HHMRH MINISTRIES is Sharing Encouragement on Facebook

Writing full blog posts hasn't been a huge priority for me lately, due to various reasons that I might share with you eventually. I'm not sure when I will come off of my blog-writing hiatus. However, I do still believe Christian encouragement is awesome and ESSENTIAL. So, that's why I have been posting encouraging thoughts regularly on our Facebook page:  HE HOLDS MY RIGHT HAND MINISTRIES. 

Instead of writing full blog posts, I have been adding new photos several times each week, attaching a Bible verse to them, and sometimes saying a few words about them. I have been enjoying this creative outlet, and it seems to be working out better for me at this time. I do hope to write some full blog posts again in the near future. But, until I do, feel free to head over to our Facebook page and follow along there. Just hit the LIKE button.

Most of the photos I take myself, but some have also come from online source, or from my brother, Daniel. He's a great photographer, by the way, and you can follow him at: SURE SHOTS 16.

Here is a sampling of some of the photos/verses I have posted recently.  You are welcome to share them freely for the purpose of encouraging others, but not for commercial use.

Photo taken of our kids, when JJ left for the Summer to work at Youth Haven Bible Camp.

Taken at the camp in Kentucky.

Near Natural Bridge State Park in Kentucky

Taken in August at the home of David's parents in Northern, IL

Some of Mom Stankus's pretty flowers.

Photo taken by my brother, Daniel, at the camp in Kentucky.

Taken at a horse barn in Jasper County, IL

Taken a few miles down the road from us in rural Southeastern IL

A Frustrating Adventure with My New Treadmill

These past few years, I have become a lot more sedentary than I should be, and I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing for my health. So, with determination to become more active, I decided to get a treadmill and start walking more consistently.

After being unable to find a good, used treadmill (yes, used, because it makes sense to be frugal whenever possible), I spoke with David about ordering a new one, and he agreed. So, I bought it online from Walmart and was really looking forward to getting it. Then, the frustration began.

THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS... AND MY ACCOMPANIED THOUGHTS:
1.  I bought the treadmill online on Sunday, September 10th, and it was shipped to the house for free, arriving a week later on Monday the 18th. 

My thoughts after ordering: Yay! I'm so excited for it to get here! Thank you, God, for providing the funds for us to get this. This is something I have been wanting, and needing, for a long time!

2.  David started putting the treadmill together on Tuesday evening (the 19th), and discovered two connectors would not fit together. Disappointment literally overwhelmed me and I went to bed early that night feeling sad and glum.  

My thoughts:  This is something I had my heart set on, God. It is a big disappointment to have to wait even longer for it. Why did this have to happen? Isn't it a wise decision to become healthier, so I can continue caring for the family You have given me? 

3.  After several phone calls and e-mails to the company that week, they finally put in an order for the right part to be sent to us. It was sent out on September 25th and took almost another week to get here, finally arriving on Saturday, September 30th. I tried to get them to put a "rush" on the shipment, but they wouldn't do that, so I just had to have patience. 

My thoughts:  I thought I already had enough patience. Caring for my special needs daughter, homeschooling my son who doesn't enjoy school, and adjusting to my husbands inconvenient work situations for so many years - I don't think I need anymore patience! This isn't fair, God!

4.  We were busy on the Saturday the parts arrived, so David wasn't able to put the new connectors on until Sunday, October 1st. In order to install the new part, he needed to remove the cover to the motor and, when he did, we noticed the motor was also broken.

My thoughts:  You have GOT to be kidding me! Really, Lord? I don't ask for much. I try to be content with what I have (or don't have) and I have never been demanding about material things. So, I just don't get it. Why is this happening? What did I do wrong to receive this kind of treatment? I admit, I was feeling somewhat hurt by God for not giving me this long-awaited desire.

5.  David called the company back again on Monday, October 2nd. They said they would ship us a new motor. Then, in a few days, someone would be giving us a call to set up a time for a technician to come out and install the new motor, as well as the new connectors.

My thoughts:  More waiting... sigh ....

6.  I received a call that a technician would be out on Friday, October 13th. In the meantime, the motor showed up on Monday, October 9th.

My thoughts:  Well, good, at least we have a technician on the way. As long as nothing else goes wrong, it should be working by Friday.

7. On Friday, October 13th, the technician arrived at 8:30 in the morning and immediately got to work. The treadmill was finally working within an hour.

