Are you okay?

 

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

They all looked so normal. Holding coffee cups, reading books. Someone on their phone. Others heads together chatting softly. Normal people stuff. Sure looked like regular people having a regular day. Right? Are you picturing a coffee shop perhaps?

The fact is, this is taking place in a hospital waiting room.Waiting for lab work to be done. Waiting for radiology. Which means all these normal, average looking people have some real issues they are contenting with.

It sure is hard to tell just by looks who is dealing with pain.Worries. Strife. Anxious over the possible outcomes. They sure looked okay - just by looking. But this scene could very easily be found in a coffee shop, grocery store line, worship center, at the bank, at work, any group gathering really. 

It made me pause and think - so many of us, carrying burdens, yet carrying on with regular normal routines of daily life.

Looks don't tell the whole story. Stuff is going on the the life of the one with the smile. Stuff they are trying to grin-and-bear through. More people than you realize.

So let's be gentle. And kind. You don't need to know the whole background story. Just like we all have sinned, we all have trials and tribulations too. 

Let us pray for the known - and the unknown - burdens of each other.
Let's just be a little more gracious and forgiving.
Let's draw everybody a little closer to God.
The God Who carries us through it all.

And you know that the Lord has taken care of us the whole time we've been in the desert, just as you might carry one of your children. (Deuteronomy 1:31 CEB)

Whose turn is it?

I think I need a rest from all the pursuing and striving; the trying; and being so focused on being a good servant every minute. It is draining and daunting. God doesn’t refer to us solely as servants. But also Beloved. Child. Friend. I think we are meant to enjoy life as it comes. Trusting the Lord to lead us into good service - in His timing - His place - His ideas - His energy.

You will hear His voice. He knows how to reach you. He knows how to lay things on your heart. You must believe that you won’t miss a thing. In the meantime, enjoy His blessings until He summons you. And when He calls, may your spirit respond. “I get to serve the Lord! With His wisdom and His power infused in me!” You can’t miss! And gladness will fill your soul. Be grateful for this thin-space, this bonding time with the Lord.

Yes. When He calls on you, when it’s your turn - serve the Lord with gladness. Share in His smile. Walk cheerfully into the commission. You don’t need to run and chase after opportunities to serve God. God already has it proportioned out. Which one of us does this or that. When and where. He won’t let you miss your turn to share in the joy of working closely alongside Him.

And in between - rest and play and enjoy living in His love and care. It is to His good pleasure to see us enjoying Him and all the benefits of being His servant, beloved, child, and friend. 

 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing!

Know ye that the Lord, He is God; it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise!

Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name!

For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

- Psalm 100

 

Growing in comfort and ease

 

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence … (Hebrews 4:16)

We rescued our two cats from the shelter several years ago. One of them had been left alone a lot in her previous home, so she hid under the couch and behind the bed all the time when we first got her. Of course we worried. We wanted to love her and feed her and let her know she was safe with us.

Do your fears sometimes keep you from spending time with God?

Eventually she dared to come out in the open. She was cautious and she wasn’t crazy about being picked up; didn’t want to be held.

Are you sometimes cautious about how you allow God to approach you and what you allow Him to do with your life? How you let Him love and care for you? 

After some time, she felt safer and more secure and moved more freely about the house. On occasion, she even jumped into my lap for a back rub. But it was on her terms.

Do you also need to be in control of when and how you meet with God?

And now she’s grown to the point of letting us pick her up and hold her.

Are you comfortable living in front of God? Are you able to enjoy His presence – get up in His lap?

We didn’t get to the comfort and ease part with her right away. We had to keep connecting with her, seeking her out. A safe and comfortable – approachable - relationship developed with constant nurturing.

Are you growing into a confident relationship with Christ?

May the peace and love and care of the Lord be yours…

Instead of…

Many of you have flower gardens and I know you spend a lot of time pulling ugly weeds to make more room for your beautiful flowers; in hopes that the flowering plants will overrun the weeds and take over the space.

Grow, flowers, grow! Reach down deep and suck up all the nutrients from the ground. Leave nothing for those weeds. Reach up high for the sunlight and all it offers as well. Keep the weeds hidden beneath your leaves so they die in the darkness. Yes, speak softly and gently to those flowers and prune a little back for more growth. Right?

As one grows; the other will surely die for lack of attention.

