I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
First of all, I had to get over the idea that joy is simply happiness and a smile on my face. According to the site http://www.biblestudytools.com, joy is “extreme happiness as the believer contemplates salvation and the bliss of of the afterlife.” It is described as rejoicing over unexpected benefits. And very importantly, joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. So, I am thankful for joy and for the discovery that it’s not just a feeling but it is so much more. It is a constant sense of knowing that you belong to the Father and therein lies great joy. I have discovered in my aged wisdom that joy comes from within. Things, people and places don’t give me joy. It resides deep in my heart and is indeed a special gift from God. I may fleetingly be happy but I can always have joy if I choose to acknowledge that it’s a gift from God and not just a feeling. Joy bubbles up inside me at the most unexpected times. I may be thinking about a friend who has passed away or a circumstance that seems overwhelming. And suddenly, there is the joy bubbling around inside me as I contemplate the good times I had with my friend or the fact that circumstances change but God doesn’t.
Crying and weeping are a part of the natural order of things in life. We get sad due to circumstances beyond our control or due to our own poor choices. But joy is there, always waiting for us to recognize that it never left us; we just had it on “simmer” for a season. I look forward to the day when there is no more sorrow or weeping, but until that day, I am thankful for joy and the fact that I can acknowledge that God gives me joy just as He gave me His Son as my Savior and His Spirit to guide me.
I used to watch Fred Rogers with my children and then repeats of the show with my grandchildren. He always had such an optimistic, encouraging attitude and with his soft voice, he would tell the children to “look for the helpers. They are always there.” I think that someone who is an encourager is a helper, in one of the best ways possible.
I have had many encouragers in my life, mentors in my Christian walk as well as friends and medical professionals. There are some who stand out in my memory and I am so thankful for them.
My mentors in my Christian walk have been ladies of the church that I was attending who saw my youth and inexperience and encouraged me to dig deeply into God’s Word and to pray daily. I enjoyed Bible studies with them, long discussions about what I believed and why, until ultimately, I was better able to understand what I was reading and to mentor others. They led me to the understanding that I may not have a lot of knowledge to share, but I had some and I just share that seed so that other seeds would then be sowed into my life. It has always been in reaching out to others that I am touched myself. After all, this is the principle of reaping and sowing that God taught me in His Word and that my sweet mentors demonstrated for me.
I haven’t had a lot of friends that I would say are extremely close to me or me to them because I am such an introverted person. But the friendships that I have formed have been with people who spread positivity and encouragement in front of the path that I am following. One such friend was Heidi. She became a mentor to me at the high school in Virginia where I taught for twenty years. She opened her door and her heart to me, answered all of my questions and just spent time reassuring me that I was going to be okay no matter what the parents and the administration threw at me. We laughed a lot as well as cried a lot together. Heidi had a really rough life for a long time, with a philandering spouse and a friend who betrayed her, but she never once made me feel that I was encroaching on her time. I learned from her how to love life and live as though every moment matters. Heidi passed away in 2017 after a long illness and to this day, I can still look at her photo across the room from me and hear her laughter and see her smile that reached all the way into her eyes and never failed to make me smile in return.
Finally, there are all of the medical challenges that I have faced and the encouragement that I have received from various medical professionals. None stands out more than my physical therapist. I met Tim after my knee replacement surgery in 2004, many years ago. My rehab was extremely painful because I am allergic to opioids and could not take pain pills before the exercises that I had to do to get my knee moving properly again. My husband would drop me off early in the morning before I went to teach since Tim said that at the end of the day, my knee was too swollen to exercise well. Then my husband would leave because I literally screamed in agony as Tim manipulated my knee to bend and flex. All the time Tim was working, he was speaking quiet words of encouragement to me, “You’re almost there! You can do it!” Over ten years later, after my stroke, there was no one I wanted to go to for PT except Tim. He assured me that he would do the best he could to help me with occupational therapy, which I needed in addition to PT, but that was not his field of expertise. Tim purchased a white board for me to practice writing on and had me practice daily. I had lost my ability for language when I had my stroke, so I stuttered and stammered and forgot words frequently. I also forgot how to read with comprehension and how to write. Tim set up exercises for me specifically to work on the skills that I needed to recapture. I am thankful that when I was melting in pools of frustration, Tim always threw me a lifeline telling me that he had confidence that I could do it.