My thoughts:  Phew! It has been more than a month since I first ordered it, and I'm  finally able to use it! I don't understand why all this happened, but thank you, Lord, for getting it working and for helping me through the frustration.

~~~~~~~~~~~

So, why did this happen? I honestly don't know. Whatever the reason, I have chosen to get past my frustrations and search for the good. If nothing else, at least I have the following reminders to look back on - for myself, and whoever else may be needing them:

• God doesn't always give us what we want, or give us something WHEN we want it. Regardless, He is a good God, and I will still love Him.
• We can be honest with God about our feelings. He cares about us, wants to hear from us, and wants to help us through the difficult days.
• We can remain faithful in our Christian walk, believing there is a reason for what we are going through, even if we don't understand it.   

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB)

Responses to the Survey, and My Current Plan for this Blog

I was a little disappointed that more people didn't respond to my survey about this blog. It made me feel as if there are very few who care about it, and caused me to wonder how much longer I should continue. But, I do love to write, and I love to serve the Lord through my writing; so, for now, I don't plan on giving it up. Thank you to those of you who did respond; there were 16 of you in total.

Out of those who responded:

• The majority are accessing the blog from Facebook. Then, e-mail came next. 
• The majority are reading from a PC screen or Laptop; then cell phones are next.
• Most of you do not enter the giveaways for various reasons.
• Most of you prefer a once per week post, but about the same amount said it didn't matter to you how often I post. 
• The topics that seem to be most popular are:  (1) Devotionals and Inspirational Thoughts, (2) Personal Life Events, and (3) Home Life & Hospitality. Here is a link where you can view all the responses to this final question: VIEW RESPONSES

After taking all of this under consideration, this is my current plan:

• I will do my best to continue posting once per week as I am able (and occasionally twice per week).
• I will plan to continue focusing on the top three topics as listed above, unless the Lord guides me to head in another direction.
• I will still post some reviews of faith based or family friendly products. However, I will no longer be posting giveaways for the items I review. There just isn't enough interest. 

If you have any other thoughts or recommendations, I am always interested in hearing from you. Press on in serving the Lord, wholeheartedly, with the talents and gifts He has given to YOU, and thanks again for being a reader of He Holds My Right Hand.

What the Bible Says About IDOLATRY

A Christian in India has been reading this blog and mentioned there is much idolatry in that country. I was asked to provide some Biblical information that can be shared with those who practice idolatry there. I hope this is some helpful information to them, and to anyone else who is interested in this subject.

First of all, it is important to define what idolatry is. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there are two definitions for idolatry.

1.  The worship of a physical object as a god.
Which means an idol can be a carved image, a statue, or any physical object that is worshiped as a god. 

2.  An immoderate attachment or devotion to something.
Which means an idol can be ANYTHING in your life that you believe is more important than anyone or anything else.

Next, if you believe the Christian Holy Bible is the Word of God, it is important to understand that the Bible tells us there is only ONE TRUE GOD, and only one way to have eternal life. Pay close attention to the following verses:

1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (NAS)

John 17:3 - "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (NAS)

John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (NAS)

It is also important to know what God's Word, the Holy Bible, has to say about idolatry. According to the following verses, worshiping anything other than the one true God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, is not acceptable in His sight:

Exodus 20:3-6 - You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (ESV)

Leviticus 19:4 -  Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.
 
Deuteronomy 27:15 -  Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ 

Carved objects or statues made of precious metals and jewels cannot hear us when we pray to them. They cannot answer our prayers. They are speechless and meaningless. Here are two verses written about this: 

Jeremiah 11:12 -  Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.

Habakkuk 2:18 -  What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! 

If you think idolatry is only mentioned in the Old Testament portion of the Bible, let me show you some verses in the New Testament also: 

I John 5:21 - Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

I Corinthians 10:14 -  Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  

As mentioned in definition #2 above, there are also things besides physical objects that can be idols in our lives: 

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  

To sum it up, anything or anyone that replaces the one true God is an idol. Worshiping that idol is considered idolatry. Likewise, worshiping an idol along WITH the one true God is also idolatry. We should be devoted to serving and worshiping ONLY Him.

I will close with the greatest commandment of all:  

Matthew 22:36-38 - “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment.

Running the Race

Hebrew 12:1-3:  Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Last week, David and I were blessed as we attended the first two days of Moody Bible Institute's Founder's Week (a week long event filled with music and speakers in honor of the birthday of D.L. Moody, the Founder of MBI). We were there for David's 25-year class reunion, and also went to the evening sessions held at Moody Church. 