And so it is, or can be, in the world around us. So much attention to the weeds and thorns of life. When the Bible says to overcome evil with good - isn’t that just like tending to your garden? Drown out the hurtful; crowd it out, with more lovingkindness.

Can you see it; envision it? Dream. Imagine. And now begin replacing. Displacing.

And let it begin with me. In my heart. My motives. My outlook. My impact.

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Starve the old out of its energy and strength and power. And the old, bitter, hurtful will be outnumbered. Spend less energy on trying not to be sinful and more focus on being more of what God wants you to be. Let the better take root. Let the better take over. 

Grow, dear child of God, grow! Reach down deep and suck up all the nutrients from the ground (the firm foundation of Christ). Leave nothing for those weeds. Reach up high for the sunlight and all it offers as well.  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 Keep the weeds hidden beneath your leaves of trust and belief so they die in the darkness. Yes, speak softly and gently to those flowers of faith and prune back any doubts for more growth. 

Let the earth be full of His glory. 

From 1 Peter 3:8-12 MSG

 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.

Orders to be shipped

 Effective August 1, 2025 - there will be a price change for those orders that need to be shipped versus picked up or delivered locally. THIS IS FOR ORDERS THAT NEED TO BE SHIPPED ONLY.

10 cards for $12.00

to help absorb some of the cost of postage

All other orders will remain -

12 cards for $10.00

Thank you for your continued support of this ministry!

Julie

More seeds, please

 

Today I’m thinking about seeds and how small they are. And how we often think of an act of kindness is a small seed that will hopefully grow into something! But I’m thinking about seeds plural and multiple seeds, that maybe somebody has already planted seeds in someone’s heart and maybe it just takes one more small seed in order for that person to have their life completely changed in Jesus.

 We often reference the stick that broke the camels back. Piled up and piled up and now that last one made all the difference. So don’t think your seed is too small to make a difference. Don’t think you’re one little act of kindness as ineffective. You’re one little share about Jesus… that one moment you have in the closeness of God - then you tell someone else - don’t think for a minute, that it’s not having an impact. Surely, surely … God is at work and is piling up seeds until that one last seed makes all the difference in the world to someone’s life … and then the miracle. Because we all made an effort to contribute a seed. So whether you are the first seed, or the 19th seed, or the hundredth seed, they all play a role, they all have purpose, in getting to that end result of every seed glorifying God. Know that every seed has purpose. You have purpose. Your story has purpose - you’re sharing has purpose like building blocks. And who knows whether you’ve come for such a time as this? At some point, the scales will tip, and someone’s heart will be overflowing with all this goodness from God. And they finally realize in their head and heart and mind that this is God, the real God, over and over again piling on His love and blessings and care.

My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts.

- 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6 TLB

Words of comfort and of hope

 Which one meets your need today?

How may I pray for you?

Tell me…. juliecrane.57@att.net

Thanks and praise? Now?

 It’s hard not to focus on all the hurt, pain and suffering… it’s hard to rise up above its seemingly endlessness. It feels guilty to enjoy and rejoice in the more pleasant things. There is still an abundance of blessings from God’s heart and hand - and yet - if I wait for everything to calm down before I praise Him… if I don’t go to Him even in the bad times… I may never enter that peace that passes understanding. My stirred up soul will never find rest.

I know from John 16:33 that in this world there will be trouble. I don’t think anyone likes that verse…

But there are other verses promising strength for those weakened; hope for the weary; help for the heavy-laden; and a God Who promises to carry us through.

So even as our hearts are breaking, may we invite the Lord in to be our Comfort and to help us carry all this grief, sadness, and yes, anger. Lord, be the Light in the darkest dark. Don’t leave us alone and feeling helpless and so distraught.

May we start now giving thanks and praise to God - for the hope and help He offers.

Beginning with morning coffee

And the rising sun

Birds chirping

Cleansing breaths

and the ever present Father

Be merciful, O Lord.

Be gentle with us, O gracious God.

Thank You for hearing every kind of prayer.

Thank You for Your comfort.

Thank You for peace that passes understanding.

Thank You for light in the darkness.

Walk with us through this day…

Open our eyes, Lord. O God, we need to see You.

 Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? 

Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, 

for I shall again praise Him 

For the help of His presence.

O my God, my soul is in despair within me 

[the burden more than I can bear]; 

Therefore I will [fervently] remember You 

from the land of the Jordan 

And the peaks of [Mount] Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 

Deep calls to deep at the [thundering] sound of Your waterfalls;

All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song will be with me, 

A prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:5-8 AMP

Did you forget something?

