Variety packs now available!

                                    

What does a dog, coffee and baby Jesus have in common? They can all be found in the 2024 Christmas card variety pack!  Two of each design as shown above - 12 cards - $10.00. OR, click on the card shop link below for even more designs - and make your own selections. List of suggested Christmas messages included.

‘It’s the season to connect with others in the love of Christ!

AND, do you know what makes a great Christmas gift for the card writer in your life? This care and concerned variety pack!

   

     

12 cards - $10.00

Always free shipping!

Here’s the link to the card shop! Come and visit for purchases or just some inspirational messages for your own heart!

https://intermissionsforhope.blogspot.com/p/new-card-catalog-1123.html

Fall designs are still available as well - if you want some Thanksgiving - thank you for being in my life - type cards.

I’m worried…

 

Yes. I’m worried. Even as a Christian and believe in God’s perfect care.

I searched the internet for some kind of kindred spirit words to comfort me in my humanness. All I got was message upon message that said, “Do not worry!” As if I could turn it off like a light switch. I looked for encouragement in being human and all I found was the impossible response of - don’t. Just don’t.

Lord, in Your mercy, help me despite my anxious response to the circumstances before me. Hold me close and keep me in Your tender care - even if I can’t feel it right now. 

My prayers of surrender seem to be on an endless loop. And my prayers don’t always conclude with a - peace that passes understanding.

Despite all this, I know God loves and cares for me. Despite all this, I believe God will jump in and act on my behalf.

Even if…

Even when…

my faith is shaking in its boots. That does not deter God from helping and carrying me through.

May you know this too.

My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; He is mine forever! (Psalm 73:26 TLB)

Savior and more (originally posted 2017)

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

I was thumbing through a children's bible, looking for a story to read in Sunday School. Here is what I came across:
Cain and Abel - Abel was killed
Noah - people of the world were killed
Joseph - brothers wanted him killed
Moses - Pharoah killed all the baby boys
The Red Sea - Egyptian armies killed
David - Goliath killed
Esther - Jews to be killed
and ultimately - Jesus - killed

You can imagine my dismay if I had to teach these stories one right after another! I used to think violent video games played a role in filling our children's head with such trauma. Or that news coverage of violence played a part. It never dawned on me that bible stories would be a contributing factor as well. (And hasn't it also been said that nursery rhymes of old have hints of trauma and terror? I think of the big bad wolf and Hansel and Gretel.)

But thankfully, God does not leave us hanging - then or now. As you continue to read to the end of each story, you will see God had a plan. God's goodness shines through. God always steps in. God still does. He still has plans and purpose. Old testament people probably didn't see or understand in the moment - much like us today. But the Lord is present and sovereign and good beyond our imagination. He has a plan still.  And His ultimate plan of rescue? Jesus, the risen Lord. Savior, Redeemer and more.

My thoughts are still in a quandary about talking about killing - past, present, and future - with our young children. But as anyone who has every attended Sunday School knows, no matter what, the answer is always JESUS!

Christmas card variety pack!

What does a dog, coffee and baby Jesus have in common? They can all be found in the 2024 Christmas card variety pack!  Two of each design as shown above - 12 cards - $10.00. OR, click on the card shop link below for even more designs - and make your own selections. List of suggested Christmas messages included.

‘It’s the season to connect with others in the love of Christ!

AND, do you know what makes a great Christmas gift for the card writer in your life? This care and concerned variety pack!

12 cards - $10.00

Always free shipping!

Here’s the link to the card shop! Come and visit for purchases or just some inspirational messages for your own heart!

https://intermissionsforhope.blogspot.com/p/new-card-catalog-1123.html

Fall designs are still available as well - if you want some Thanksgiving - thank you for being in my life - type cards.

 

Will God do the right thing?

  “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. (John 12:15-16)

 Jesus came. But not as the victorious king the Jews had imagined. The people wanted an insurrectionist to topple Roman. They wanted victory over the Romans. They wanted him to ride in on a magnificent mighty stallion. And by great force, bring peace and security to their land. They prayed and prayed for Him to come.

And He came… to bring victory… but not quite the one they had in mind.

Did they wonder, start to question, when Jesus rode in on a donkey?
When He wept for them, instead of starting victory chants?
When He didn’t appear mighty and strong and victorious - at all?
Were they disappointed - in God? Angry at God?
For not doing the right thing?

As we stand on the cusp of an election, and we pray for God to do the “right thing” - in our eyes…

what will our response be when Jesus arrives to save - but not in the way we desire?

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7)

Will we continue to live in certain hope that -

 being confident of this, that he who began a good work… will carry it on to completion… (Philippians 1:6)

 - whatever the outcome of the election may be?

Or will you feel like the Lord let us down?

 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

(Psalm 121:1-2 MSG)

Could it be true?

It was one of those passages in the Bible that I’ve read a hundred times. But today it leaped off the page. So intense. So profound. Perhaps it was the red letting that made it so.

“Father, forgive these people,” Jesus said, “for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 TLB)

Jesus Himself prayed this. Jesus asked the Father for this. Surely, a prayer request from God’s own Son - would be answered. Right? There would be no need for “hope it gets answered”. We are told in James 5:16 that the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. And we believe Jesus is the Righteous One. So, it goes without saying… Jesus’ request would get answered. Could it be true? They would truly be forgiven?

And we are told in the scriptures that Jesus intercedes for us - is praying for us. Constantly. Daily. (John 17:20) Again, if Jesus Himself asks the Father on our behalf… can we believe without a doubt?

And yet another passage.

And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”  (Luke 23:43 TLB)

Jesus makes a promise to the criminal hanging next to Him. A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will indeed happen.

Could it be true?

God’s Word to us is:

• forgiveness of all our sins
• a steadfast love that never shifts or changes
• and Jesus saves

Are you, like me, seeing this in a different light now? Can we live in these promises, these truths - with the greatest of assurance?

Because of Jesus’ intercession for us in His prayers - His asking…

Pause for a moment and think on this. And thank God for this.

God’s unfailing love

 

Just come as you are. (Lord, I’m feeling fat, lazy, tired, insufficient, sinful - all that and more)

Come to Me and you will find rest for your weary, overanxious, overthinking soul.

You are not all of that in My eyes.

I see and know your heart.

You are so precious to Me.

I adore the things you do in My Name.

I am deeply touched by them.

I love when you shine.

And all the burdens take a backseat.

Don’t be afraid to shine when the moment comes.

I promise to equip you.

Keep pausing, keep reflecting, keep seeing My love for you.

See that it’s a daily, continuous flow.

Blessing done in My love for you.

Look around. Just look!

And capture as many as you can.

Signs of My love and care are all around.

I hope you smile…

All that heaviness is not from Me.

Beautiful rhythms are My way of walking, talking - living.

Sure and steady are much easier.

Be assured of My fulfilling.

King of the universe.

Lord of all creation.

Son of God.

Beautiful, awesome Savior.

I AM HE!

Present - now and for all time.