 This year's theme was "Running the Race" based on Hebrews 12:1-3. On the first night, the current president of MBI, Dr. Paul Nyquist, was the speaker. He mentioned how, as Christians, we are all running a race (the race of the Christian life), but each race is different. We can't choose the race we are in but, instead, must run the race that is "set before us." And, while we are running, we need to run with endurance. But, how do we do that? Dr. Nyquist gave 3 strategies to help us:

 

1.  Remember the heroes - the "cloud of witnesses" who have run the race before us. They are testimonies to us. They encourage us and show us this race CAN be done! We need to remember that, and keep on running. 

2.  Lay aside every encumbrance. In other words, drop the weights - the things that are bulky and heavy and are weighing us down. What things can weigh us down? Maybe a time-consuming hobby, or a bad habit. It is basically anything that interferes with us being fully devoted to Jesus Christ and living the Christian life we are meant to live. We need to work towards getting rid of those hindrances. Not just some of them, but ALL of them (EVERY encumbrance).

3.  Focus on Jesus. We need to be intentional about this because it won't happen automatically. If we keep our eyes fixed on Him as we run, He will help us reach the finish line.


I encourage you to watch the entire sermon HERE ON YOU TUBE.

Poll Question for 2015 Blog Topics

Merry Christmas, everyone!  I wanted to pop in for a brief moment to ask for your help on something. Consider it your Christmas gift to me.

As the new year approaches, I am contemplating which topics this blog should focus on in 2015. Could you do me a favor and answer the poll question that you will see in the left column? It will help me out a great deal, as it will give me an idea of which topics you have enjoyed reading, as well as which topics I could add. [UPDATE:  Poll Closed]

If you have a different idea for me other than what is already listed, please share in the comments section below. 

I enjoy writing on this blog, and I'm not overly concerned about how many are reading it. I just want it to be a blessing to those who ARE reading it.

Thank you very much! Enjoy your holidays!

Stop Listening to the Lies

We all have weaknesses - we are human, after all - and I feel a little vulnerable telling you about one of mine; but maybe if I share, some of you can relate. Maybe I'm not alone in my weakness, and maybe this can help some of you. So, here it goes...

More often than not, I am insecure in who I am as a wife, mother, sister, or friend. And, occasionally (or maybe even a little more often than occasionally), I allow my insecurities to get the upper hand in my life, causing me to go into seclusion mode and wallow in self-pity. Yep, I sure do. It all starts by comparing myself to others, and then I begin thinking I'm not good enough. Can you relate?

What exactly are insecurities? They are the things that make you lack confidence in your abilities, to be hesitant, indecisive, or doubtful. To put it another way, though, they are lies from Satan meant to disable Christians in their service for the Lord.

Satan loves to whisper in my ear and tell me:

• You're not important.
• You have no real purpose in this world.
• If you were to disappear, no one would really notice.
• Compare yourself to HER. You should be doing what SHE is doing.
• You are ruining your children's lives.

Why does he love to whisper these things to me? Because I tend to listen. (After all, everyone likes to be listened to, right?) And, when I listen to him, I stop listening to God. And, when I stop listening to God, I become useless as His servant. That's Satan's goal! That's what he wants to make happen in EVERY. CHRISTIAN'S. LIFE. He knows that he can't take away our salvation, but what he CAN do is put lies into our heads and make us feel worthless. Can you relate?

How do we combat the lies, then, and STOP listening to those negative thoughts? 

1.  STOP AND THINK. Does this thought agree with Scripture? If not, then it is not from God.

2.  STOP AND PRAY. Ask the Lord to help you think only on the truthful thoughts that HE gives us in His Word.

3.  STOP LISTENING TO THE LIES.  Look up Scripture verses that tell you the truth, and let your mind dwell on those things instead. Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Should we be listening to "the father of all lies" or should we be listening to our Creator? Our Creator knows us. He formed us in our mothers' wombs. So, why on earth would we choose to listen to anyone else!

Its hard sometimes, but it has to be a conscious decision to dwell on truth rather than lies. It is something I still struggle with. But, when I listen to what God tells me about myself, I am much more content.

What does God tell me about myself?

• He made me. (Psalm 139:13)
• He made me for a purpose. (Colossians 1:16)
• He loves me. (John 3:16)
• He cares about me. (1 Peter 5:7)
• He will help me through the difficult times. (Isaiah 41:13)
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

I may not be an "important" person by some standards. I've never done anything AMAZING in the eyes of the world. But, that doesn't matter. What matters is that God has ME here for a reason. I'm not supposed to compare myself to my mom, or my sister, or my friends, or to the pastor's wife, or to  anyone else who I come in contact with. I only need to do my best at using the gifts and talents that have been given to ME to serve the Lord on this earth.

One reason I am sharing this is so I can have something to refer back to when my thoughts take me in the wrong direction. This world is only temporary, so I don't want to be wasting my time listening to the lies. I want to focus on the truth and be busy for my Lord. I hope you can relate.

 

 

 

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A Not-So-Perfect Vacation