 

There I was, in the middle of baking up something really terrific - when I went to the pantry for an ingredient, and, you guessed it - there wasn’t enough. I saw the bag on the shelf earlier but didn’t check the amount inside. So I had to stop what I was doing and run to the store. But I did find exactly what I needed. Before I knew it, I was back in the kitchen and filling the room with a scrumptious smell! And the treats were delish!

Prayer works the exact same way. You don’t have enough of something? Perhaps you are low and need another carton of strength, or a big bottle of patience, or a bag of fresh hope.  The first thing you need to do is… stop. Then you go to the place where these things are found. That would be God. You will find everything and anything you need in Him. You can just ask for it. You turn your heart towards Him and whatever it is - is freely given. (I found so many scripture verses that support this). Now you can go back to what you were doing and finish with amazing results. Just like my treats! Heavenly!

And this same God Who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19 NLT

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone?  Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake?  If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:11 NRSVUE

 You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him. - Hebrews 11:6 TLB

 We know that we can trust God to do the things that he has promised. So we must continue to expect those things. We must tell other people that we trust God. We should not stop doing that. - Hebrews 10:23 EASY

God said, “I dare you.”

It happened just a couple months ago. I had already signed up to attend a conference for Christian creatives. I was hoping to get some encouragement about my blogging and notecards ministry. Some direction. Some clarity from believers in the industry. But in March, God put a challenge before me. It interrupted my morning prayers. “Submit your book drafts to the contest.” You see, I had written a children’s book, goodness - years ago. And it sat on a back burner because 1) what if it wasn’t good enough, and 2) I don’t want to invest all that time and effort in illustrating it if it wasn’t good enough. I also started writing a devotional book that included much of my own artwork, along with scriptures and prayer prompts. I put together a sample copy using a self-publishing company. But the draft copy they sent me was a real disappointment. So that, too, went on a back burner. I guess I wasn’t meant to go in that direction after all…

So in March I saw the advertisement on social media for submissions to the Oasis Award Contest held by the Well Publishers and the deadline was fast approaching. And that’s when God stepped in. So I did it. I closed my eyes and just did it.

To make a long story short, here is a picture of the announcement made on the last night of the conference.

And now there is a contract with an editor and the publishing company underway. And I will be a real published author… never saw that coming… Lord, you have taken my breath away!

To God alone be the glory… (but, wow, I can’t wait to work on this with You, Lord!)

Reunion!

My husband and I just got back from a trip of seeing family and friends and attending a conference. I can’t tell you the immense joy of gathering with them to share hugs and tell stories and all the catching up. All the love flowing! Getting together with those you love - and who love you - has such a healing power.

At the conference I saw past acquaintances, plus made some new friends, all who have a love for Christian writing, artwork, worship, music… How wonderful to spend time with a group of people who love the Lord as much as I do! And love expressing it in so many creative ways! It, too, had such a healing and inspirational power.

We also worshipped at different places while we were away from home. We enjoyed different styles of worship. And it really broadened my view of just how vast and diverse the love of God and the love for God can be - and yet, at the heart’s level, we are all the same. We all love God. Praise Him. Desire Him. Invite Him into our lives. It was powerful to stand in the midst of it all and be impacted by it.

Now that I am home, I look forward to other groups I am a part of - knitting, bible studies, etc. Getting together with people who share the same interests is empowering and gives such support and encouragement to whatever it is you have in common. There is an excitement that flows between you. And joy! Certainly good for your mental health!

That’s why it is so important to gather as Christians, celebrating the love of God in and between us. There is joy in doing things together. There is joy in being surrounded by people with the same passion for Christ and Christlike living. It is healing and strengthening. There is a time for private personal time with the Lord. And there is a time for gathering with like-minded believers.

And it is so good! So good for your spiritual and mental health! And for theirs!

I encourage you to enjoy the fellowship found in so many areas of life. And know it is all love poured out from our Heavenly Father. It does His heart good to see us loving and celebrating life with each other. 

They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship… all the believers were together… they continued to meet together… and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. - Acts 2:42-47 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another… - Hebrews 10:24-25

 

Get in the car!

 It was raining. Hard! It drummed against the roof of my car. I couldn’t hear anything outside but the downpour of rain. I couldn’t see anything through the windows. It had totally blurred the view. Wind a-blowing like nobody’s business. No way was I going to step out into all that drama. I’m staying here where it is safe. Until the storm passes.