I would be completely remiss if I did not mention the greatest encourager in my life, my daughter Hope. Anytime I need prayer, she is right there, on the other end of the phone. When I had my stroke, she left her four children with her husband and a list of who was doing what for each child on each day and then Hope drove over nine hours alone to be with me. She encouraged me to try to live my best life, to walk and talk and to read even when I had difficulty doing those simple tasks. I didn’t like eating because it tired me, and the food was not tasty since I wasn’t allowed salt. She taught her dad how to cook tasty meals for me that had soft foods that were easier for me to swallow and plenty of protein that I needed. She took me to the grocery store and patiently walked beside me as I slowly made my way around and she instructed me where to find the foods that I can still eat. In short, she encouraged me to want to continue to live, even though my life had radically changed. She also encouraged her dad in ways to help me to learn how to be independent again. The result was that in three months, I was back at work part time. Of course, God had a lot to do with that miraculous healing, but I also credit Hope and Tim for the encouragement to embrace my new life.
My encouragers have inspired me to try to be more of an encourager myself. I look for opportunities to sow positive seeds into people’s lives, going against my old nature of being negative and deliberately thinking of positive things that I can say instead.
There are a lot of disheartened people in the world today, and some of them are in my world. They need my encouragement, just a word or two that acknowledges that they are important and that whatever they are going thorough is not a surprise or too big a challenge to God. I am sure that you can find someone to encourage in your daily journey through life, too. The cashier who is weary, the waiter who is overworked and overwhelmed, the young mom with crying children who just needs a smile and a word that she is doing a fine job with them.
All of the encouragement that I have within me to give to others comes from the message that Christ has written in my heart, one of love and gratitude.
I leave you today with this verse of encouragement and pray that the God of all positive things will walk close beside you today. He is and always has been our greatest cheerleader and our hope.
I have to be completely honest about the recent election. I have been bummed out about the lack of morality shown in the choices of the people. It seems that not only has the U.S. turned its back on God, we are also thumbing our noses at Him and daring Him to respond. But as I read my devotional this morning, a few Scriptures calmed my mind and heart.
No matter the results of the election or who controls the White House or Congress, God is ultimately in charge. He never stepped off His throne and released it to the control of anyone, regardless of their political affiliation. Praise God for the freedom in this truth!
God has reigned since Creation and is still on the throne. Where has God been during the chaos of the recent election? Still on His throne. God does not always approve of mankind’s choices but He does allow us to make them. One day, He will judge all because of those choices and we need to acknowledge His authority now. God won’t be asking us if we are Democrat, Republican or Independent. He just wants to know if we sincerely believe that He is our God, the Only One who sent a Savior to redeem us. He deserves our worship and our trust because He alone is completely trustworthy.
The most comforting verse for me this morning is this one. God has not forsaken us and never will because we trust in Him. He is in control and is totally trustworthy. He doesn’t make promises and break them as the politicians do. He is not interested in “feathering his own nest” or making back room deals. God can be trusted with so much, ultimately including the destination of our souls. He promised and He can be trusted. And for that, I am thankful.
May your day be one filled with awe at the fact that our trustworthy God is in control so we need not fear, just trust.
Many years ago, my husband and I attended a Bible training school called Youth with a Mission. I don’t recall a lot that we studied there, but at least one truth we learned and book that we studied stuck with me through the years. The title was THE INTERCESSOR by Norman Grubb and it relates how to be an Intercessor like Rees Howells, a man of God who made a difference by praying for others. If you want to perhaps purchase the updated version, here is a link to do so:
The reason this book made such an impact and stayed with me is that this true story of a man who believed in prayer and made a difference with his petitions to God was amazing to me. Since then, I have strived to be an Intercessor for others, but I have never reached the heights of Rees Howells, not even close.
Today in my devotional, the verse that jumped out at me was about Jesus’s being my intercessor.
I cannot imagine Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and speaking up on my behalf, but that is what the Holy Bible says that he does. The tense used is one of the present ongoing tense, not past, not done, but rather still happening. I remember when I was a child that my father was my mediator with my mom. She had a heavy hand of punishment and I seemed to be always in trouble for one infraction or another. It was my father’s soothing voice that calmed her down and prompted her to think before she dealt out severe blows to my legs. I still got punished, but the punishment was not half as severe as when daddy wasn’t there to intervene. Now, I can put that into the context of Jesus speaking to God on my behalf and letting the Father know that I am His and the price has already been paid for my salvation. Yes, I still mess up, and there are consequences to actions, but Jesus’s intercession is there and the Father has shown me mercy and grace over and over again.
If you get a chance to read THE INTERCESSOR, remember to put it into the context of Jesus interceding for you, on a daily basis and every time you need it. He is right there, always ready to go to bat for each of us because He loves us so much. Yes, He is the King of Glory, He is the Lion of Judah, and He is also the Great Intercessor who speaks to the Father for us, always operating with unfailing love and forgiveness. I want to be like Jesus, in Intercessor for others, and I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice that makes Him the Intercessor for me and for each of His children who know Him as Savior.
May you be blessed today with the knowledge of how dependable an Intercessor Jesus is for you and be confident in His love, grace and mercy.