Have you ever wanted something to be perfect, then things didn't go as you expected them to and it wasn't so perfect after all? On our vacation this year, I had to keep reminding the kids (and myself), that there's no such thing as a perfect vacation (or a perfect anything, for that matter). We did have fun, and we truly enjoyed visiting with family and seeing new places, but we also had some difficult moments. All 4 of us ended up at a doctor's office at some point during the week...

First of all, EL had 3 appointments in St. Louis. She had a checkup with the Sleep Clinic, the Ophthalmologist, and the Endocrinologist. (I'll share how things went with those in another post, but another needle stick was involved for drawing labs. It was stressful, but we made it through it.)

We had a nice visit with my parents while we were in the St. Louis area, then traveled to Kentucky for the major part of our vacation. My brother and his family live there, and it was really great to visit with them and to see the beautiful scenery in the area. However, while there, David was ushering a dog out of the house and split his big toenail. It wasn't serious, just a little inconvenient... and painful. When we got home, he ended up seeing his foot doctor to get the nail clipped properly.

After we left my brother's place, we spent a couple of days in the Mammoth Cave area. While there, I fell in the hotel bathroom and landed hard on my tailbone. When we got home, I had an X-ray taken and, thankfully nothing is broken; but it sure does hurt.

Also in Kentucky, JJ came down with a fever, sore throat, and bad earache. Our time was cut short at Beech Bend Amusement Park, and we headed home. A doctors visit revealed an ear infection and sinus issues. He was put on antibiotics and is now doing better.

As we headed home to nurse our wounds, I think we were all a bit disappointed that things didn't go as planned. We all wanted a perfect vacation away from the stresses of life, and I'm not really sure why things happened the way they did. Maybe God wanted us to come home sooner than planned because He was protecting us from something that was about to happen. Maybe our cats missed us. Maybe we needed to be reminded that it is always better to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Maybe this was simply a teaching moment for our kids that, even through disappointments, we can still praise the Lord.

I could go on with all the maybe's... The fact of the matter is that life is full of ups and downs, and being on vacation doesn't automatically keep difficulties from happening, and it doesn't mean God doesn't love us. It just means we live in an imperfect world... and it's our reactions to the negative things that will make a huge difference in our attitudes and outlook on life.

When God Doesn't Run

My husband, David, has been a Paramedic for the past 26 years. As time has gone by, he has gained some valuable experience in how to give his patients the best care he can possibly give. One of the main things he has learned is that it is best NOT to run. He always tries to help in the quickest amount of time that he can, but he doesn’t run. You may be wondering, "Why not?" After all, if a patient is hurting, shouldn’t the medics get to him as soon as possible? Shouldn’t they just jump out of the ambulance and literally run to their patient’s aid? That’s what most people think should happen. In fact, there are times when David has been accused of being uncaring because he didn’t go as quick as others thought he should have. One woman actually yelled at him, "Why aren’t you running?!" This woman, and many others, believed that a lack of running meant the medics just didn’t care. But, that is far from the truth. Let me explain...

David had a partner once who was previously told she needed to grab the drug box and run inside as soon as the ambulance came to a stop. She was told it was her job to do that, so that is what she always did. But, when she changed ambulance companies and David became her partner, he gave her a different perspective. He explained to her that if she ran to the patient in that way, she couldn’t really give her best care. Why? Because:

1. Running produces breathlessness, and breathlessness produces the inability to think clearly. How can they properly take vital signs or get the correct drug dosages if they are out of breath and can’t focus their whole attention on the patient?

2. Running can cause a medic to trip and fall. How can they help their patient if they fall and injure themselves?

3. Running in with only the drug box and without the equipment needed to start the IV’s that ADMINISTER the drugs is not very helpful. How can they provide proper care if they don’t have all the pieces they need?

The key to proper care is to remain calm and in control of the situation; to stay focused. Running will not help them do that.

Now, to apply this to God and His relationship with us...

Usually, when we are hurting, we want God to run to us and rescue the day. We want him to hurry up and fix what is causing our pain. When he doesn’t help us as quickly as we think He should, we may begin to think He doesn’t care about us. But, the fact is, He has promised to give us all we need - but in HIS TIME, not ours - and sometimes that means we have to wait.

When God doesn’t run, its because He knows what is best for us. We need to realize we don’t have all the facts. We don’t know all the behind-the-scenes work that is going on in our lives. HE DOES!

When God doesn’t run, its because He may be waiting for all the pieces to come together that will provide us with the insight, guidance, and strength we need to continue on our journey as Christians.

When God doesn’t run, its NOT because He doesn’t care. Its because He is remaining calm and IN CONTROL of the situation. Trust in Him. You are in the best of care when you are in the care of His loving hands.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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http://www.wholeheartedhome.com/