And that is what it should be like for us as believers. 

Are you sitting in a storm? Torrential pounding rain? High pressing winds? Can’t see?

Then stay surrounded by the presence of Jesus. Let Him enfold you in protection until the storm passes. His protection will be your peace. His rod (that beats back the enemy) and His staff (that pulls you back from danger) will comfort you.

Did your test results come back not as expected? Does your doctor want you to see a specialist? Is that appointment seven weeks out? The storm of fear is pounding. You can see the blinding rain and hear the powerful winds that’s out there. And you can step out into it. Be drenched by it. Overcome by it. Or you can stay in the safety… in the ever present, not leaving you arms of Jesus. You will still see the storm but I encourage you to close your eyes and sense His promised presence and remember His God-given authority over the wind and the rain. And your circumstances. Everything in heaven and earth is under His reign. He will order your storm to pass…

 Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. - Psalm 57:1 NRSVUE

Nailed it!

Creator God, so often we are stymied by our own doubts that we hinder Your gift of creativity in ourselves. And yet the ways of creativity are endless.

If there is anything I have learned about creating art, it is that there are literally millions of ways to do it. And that has really opened me up to trying to pursue it. It doesn’t have to be one certain way - it doesn’t all have to look like a photograph or real life. There is a beauty and fun and joy found in various expressions. You can use pencil or paint or chalk on the sidewalk.

Creativity can be found in all kinds of places. Think of all the genres of music and forms of dance. Arranging flowers in a garden or a vase. Writing a note - or a whole book. Even from the way you place food on a plate, or decorate a cake, all the needle arts, and sandcastles… vacation photo collage. 

Why do you think God added creative juices to our souls? And don’t say you aren’t creative. Just look at the list above!

As we read in the first chapter of Genesis, God created and it was good. Over and over again… it was good. It felt good. Could it be that creating something is rewarded by a feeling of Joy and Satisfaction?

I know, I know… you’re going to tell me you have attempted creativity and it mostly comes out imperfect and not shareable. Believe me, I know. You have to desire and pursue that special joy that comes from going through the process of good, better, best. I can’t stop drawing because the first attempts look pre-schoolish. But in the tweaking I find, it does get better. And oh, you should see the smile on my face when it all comes together! 

So I encourage you to get up and try. To open your eyes to things that call for creativity and imagination. Maybe, like my cookie pictured above, it will bring a smile and laughter in spite of its imperfection. God’s amazing grace! But maybe, just maybe, it will turn out to be a blessing and a joy after all.

 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. - Romans 12:6

 The women skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread and cloth, and fine-twined linen, and brought them in. Some other women gladly used their special skill to spin the goats’ hair into cloth. The leaders brought onyx stones to be used for the ephod and the chestpiece; and spices, and oil—for the light, and for compounding the anointing oil and the sweet incense. So the people of Israel—every man and woman who wanted to assist in the work given to them by the Lord’s command to Moses—brought their freewill offerings to him. - Exodus 35:25-29 TLB

 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” - Luke 6:38

Looking for some joy and light in your life? God Himself and shown us and has paved the way…

Are you purr-aying?

 I love when one of my cats comes to lay alongside me on the couch - and looks up at me to be petted. And the minute I start stroking their fur - they purr.

This purr is a sign of relaxed happiness and contentment. But did you know a cat’s purr can mean and be used for different things?

Purring can be a way for cats to connect with their owners and with each other, fostering a sense of security and belonging.

Are you purr-aying to foster a sense of security and belonging with Jesus?

Purring can also be used as a self-soothing mechanism, helping cats to cope with stressful or painful situations.

Do you purr-ay to help cope with stressful or painful situations?

Some scientists believe the low-frequency vibrations of a purr can have a therapeutic effect, potentially aiding in healing and reducing pain.

Do your purr-yers have a therapeutic effect?

Our prayers can be used for a multitude of things. Certainly for thanks and for requests. But does the actual act of praying bring about a peace; a soothing - “it’s going to be okay” space? 

Prayer can indeed bring about a state of contentment; prayer can be soothing; prayer can reduce pain. I encourage you to spend some time there, in prayer, with God - yes, take the time, make the time, and see what the Lord will do for you.

