I've got some repenting and preparing to do. If my husband and I are responsible for training our children to be Godly, I've got much training to do.

If you're married like I am, this extends to our in-laws and our family responsibility is even greater.

Yikes! Now I know why I felt fear.

Caring for our family members is so important to God that while hanging on the cross, Jesus entrusted John with the task, and he took her into his own home. (John 19:25-28)

Thank you God, for always equipping us to live out our lives of faith. May we be like Jesus in our love and provision for our families and be called faithful by you. Amen.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Do you take time to read the Bible every day?

          If not, why?

The most common excuse I hear from women is, "I don't have time."

Yes you do. You have time, and plenty of it. 

Time is the one thing we have that's the same for everyone. We've all got 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 365 days in a year. You have the same amount of time as President Obama, Kim Kardashian and Jesus Christ.

Jesus had the same 24 hours in a day with which to work, serve and love.

And even when he was a boy, he studied scripture. At 12, his parents found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. (Luke 2:41-52) They were amazed at his understanding and knowledge!

It's easy to take light for granted, because it's all around us. We've got the sun and electricity that allows us to be productive anytime we want, even when it's dark. The light of Christ is different. It illuminates the soul.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

So often we complain about not knowing what God wants us to do. We ask, "What's my next step God? How can I serve you better God? What's in store for my future God?" and yet we don't make time to read and pray over his word.

My challenge to you is this: 10 minutes a day. 

Devote 10 minutes a day to reading your Bible and asking God to give you wisdom and understanding about what you're reading. If you just do that every day, at the end of a year, you'd have spent 3,650 minutes focusing on God's word. That's a great start!

Write down a verse on an index card and stick it in your back pocket or purse so you can take it with you everywhere. Read it in traffic, in a long line, or in the bathroom if you have to. I guarantee God will shine his light on your spirit and direct your path.

Being in the dark sucks.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  John 1:1-5

The Big O!

When you were little, did you ever disobey one of your parents?

I remember well the first time I disobeyed my mom. I was about six-years old and we were shopping in a five-and-dime store....now I've dated myself since very few five-and-dimes exist anymore.

I'd asked her to buy me some bubbles, but she said no. I wanted them desperately, because I loved the little wand. I was so mad she wouldn't let me have them, that I swiped them and hid them in my pocket when she wasn't looking.

When we got back to the car, they rolled out of my pocket and onto the floorboard. My brother saw them and waved them in the air. I tried to keep him quiet (I vividly remember that) but he made a huge fuss, asking why I was the only one who got bubbles. My mom was furious about my thievery and I was upset...but only because I got caught.

She grabbed me by the arm, dragged me and the bubbles back into the store and reported me to the manager. I remember being mortified and terrified as I made my apology.

I learned a great lesson about shoplifting that day.

Becoming and remaining Unstuck in our lives depends on the principle of observing Christ's commands. Look at what Jesus says about it in Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV):

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Now look at how the same passage is rendered in the KJV:

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."


If I really loved my mother that day in the five-and-dime, I would have listened to her and respected her decision to deny my lust for the bubbles. But I didn't, and I paid the price. Now, I don't know if she had a good reason to deny me or not, but I obviously knew she was in authority over me or I wouldn't have snuck them.

I delved deeper and went into the Greek Lexicon and found the word observe means to keep, guard, hold to.

Think of that!

God has entrusted us, his children with the responsibility of guarding his very words and instructions. You can be sure I'll be digging into the commands of Christ as I go through this new year and will record them for you.

I'm praying that this will be an amazing year of becoming more like Christ every day!

God Speaks

I'll never forget the first time I heard God speak.

Early one morning, about twenty-three years ago, I was pulled over on the side of a highway overpass, unable to drive. I'd stayed up all night partying with friends at a nightclub and my heart was racing from the drugs we'd consumed. I was afraid, and trying to figure out how to make the rest of the drive home. In the silence of that car, inside my spirit, I heard a voice clearly say, "If you ever do this again, you will die."

I never did drugs again.

To the best of my recollection that was about two years before I started searching for Jesus, but it was the same voice that prompted me to find him.

Remembering that morning gives me great joy, and fills me with hope for my many friends and family members who don't yet know him. I'm reminded of this passage of scripture:

I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;

I was found by those who did not seek me.

To a nation that did not call on my name,

I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

                     Isaiah 65:1

God knows those He has chosen, and if you're a follower of Christ, you've been chosen.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.  John 15:16-17

Do you hear Him? Are you bearing fruit for eternity?

Practice Reading the Bible

When we read The Bible, we're literally reading God's word. I heard someone describe it as "God's love letter to us" and that's exactly what it is. However, when we read, we're prone to thinking that it's all about us. We search the scriptures for things we can apply to our lives or circumstances and turn the focus inward.

The next time you sit down with your Bible to read, do it in a different way:

• Find a quiet place where you are totally undistracted.
• Thank God for the privilege of reading His word.
• Ask Him for wisdom and understanding.
• Read a short passage.
• Read the same passage again - this time out loud.
• Meditate on it - this means, think about God and His attributes.
• Write it on an index card and read it several times a day.
• Keep the focus on Him, where it rightly belongs.

Here's a scripture to get you started:

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

       Psalm 145:8-9