God Brought Encouragement to my Mom

I love the way God brings us encouragement at times when we really need it. Recently, my mom was having a difficult time physically and emotionally. She needed some encouragement. Then, she found a sign I had made for her years ago when I was in Jr. High School. I had forgotten I made this sign for her, but it has my favorite verse on it - the theme verse for this blog. It was made during another time when she was not feeling well, and I wanted to cheer her up. Mom has kept this sign all these years, and it has encouraged her once again.

One Word for 2014

I recently came across a new idea about New Years resolutions that I wanted to share:

"Resolutions are rarely kept, and goals are easily forgotten; but, ONE WORD sticks!"

This quote came from the ONE WORD video (see below). Take a couple minutes to watch it. Then, you can also check out the ONE WORD website to learn more about this new idea. On the website, you can also get a FREE Action Plan that will give you guidance in discovering what YOUR word is for the new year. (There is a book available for purchase, but you don't need to buy the book in order to get the Action Plan.)

If I had done this last year, my one word would have been easy to decide:  PERSEVERANCE. This past year (2013) has probably been the most difficult year of my life. Not just because of my cancer (although that played a BIG part), but from various other reasons as well. Yet, I held the Lord's hand through it all and persevered under trial.

To find my word for 2014, I took a little time to reflect on the past year and then pray about what my word should be for this year. It finally came to me. My one word is PURPOSE.

There is a reason why I survived cancer; but, more than that, there is a purpose for my life here on earth. So, when I feel discouraged, or disappointed, or inadequate, or am simply trying to make a tough decision, I need to remember what my purpose is:

• My purpose is to love and support my husband (Genesis 2:18; Titus 2:3-5 See verses below)
• My purpose is to be a teacher and caretaker to my children (Deut. 6:7; Titus 2:3-5)
• My purpose is to serve the Lord diligently, and with gladness (Psalm 100:2)
• My purpose is to try my best to be an encouragement to others (1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 3:13) 
• My purpose is to glorify God in all I do (1 Cor. 10:31)

ONE WORD can create "clarity, power, passion and life-change." It can also takes the stress out of trying to live up to a New Year's resolution. Yes, goals are good, and should be considered. But, with just one word to remember, I can think about it through-out the year to help bring me back into focus when its needed.

Give it a try! And, if you decide to do it, I'd love to hear what YOUR one word is for the new year, too!

----------------------------

Genesis 2:18 - Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

Deuteronomy 6:7 - and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Psalm 100:2 - Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.

Titus 2:3-5 - Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [to be] sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is [still] called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Your Pain Is Not Meaningless

Many of you are struggling right now. Many are sick. Many are in pain (physically or emotionally). Many are under stress. Many are getting discouraged.

I am among you, my friends. I'm not going to complain to you about all of my struggles, mostly because its just a waste of my time. I have better things to do than wallow in misery, and bring you down with me. But, I'm not going to lie and say everything has been fine either, because it hasn't. Just know that it isn't one big thing that brought me to a place of mild depression, but rather several "smaller" things piled on top of each other. Regardless, my pain is real... and your pain is real... BUT, for those of us who are Believers in Jesus Christ, our pain is also not meaningless.

I recently came across this song by Shane & Shane that I want to share. It is a song about the pain and discouragement we feel when life is hard. We may feel as if its all meaningless. But, its not. There is a purpose for it. And even when we are hurting, we can still PRAISE the Lord through it all.

You will notice that halfway through the song is a short excerpt from one of John Piper's sermons. It is based on these verses: 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Please listen, and be encouraged...

THOUGH YOU SLAY ME

 

 

 

Six Questions About Me

My blogging friend, Sylvia, tagged me in the "Six questions about me" blog game. Here are the 6 questions I chose to answer:

Is this how you imagined your life would be?
Yes and No. When I was young and single, I imagined I would be married someday and would have at least a couple of children to raise. I knew I wanted to be a homemaker and a stay-at-home mom, like my mother was. These things were fulfilled in my life. However, I did not imagine being a mother of a special needs child, or being a homeschool mom, or being diagnosed with cancer. These were "surprises" in my life that I didn't really expect. But, life is like that.

What’s your drink of choice when out with girlfriends?
When I get a chance to have a girls night out, I will choose something like a smoothie or vanilla flavored decaf coffee, or sometimes just water with lemon, depending on where we are going and what we are doing.

How did your blog come about?
I was looking for a way to help promote my self-published book "What is Communion?" Then, it just turned into a creative outlet for me, as well as a way to be an encouragement to others.

What hobbies do you have that you don’t mention on your blog?
Aside from writing, I collect pennies and State quarters. I also enjoy Genealogy research when I get the chance.

What do you love about yourself?
Positive thinking.

If money were no question, I’d purchase… 
A cruise vacation for our entire family - maybe something like a Disney cruise.