  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. - Ephesians 6:18

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13 NLT

A different gift

  This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

- Ephesians 3:7-10 MSG

Some gifts are meant to last a long time, while others last only a short season. Some gifts are like springtime flowers that pop up again after a time of rest. 

As long as you are alive, you are in some way gifted to serve and to bless the rest of the body of Christ.

We often talk of people having different gifts. But do you think you can be gifted differently depending on the season of life? We all certainly know that what we were able to do in our 20s and we are no longer able to do in our 50s and 60s.

Many churches offer a study to discover your spiritual gift(s). And it is certainly a good thing to realize what God has given you to support the Body. We all have been given something to offer to another.

Do you think your God-giftedness can change over time?

Do you think you can ever go God-giftedless?

Do you think your age or physical limitations - keep you from being useful to God?

Yet we have heard numerous times that God equips. Could it be that there are:

Gifts in season.

Gifts in due time.

New gifts.

Chapter in life gifts.

Replacement gifts.

Perhaps we shouldn’t define our usefulness by only one gift and then quit. Perhaps there are new gifts of love and service knocking on your door. Things you never felt equipped (of gifted) to do before this chapter of life.

God is not done with you yet. So I encourage you to open your eyes and ears to what God may be calling you to next. And don’t dismiss it because you’ve never been able to do it before. It is a new day with God.

Our greatest calling is to love - even in small ways. Surely you can extend some love in small ways. 

 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

- Ephesians 3:7 NIV

Responding to troubling times

 

FIGHT. When you are part angry, part fearful; when your dander is really up and you raise your fist in frustration. That’s when God wants to step in and be your Defender.

FLIGHT. When you want to just run away from all the drama and trauma you see; feeling so incapable of any kind of correct response. That’s when God wants to be your Protector.

FROZEN. When you are so overwhelmed by all that’s coming at you right now and you don’t know how to move forward or go back; unable to make any decision at all. That’s when God wants to be your Comforter.

FAWN. And when you just do anything to keep the peace at any expense; doing whatever others want or expect just to keep things calm. That’s when God wants you to know He is still in charge of it all. He can handle all the loose ends. 

Wherever you find yourself, unable to help or fix - God is there. The God Who helps, saves, comforts and defends us as gracious Lord. Abounding in mercy and steadfast love. It is He. Right here. Right now. In your midst. Orchestrating a good outcome. He is. He will. There is no god like our God.

 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? - Exodus 15:11

 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. - Exodus 15:13

Hallelujah! He is here!

 

‘This is he who made the heavens and the earth, and formed humanity in the beginning, who is announced by the law and prophets, who was enfleshed in a virgin, who was hanged on the tree, who was buried in the earth, who was raised from the dead, and went up to the heights of heaven, who is sitting on the right hand of the Father, who has authority to judge and save all things, through whom the Father made the things which exist, from the beginning to all the ages. 

This one is ‘the Alpha and Omega,’ this one is ‘the beginning and the end,’ – the beginning which cannot be explained and the end which cannot be grasped. This one is the Christ. This one is the King. This one is Jesus. This one is the Leader. This one is the Lord. This one is he who has risen from the dead. This one is he who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father. ‘To him be the glory and the power to the ends of the ages. Amen.’ *

* Bishop Melito of Sardis,   Homilia in Passionem Christi,  160–170 CE,   The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 1 Origins to Constantine , edited by Margaret M Mitchell and Frances M Young, (Cambridge University Press 2006)

… plus God equals…

Change is possible. Growth is possible. Developing into something greater… all possible. With Christ, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13) and can have great value. Even common, ignoble things (2 Timothy 2:20).

The first drawing is one of my earliest ones. I used pencil and paper back then. I loved the bright colors and of course the message. Jesus is my everything. 

But see how I have grown when you look at the more recent piece. How more developed the artwork is… 

Both bring joy and celebration and thankfulness in the Savior Jesus.

But God used the earliest underdeveloped attempt. He loved it. He used it. He touched people’s hearts with it. He didn’t wait for perfection. He rejoiced in the message. He was glad I did it. It turned people’s eyes to Jesus. He did that through my feeble attempt at artwork. 