Many years ago, my husband and I attended a Bible training school called Youth with a Mission. I don’t recall a lot that we studied there, but at least one truth we learned and book that we studied stuck with me through the years. The title was THE INTERCESSOR by Norman Grubb and it relates how to be an Intercessor like Rees Howells, a man of God who made a difference by praying for others. If you want to perhaps purchase the updated version, here is a link to do so:
The reason this book made such an impact and stayed with me is that this true story of a man who believed in prayer and made a difference with his petitions to God was amazing to me. Since then, I have strived to be an Intercessor for others, but I have never reached the heights of Rees Howells, not even close.
Today in my devotional, the verse that jumped out at me was about Jesus’s being my intercessor.
I cannot imagine Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and speaking up on my behalf, but that is what the Holy Bible says that he does. The tense used is one of the present ongoing tense, not past, not done, but rather still happening. I remember when I was a child that my father was my mediator with my mom. She had a heavy hand of punishment and I seemed to be always in trouble for one infraction or another. It was my father’s soothing voice that calmed her down and prompted her to think before she dealt out severe blows to my legs. I still got punished, but the punishment was not half as severe as when daddy wasn’t there to intervene. Now, I can put that into the context of Jesus speaking to God on my behalf and letting the Father know that I am His and the price has already been paid for my salvation. Yes, I still mess up, and there are consequences to actions, but Jesus’s intercession is there and the Father has shown me mercy and grace over and over again.
If you get a chance to read THE INTERCESSOR, remember to put it into the context of Jesus interceding for you, on a daily basis and every time you need it. He is right there, always ready to go to bat for each of us because He loves us so much. Yes, He is the King of Glory, He is the Lion of Judah, and He is also the Great Intercessor who speaks to the Father for us, always operating with unfailing love and forgiveness. I want to be like Jesus, in Intercessor for others, and I am thankful for His example and His sacrifice that makes Him the Intercessor for me and for each of His children who know Him as Savior.
May you be blessed today with the knowledge of how dependable an Intercessor Jesus is for you and be confident in His love, grace and mercy.
Sometimes I just get tired, long before my normal bedtime and before I really want to retire. My brain gets kind of foggy and I stumble a little as I walk, so I know that it is time to rest. Every time this happens, God provides me with total rest, a night in which I sleep peacefully without constantly awakening. My mind has its own way of dealing with stress and at times it just won’t stop whirring. That is when I call on God to give me the rest and peace that I need.
It is in resting that my mind and body and most especially my soul are refreshed. I wake up ready to tackle the new day, with energy flowing from deep within me. That is no small feat for someone who is in their seventies, but it happens each time I honestly admit to God that I need Him to provide a restful night for me, one without insomnia and constant wakefulness. And each night, He gives me rest and I awaken refreshed, with a clear mind and thoughts that are organized and orderly. It is so much easier to walk on the right path when I am guided by the Lord!
I am so thankful for God’s refreshing me when I sleep. But He also refreshes my soul when I am fully alert. He gives me His Word to read that provides water to my thirsty soul, like a fountain in a desert place. God is always willing to refresh me, but most times I get too busy with life to take the time to sit quietly and wait for the refreshing. After all, one does not go to the soda fountain, order a nice big soda to quench one’s thirst and then walk away. I have been guilty of doing that in the past. I tell God that I need refreshing and then I get busy, my thoughts wander and I walk away before He has provided the refreshment. I am so thankful that He doesn’t give up on me and my pettiness but continues to provide for me when I come back to His fountain and tell Him that I am ready to sit, listen and receive.
May you have a wonderful day filled with God’s blessing and refreshing!
It is Veterans’ Day and I would be remiss if I did not mention how grateful I am for each soldier, sailor, marine, coast guard or air force member who served. My husband spent over 22 years in service to our nation and although I missed him terribly each time he was deployed, he was committed to fulfilling his promise to serve our nation, no matter the cost. Before he even knew the Lord and His call to be a servant, my husband, and many like him, were already serving.
It is always good to encourage each other, but there is no better time than today to say an encouraging word to a veteran. My husband always goes out on November 11th to a local restaurant that offers free meals to veterans. He is not going for the food, but rather he is going for the camaraderie, the spirit of belonging to an elite group that knows what it is to leave loved ones behind and to head into dangerous situations that may require the ultimate sacrifice. They share stories together and reminisce about friends they made and places they served.
Jesus set the example for service and we owe Him our lives for all of eternity. I am so thankful for Jesus showing the way and for the others who have followed. Not all veterans are Christians, of course, but as the saying goes, “You don’t meet many atheists in a foxhole.”