~~~

The rules of this game state that I must choose three bloggers to tag so they can also choose six questions to answer. I choose:

Carie @ Living, Loving, and Learning with the Lord
The "Queen" @ Queen of My Country Castle
Jen @ To Soar on Eagle Wings

If you choose to participate please pick six of the following questions to answer!
1. Is this how you imagined your life would be?
2. Name one good deed you did that went unseen.
3. What’s your drink of choice when out with girlfriends?
4. How did your blog come about?
5. Name something you’ve learned about yourself that has surprised you.
6. What hobbies do you have that you don’t mention on your blog?
7. What do you love about yourself?
8. If money were no question, I’d purchase…… 
9. What’s your biggest struggle in life?

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

In the midst of difficult times (most recently, my cancer journey), several have commented on the way I continue to smile. Does this mean I am happy about the difficulties I have encountered? No... most definitely not. If I had a choice, I would not have chosen to go through the trials I have faced. I don't think ANYONE wants to go through difficult times (unless they are self-martyrs, which I am not.) So, why do I still smile? For one, its just because its a part of who I am. I have always tried to find the good in life, no matter what I am going through. So, does that mean I never get discouraged? Again, the answer is No. But, my smile, which comes from deep within my spirit, is an outward expression of the JOY I have because of my trust in the Lord.

So, what exactly is JOY, then?

I have a book by Elisa Morgan called "Naked Fruit," which is about "getting honest about the fruit of the spirit." (Note: This is not a book review I am doing here, but just wanted to share some thoughts.) In this book, the author takes time to talk about the different types of fruits found in Galatians 5:22-23, one of which is JOY.  

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

In the chapter about JOY, Morgan first explains that joy is NOT the same as happiness. HAPPINESS is circumstantial and is something we experience when life is going the way we want it to go. It is "a good feeling based on good circumstances."

JOY is more than happiness. Morgan explains, "Joy is something deep that celebrates God's character despite the circumstances." It is not just an emotion, but also a quality of life.

There are so many times in our lives when things don't go as planned, or according to our desires. We don't have to be happy about them, but we can still experience joy. Why? Because "Joy is the conviction that God is in control of every detail of our lives even when those details appear to be out of control."

True JOY in our lives is having confidence in God - knowing that no matter what happens, there is a reason for it, and we can always rest confidently in the care of His loving hands.

The joy of the Lord is MY strength... And, that is something I will always smile about.

Click to enjoy this song by Twila Paris: 

THE JOY OF THE LORD

 

The Joy of the Lord will by my strength.

I will not falter, I will not faint.

He is my Shepherd, I am not afraid.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord will be my strength

He will uphold me all of my days.

I am surrounded by mercy and grace.

And the joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord will be my strength

I will not waver, walking by faith.

He will be strong to deliver me safe.

And the joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

 

 

 

The Right Hand

I had often wondered why Isaiah 41:13, as well as many other verses in the Bible, mentions the RIGHT hand in the verse. So, I recently did some research and decided to share what I found. There is now a new tab towards the top of this blog, titled:  WHY THE RIGHT HAND? Just click on that to go take a look!