So I tell you, don’t wait for perfection, in word or a skill, before you dare to share the love of God. God uses the most unremarkable to advance His kingdom. God will bless - because God always adds to it… people will see more into it than you do - because of God’s involvement; enhancement. Remember that God uses the weak to display His power. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

… for it is God Who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. - Philippians 2:13

And don’t be intimidated by those who are older than you; simply be the example they need to see by being faithful and true in all that you do. - 1 Timothy 4:12

So I ask you, where are you afraid to step out in faith - withholding a blessing from God; keeping a display of God’s power held back? Choose this day to leap! And tell me if God showed up. 

the Bread of Life

  And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” - Luke 4:4

This bible verse came to me this morning, after I had partaken in Holy Communion the night before. And some wondering thoughts I have had…

Bread alone. It led me think of having Jesus as a Friend. And truly He is. There is nothing more wonderful than a warm friendship. Like bread. It makes me think of the comfort and security of being at a grandma’s house. 

But there is more. So much more.

The wine. The life giving blood of Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus. In addition to the Friendship, there is a Savior. The Bread. And the Wine. Jesus truly all in all.

Psalm 104 says that bread and wine sustain and gladden the heart.

I think there is something very special going on here… this not by bread alone. What would Holy Communion be without the wine? Would we take of the bread - and then what? Think what? The wine - that gladdens the heart. Would we remember to rejoice in this Savior? Would we miss out on this? Don’t we need both to “remember Me”…  both Friend and Savior. Love and Lord. 

In John 6:35 Jesus joins hunger and thirst together. And again, in verses 53 through 57. Everyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood is in Me, and I in him.

I welcome your thoughts on this. I feel like I’m supposed to go somewhere with this, but… can’t quite pull it together. It’s niggling at me and I can’t quite capture clarity or bring it full circle in my mind.

The Lord’s Strong Hold

 

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ 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?
² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.

 A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE BATTLING CANCER OR SOME OTHER ON-GOING DEBILITATING CONDITION RIGHT NOW, THAT THE EVIL THAT IS TRYING TO DEVOUR THEIR FLESH. LORD, MAKE THOSE DANGEROUS CELLS STUMBLE AND FALL.

³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

LORD, INCREASE THEIR HOPE IN YOU. MAY IT RISE UP WITHIN THEM AND GRANT THEM CONFIDENCE IN THE ALMIGHTY.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,

MAY THEY INDEED FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN YOUR HOLY, INCOMPARABLE PRESENCE EVERY DAY.

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

MAY THEIR EYES BE OPENED TO JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.

⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

O LORD, PROTECT THEM AS ONLY YOU CAN. MAY THEIR THOUGHTS RISE ABOVE THE CALAMITY THAT SEEMS TO SURROUND THEM.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

MAY THEY TRULY SEE AND ENVISION A LIFE HELD IN YOUR HANDS. AND MAY THEY BE SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE REAL, ALIVE, INVOLVED AND AT WORK, RISEN LORD.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

LORD, NO ONE ELSE HOLDS SUCH PROMISE.

⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.

THANK YOU, GRACIOUS GOD, THAT DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE SAY, WHAT DOCTORS SAY, YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, HAVE THE LAST WORD.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.

I PRAY THEY ARE ABLE TO HOLD STEADY IN THE FAITH YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.

¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
 spouting malicious accusations.

THAT THEY WILL REMAIN STRONG AND NOT CAVE IN TO HOPELESSNESS OR NEGATIVE THINKING.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

MAY THEY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING KNOWING THE LORD HAS A HOLD ON THEM AND SECURE IN YOUR LOVING ARMS.

¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

WATCHING FOR YOU, LORD, WATCHING AND WAITING FOR YOU – ALL WISE, ALL POWERFUL, ALL WONDERFUL ONE.

My Sentiments Exactly

 Be ready to share the good news! Get your Easter cards now. (You know how the time seems to slip right on by! - is it really the middle of March already?)

Send one to your pastor - a note of appreciation for all the extra mid-week Lenten services and those during Holy Week

Distant friends and family

Sunday school /bible study leaders

Anyone you know in charge of an outreach ministry in your town - who are tirelessly helping those in need and you may be involved in too (think food pantry, clothing drive, any helping hands organization)

Youth directors

Church secretary

New neighbor? Perhaps use as an invitation to your Easter service

Mom

There are other card designs suitable for Easter… bunnies, flowers, etc. Come and take a look in the card shop!

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

Also available at this time, a collection of 12 cards called SPRING MIX. $10.00. (Pictured below) Just request SPRING MIX when ordering.

As always, thank you for joining me in loving others, both near and far, with expressions of God’s love through notes and cards. God bless you in loving others in this way!