So, as you go out and about your daily routine today, pause to thank a veteran. They usually wear a cap on their heads with their branch of service or the ship they served on, something that helps them to remember their time in the military. Thank them for serving honorably and sacrificially. Yes, they returned from the battle, but many bear scars that we cannot see, and all were willing to die so that we could continue to be free. Taking a few seconds to express heartfelt gratitude is the least that we can do.
Happy Veterans’ Day to all who served! I am thankful for your service.
The treasure that we carry in our hearts and souls is the message of the Gospel. Only God could have planned the salvation of all via His Only Son and only God could have been willing to see His Son sacrificed on the cross for all mankind. Only God could raise Jesus from the dead, His resurrection pointing the way for us to one day also have eternal life. This is all the power of God. There is nothing I can do to save myself, so the treasure that I have is in this earthen vessel that God created for my soul to inhabit until He calls me home to be with Him forever.
It is only by God’s sacrifice and power that you and I are being made holy. This is an ongoing process, one that will not be finished until we go to be with Him in Heaven. Thus, I thank God for His power that is working on me to help me to be more like Him.
I feel weak a lot spiritually. I mess up and have to go back and confess, repent and apologize to those I have offended. But God’s grace is always sufficient. He shows Himself powerful on our behalf when we are willing to confess that we need Him because we are weak. It’s not a bad thing to admit weakness. The bad thing is not being willing to admit it and ask God for His power to help you through whatever situation it is that requires His power and strength. When we let pride get in the way and like the toddler declare to God, “I can do it myself,” He steps back and lets us try. Let me tell you from experience that my efforts alone do not usually work out for me; it is only when I acknowledge that I need help from a Higher Power that I can receive the assistance that God has been able and ready to offer all along.
May you be blessed with the knowledge of God’s power and His loving kindness that wants to help you in all situations.
Many years ago, I sent out various applications to colleges that I desired to attend and then waited anxiously to hear about whether I was accepted or not. I did not get into my first choice, a college that was way beyond my financial capabilities anyway, but I was accepted into Mary Washington, graduated from there and went on to teach. It was during the weeks of waiting for the acceptance letters when I was overwhelmed with the thoughts of what would happen if no one accepted me.
Less than a year after my graduation, I was invited and accepted into the family of God. No anxious waiting, no thoughts about a plan B or even any idea that I would not be accepted. Why not? Because acceptance is a gift from God and He does it well.
There is no favoritism with God, no “show me the money and I will accept you” kind of pseudo-acceptance. God truly accepted me because He shows absolutely no favoritism. I had to confess my sins and repent, true, but that is what everyone who calls on the name of Jesus as Savior has to do. There is no magical formula for acceptance with God, no letters of application to complete and no anxious waiting to see if God will allow you into His family or not. He already has…you have to accept the invitation He sent out long ago when He sent His Son to die for you, and then His acceptance of you is automatic. As someone who struggled most of my young life with being accepted, this is the most amazing gift and one I hope that I never take for granted. And I pray that you know the same acceptance and loving grace that He has shown me. It’s free to you although it cost Jesus dearly.
My prayer of blessing for you today comes from the Holy Bible. Accept His blessing on your life as you read and meditate on the Scripture below.
As everyone knows, today is Election Day in the United States and I hope you are all doing your civic duty and voting. My husband is working at the polls as a poll watcher. He enjoys getting out into the public and talking to folks who come to vote. I already voted since I knew that he would be at the polls all day today.
I awakened this morning with a headache and I attribute it to the weather change (the high today is in the 50’s and it has been almost 80 degrees for the last three days) as well as just a little bit of stress. What could cause that stress? Well, other than the election that is so important for our nation, but that isn’t really why. Our grandson has to go see the surgeon again on November 21st about his broken clavicle. It seems to be healing, but it is doing so very slowly. We are going to Maryland for Thanksgiving so I get to see family there. Grandchildren! Our fiftieth anniversary is coming up in April and we have been working on plans for a train trip across the U.S. Christmas is coming and I need to shop. And my youngest sister in Florida has a Cat 1 hurricane headed her way. So, why the stress? All of the above but not all at the same time. Anxious thoughts seem to wait until I am having a quiet moment and then, boom! They start attacking from all sides. Yes, I have my armor on and my helmet of salvation is firmly in place. But I need more and I find it in the comfort of God’s presence. That is what I am thankful for today. When my heart is rocketing around like a space ship out of control and the pain in my head is forcefully letting me know that I need to relax, then God shows Himself strong on my behalf, speaks calming words to me through His Word and the praise music that I listen to and gradually, my focus changes from the problems and task list to the Almighty God who is worthy to be praised.
God knows just the right words to speak to my heart to keep me focused on His goodness and not on the problems. He is so merciful and gracious to me and I sincerely appreciate His always being there, right on time!
No matter what you are facing today, remember that God is in control…of elections, trips, money issues, and even hurricanes. May you have a blessed and peaceful day!
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 