Illustration: “Holding the Father’s Hand”

I recently visited Bible.org, one of my favorite websites for researching and studying the Bible.

Here is an illustration I found that gives us a good picture of what it's like when we take hold of the Lord’s hand...

HOLDING THE FATHER'S HAND

 An interesting thing happened one day. A father was walking with his toddler close behind. They were going from a Sunday school building to the sanctuary of the main church building. The father, knowing they were approaching a set of about 20 steps going down to a parking lot and concerned that the son may fall, admonished the two-year-old, "hold daddy's hand." The youngster sternly shook his head 'no' and kept following along a couple steps in behind dad. They came to the top of the steps. The toddler stopped, looked down that long drop, looked up at his dad, and reached his hand out for his Father's firm grip. How often we are like that with our heavenly Father. He asks of us, "take hold of my hand." Often, we see no need. But our Father knows what lies ahead. Better to place our hands firmly in the grip of the Father before we face the possibility of perilous times.

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

Your Work Matters to God

Before my husband and I were blessed with children, I worked outside of the home. Three of those years were spent in the linens and housewares department at Montgomery Ward. After two years of employment there, I began to become dissatisfied with my position, and strongly disliked being there. I started focusing more on the negatives of my job, rather than on why the Lord had placed me there for that time. In my mind, I was working outside of the home ONLY because my husband and I needed the money.

While it is true that we did need the money (still being newly married and trying to save up enough funds to buy our own house), money should not be the ONLY reason why we work.

According to Doug Sherman and William Hendricks in their book “Your Work Matters to God,” (this may sound like a book review, but its not. This is a book I was required to read while attending college, and it made an impact on me) there are 5 purposes for our everyday work: 

1. Through work we serve people.
2. Through work we meet our own needs.
3. Through work we meet our family’s needs.
4. Through work we earn money to give to others.
5. Through work we love God.

With these thoughts in mind, I asked several friends to answer a few questions about their work, and here are the answers I received. These answers show how, no matter what kind of “work” we are doing (being in the secular workforce, in full-time ministry, a homemaker, retired, or even being unemployed), we can and should be working for the Lord, keeping our focus on Him rather than on ourselves...

JULIE, Insurance Agent

What my work entails: selling insurance policies (residents of Illinois) to the general public or to contacts that I call (home, auto, life, health).

What I enjoy about my work: I love being directly involved with the public.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: I am a "talker" (Yes, she is!) so I end up in conversations with probably 80% of my clients; I am, therefore, always able to mention how thankful I am that the Lord has provided me with an opportunity to "help" people by explaining the coverages of an insurance policy to them so they can understand it; and at the same time being honest with them that if my companies rates are not better, I will tell them that as well. In the 4 years I have been an agent you would be surprised how many clients and I have prayed together right here in my little office. 

(That's awesome, Julie! Thanks for sharing.)

GINA, Teacher

What my work entails: Teaching young adolescents.

What I enjoy about my work: I love the honesty and enthusiasm of the kids.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: I try to show the students Christian values, make them feel safe and valued, and let "my light shine!"

(Sounds like it can be a very challenging, yet rewarding job, Gina. Thanks for sharing!)

LISA, Dental Hygienist & Mother

What my work entails: helping people to get their mouth healthy in many ways.

What I enjoy about my work: seeing the turn around in someone’s life when their mouth becomes healthier.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: I would probably say talking about my kids and maybe encouraging someone to become a foster parent or mentor to help kids. Also telling someone about adoption!

(You are the right person to talk to about adoption, Lisa! What a great way to serve the Lord by serving others in this way.)

VICTOR, Self-employed

What my work entails: mostly landscaping, but also some carpentry and commercial cleaning.

What I enjoy about my work: making good relationships with my customers.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: providing some work for those who have a hard time getting a job.

(Thanks for sharing, Vic. Giving others a chance when no one else will is very noble.)

LORILEE CRAKER, Freelance writer and Author

What my work entails: What doesn't it entail? :) Seriously, I do all kinds of things, from writing about a new play coming to town to researching the Apostle Peter for my book about Heaven.

What I enjoy about my work: It's an honor to interview creative people, and have their ideas enrich my life. I love going to plays and concerts of all kinds, and interacting with other writers!

