dear daughters,
Do you like roller coasters? I do. I remember riding one at Six Flags when I was in high school seven times in a row. It would have been eight if I hadn’t gotten sick! I love the thrill of going up and down. But going up and down in life is not always fun.
Sometimes we feel we are on top of the world, that we can conquer anything, and that everything is going our way. Other times we feel like we are down in a valley, or even a pit, and may wonder how, when or if we will ever get out.
I read Psalm 23 the other day for the umpteenth time. You know the one, “The Lord is my Shepherd….” We hear it most often at funerals. But its message is more about life than death! It says this, “Even though I walk through the valley…Thou art with me.” It says a bunch more, but I encourage you to go read it for yourself. God knows that we live in a world that is darkened by despair, destruction, disease and death. But He promises us that as we walk through life, even through the valleys and pits along the way, He is with us. He promises to comfort us, to guide us, to provide for us and to protect us. Is that good news, or what?!
living to love, loving to live,
momma b
Showing posts with label God's presence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's presence. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A Joyful Walk
dear daughters,
Have you ever been in the same room with somebody, but they act like you don’t even exist? I have. It makes you wonder if they are just trying to be rude, or if you are really that unnoticeable or that insignificant to them. I bet God wonders that about us sometimes. Even though He’s always in the room, we don’t always act like it. Sometimes we forget it, but a lot of times we try to ignore it. We try to pretend He isn’t there and doesn’t see what we are doing. We do our thing and certainly don’t strike up a conversation with Him. In those moments, we are telling God, “You are not important right now.” But that doesn’t mean He leaves. He just doesn’t keep interacting with us when we are obviously not interested.
I used to wonder how some people can be so joyful all the time. One day, God showed me the answer in Psalm 16:11, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Wow! There is joy in His presence, but wait…He is always present, right? So why am I not always joyful? There’s a difference in being in the same room and being on the same path. When we choose to listen to what He tells us about life, and walk with Him on the right path, even when things are hard, then He will fill us with joy! I think it’s sort of an overflow of His joy that He feels for us when we are walking with Him and obeying Him. Kind of like the joy we feel when we know we’ve made our parents happy. Joy is contagious! So make your Father God joyful today, and allow Him to fill you up with His heavenly joy!
living to love, loving to live,
momma b
Have you ever been in the same room with somebody, but they act like you don’t even exist? I have. It makes you wonder if they are just trying to be rude, or if you are really that unnoticeable or that insignificant to them. I bet God wonders that about us sometimes. Even though He’s always in the room, we don’t always act like it. Sometimes we forget it, but a lot of times we try to ignore it. We try to pretend He isn’t there and doesn’t see what we are doing. We do our thing and certainly don’t strike up a conversation with Him. In those moments, we are telling God, “You are not important right now.” But that doesn’t mean He leaves. He just doesn’t keep interacting with us when we are obviously not interested.
I used to wonder how some people can be so joyful all the time. One day, God showed me the answer in Psalm 16:11, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Wow! There is joy in His presence, but wait…He is always present, right? So why am I not always joyful? There’s a difference in being in the same room and being on the same path. When we choose to listen to what He tells us about life, and walk with Him on the right path, even when things are hard, then He will fill us with joy! I think it’s sort of an overflow of His joy that He feels for us when we are walking with Him and obeying Him. Kind of like the joy we feel when we know we’ve made our parents happy. Joy is contagious! So make your Father God joyful today, and allow Him to fill you up with His heavenly joy!
living to love, loving to live,
momma b
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Every Day is Sunny with God
dear daughters,
What a beautiful day outside! I love the fall. The weather invites us outside to enjoy God’s creation. Somehow being in His creation on a sunny day feels not only warm on the outside of me, but on the inside of me, too. We somehow feel God right there with us when we are outside enjoying His creation on a beautiful day. But gloomy, rainy days can sometimes feel lonely. When we are stuck inside, trapped in the walls of our manmade rooms, we lose sight of God’s creation and His presence with us. When we aren’t reminded of Him by our surroundings, we can think that He’s not around. But He is! The Bible says God never leaves us. Over and over again His Word promises that He is always right beside us.
Even if it’s not raining outside, we can feel like it is a rainy day. Maybe when you’re at school you sometimes feel lonely, afraid and discouraged. Maybe you wonder if God even knows. Well, He knows and He cares! He loves you and wants you to live your best so you can enjoy life the most. And He promises to walk right beside you while you do it. God said in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." God said to be strong and courageous not once, not twice, but THREE times in just four verses! He doesn’t want us to be weak and timid, but strong and full of courage, trusting in His promise to be with us all the time and help us in all we do. Loneliness vanishes when we remember we are never alone.
living to love, loving to live,
momma b
What a beautiful day outside! I love the fall. The weather invites us outside to enjoy God’s creation. Somehow being in His creation on a sunny day feels not only warm on the outside of me, but on the inside of me, too. We somehow feel God right there with us when we are outside enjoying His creation on a beautiful day. But gloomy, rainy days can sometimes feel lonely. When we are stuck inside, trapped in the walls of our manmade rooms, we lose sight of God’s creation and His presence with us. When we aren’t reminded of Him by our surroundings, we can think that He’s not around. But He is! The Bible says God never leaves us. Over and over again His Word promises that He is always right beside us.
Even if it’s not raining outside, we can feel like it is a rainy day. Maybe when you’re at school you sometimes feel lonely, afraid and discouraged. Maybe you wonder if God even knows. Well, He knows and He cares! He loves you and wants you to live your best so you can enjoy life the most. And He promises to walk right beside you while you do it. God said in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." God said to be strong and courageous not once, not twice, but THREE times in just four verses! He doesn’t want us to be weak and timid, but strong and full of courage, trusting in His promise to be with us all the time and help us in all we do. Loneliness vanishes when we remember we are never alone.
living to love, loving to live,
momma b
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