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: In my newspaper work, I see myself as being a salt and light to a sometimes dark and confused people group--entertainers, musicians and actors. It's amazing how God opens hearts to talk. My gift is encouragement, and I hope to give my readers "fresh courage" and hope to face the day.

(You can read more from Lorilee over at SHOEFLY PIE. She's an amazing author.)

JUDY BATES, The Bargainomics Lady

What my work entails: Sharing Biblical truths about money management.

What I enjoy about my work: It helps people realize their responsibility to be good managers of God’s blessings and, in many cases, helps free people from the bondage of debt.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: My prayer every day is to be used of God, whether it’s through an article I write, a person who reads one of my books, or through a kind word or deed done for the glory of God. If we belong to Jesus, we are called to serve as He taught us by example.

(Judy is the author of some great books over at THE BARGAINOMICS LADY. Check them out!)

 

 
CHARITY, Household Manager

What my work entails: I am snuggler, question answerer, maid, chef, teacher, counselor, boo-boo cleaner upper, gardener, nutritionist, encourager, prayer warrior, secretary, accountant, and the list could go on but basically I am learning to be flexible enough to be what my husband, children, and Lord need me to be. I also hope to one day be a published author, but that goal takes a second place to the ones mentioned above.

What I enjoy about my work: I enjoy it very much. Let me say this-- My worst day at home is better than my best day in the workforce ever was. I am not saying that I was not able to do good things when I was a mental health/substance abuse therapist because the Lord did use me in that capacity. However, I believe I am where I need to be right now and that the Lord wants me to be making disciples, starting with my children, then making disciples through my home life. The sense of purpose this gives me has been amazing.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: My husband and I have the goal to reach as many for the Gospel as we can in our lifetime and to raise children who are able to reach more with the Gospel than we ever could. I believe that my time is spent raising up the next generation of leaders that our society needs. It starts in my home with my family. Then as the Lord allows others to come through our home I believe it will spread. I am praying for the Lord to turn our nation back to him and I am asking him to use my home in the process.

(Charity has such good insight. You can read more from her over at her own blog:  VANDERHOOF HOUSE.)

AMY, Homemaker

What my work entails: Cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, dishes, paying bills, cuddling with kids, playing games, nursing them back to health when their sick, reading to them, chauffer, hostess...

What I enjoy about my work: The fun time I get to spend with my kids and watch them grow spiritually and physically.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: By raising the children to be generous and loving members of their community and to represent Christ in everything they do.

CARIE, Homemaker

What my work entails: cleaning, cooking, taxiing, schedule managing, hug giving, listening, reading, praying, teaching.

What I enjoy about my work: The time I am able to spend with my husband and children.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: I am serving the Lord by training up my children to know and serve Him. I also try to serve others and be an encouragement on their journey.

(I agree, Amy and Carie! Being a homemaker myself, it is very rewarding serving my family while, at the same time, teaching and training our children to serve the Lord. By the way, Carie also blogs over at LIVING LOVING & LEARNING WITH THE LORD.)

JUDY, Homemaker
What my work entails: Keeping my home with Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 as my guidelines. I have been able to save money on food and clothes by gardening and sewing, among other activities.

What I enjoy about my work: Feeling that I'm serving God by having a peaceful home for my family. Less mess, less stress. I've always thought our home should be a refuge. No matter what happens "out there" we feel safe, loved, and accepted at home. My children still feel that even though they haven't lived here for over 10 years.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: By helping my husband - healthy meals and no stress when he comes home from work are 2 ways I help. Also, having a company-ready home, unplanned visits are not a problem. I am always ready with a cup of tea, an open ear, and a loving heart.

(Yay, Judy! Sorry.... I'm just so proud of my sister! Had to give her a "shout-out." Love you, Judy! I'd join you for tea any day. Just wish we lived a bit closer.)

MIKE PHILLIPS, Retired
What my work entails: Holding down the Couch to keep it from Flying away. (Funny, Mike!)

What I enjoy about my work: Doesn't demand a lot of thinking or effort.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: Well, when I can get off the couch, it leaves a whole lot of time to spend telling others about Gods Great Plan.


ADELE, Currently Unemployed
What my work entails: Looking for work.  (Ha ha. Yep.)

What I enjoy about my work: Right now, enjoying the time God is giving me to be with my kids while I wait on His timing for the perfect job for me.

How I see myself serving the Lord in my work: Since I am primarily being a homemaker, I am serving God by being the best mother to my kids and being a better wife to my husband.

Col 3:23-24

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.(NAS)