A Spiritual Treadmill

May 15, 2019 Gracie

Exercising Your Faith

Do any of these criticisms sound familiar?

Christians think they’re so perfect

Hypocrites!

God is aware of our suffering and trials

Verbal slams like these are often blurted out in high volume and, let’s face it, are purposely meant to be an insult.

Why do people say those things?

It’s emotionally exhausting and you may feel all alone, or like you’ve failed in your spiritual walk.

Christian, you are not alone.

God is aware of our suffering and trials.

Please never forget that.

True Christians know they are not perfect and that it’s only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ that we will be redeemed.

The Bible warns us that we would be mocked for our faith. We can’t act like we didn’t know.

So how, then, can we persevere in this upside-down world?

A recent podcast from Pastor Mike Fabarez encourages us all to continue pressing on, no matter what.

And I tell you what, no matter how you’re losing in your life right now, because you’ve stood up and maintained what the sermons have said week after week, that Right is Right and Good is Good and Bad is Bad and Sin is Sin.

When you maintain that in the world and you lose because of it, it’s not uncommon. The world is an upside-down place.

Just remember this – God says when they mess with you, when they set you back, when they ridicule you, persecute you, they’re messing with Me. There’s some comfort in that.¹ – Pastor Mike Fabarez, Focal Point Ministries

Don’t throw in the towel because being a Christian in this world of darkness is too hard.

Persevere anyway.

We have an assurance that the world doesn’t have.

spiritual treadmill

Pray For Your Enemies

Christians search the internet all the time to find out how to pray for their enemies. I see the search results every week.

Why do we have to pray for our enemies?

It seems unnatural and that’s because it is.

Only God can give us the supernatural strength that we need, in the midst of our emotional pain, to pray for our persecutors.

We must ask Him for strength.

No one said it’s going to be easy.

We are in a spiritual war with a deadly foe tracking us every hour of the day. We need to be in the best shape possible to cope with the darts and arrows he hurls our way. Flabby, overindulged, pampered Christians just don’t have the stamina to fight this battle. Thus, the Lord puts us on a spiritual treadmill every now and then to keep us in good fighting condition.²– Dr. James Dobson. [Newsletter, April 2019].

A Spiritual Treadmill

We’re on a “spiritual treadmill” – I like that analogy.

At the end of the day, even if it feels like a horrible day, remember to Whom you belong.

Keep on pressing forward, and pray for God to guide your steps.

You are who God says you are, not who your persecutor says you are.

It can help to memorize what John told the believers in 1 John 3:1, ESV. –

the reason why the world does not know us

Child of God, have courage!

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¹ From Fabarez, Pastor Mike, host. “Why is There Evil in the World.” Podcast, [20:19]. One Place Ministries, May 10, 2019. www.oneplace.com/2019/ https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/focal-point/listen/.

² From Dr. James Dobson, Family Talk. [Newsletter]. Retrieved from https://drjamesdobson.org/about/april-newsletter-2019?sc=FEM&mc=FEM0419NL&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_campaign=20190404%20Newsletter%20(FEM0419NL)%20(3)&spMailingID=21287810&spUserID=MzA5NTY5NTAzNDUS1&spJobID=1480209475&spReportId=MTQ4MDIwOTQ3NQS2 /April 10, 2019).

Our Exceptional God

A Talented Young Singer

May 8, 2019 Gracie

Encouragement For Your Day From A Talented Young Singer

If you’ve read any of my blog posts from the past, then you know that on occasion I love to feature Christian music.

Music is a big part of my life, especially Christian music.

Psalm 30 comes to mind.

¹¹You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
¹²That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. – Psalm 30:11-12, NASB.

Recently, as I was searching for new songs and talent, I came across a young boy who has the voice of an angel.

Perhaps you’ve seen him on YouTube where over 36 million viewers have tuned into his channel.

His name is Steven Samuel Devassy.

I don’t know about you, but I see and hear joy when he sings God’s praises.

So Many Reasons

We have so many reasons to praise the Lord.

The lyrics to Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” comes to mind.

Here’s Steven Samuel Devassy singing this beautiful cover song.

Keep an eye on this talented young singer, now an 11-year-old, who also plays the drums. I do believe he has a future in Christian music!

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A Prayer For The Elderly

May 1, 2019 Gracie

Respect For The Elderly

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit with a dear couple at an assisted living home.

We’ve known them for many years, and just recently reconnected after their move to the facility.

The time we all shared together flew by.

Not only did we enjoy a delicious meal together at a local restaurant, but we went back to their place to sing and play music. I can’t even begin to describe how much fun that was!

My husband and I drove back home thinking about what a wonderful visit we had just had with these two wonderful “young-at-hearts.”

One thing they mentioned was how much they wished more people would visit, and not just at Christmas when the choirs would perform.

But all throughout the year.

Their request got me thinking and remembering how much I enjoyed singing with a small group at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They are the best audience and often sang along with us.

The reason I’m writing about all this is to encourage everyone to not forget our senior adults. Their wisdom, sense of humor, and engaging stories are a joy to experience.

And . . . they appreciate our prayers.

a prayer for the elderly

A Prayer For The Elderly

Stephen Wong, a fellow Christian writer, wrote a prayer that speaks volumes. I’m happy to share his prayer here as a model for all of us.

by Stephen Wong

02/25/19

Lord God,

I thank you for the elderly in our churches,

I thank you for the wisdom you have given them,

And for the skills and experiences they have gained over the years,

But old age can also bring many challenges,

Such as loneliness, loss of loved ones, health complications and mobility loss,

So Lord, in all the challenges our elderly face each day,

Please give them your comfort and grace,

And remind them of your unfailing love for them,

I pray that you would help them not to give up meeting with other Christians,

And that you would give them opportunities,

To keep connecting with a community of believers,

Give them the strength to keep serving you faithfully each day,

And to keep preaching the gospel to the lost,

Please help them to keep humbly learning from your Word,

And to pursue spiritual growth and godliness,

So that they may be godly role models and mentors to younger generations,

I pray also that as they approach the end of their lives,

You would give them your peace and the confident hope,

That death is not the end,

But that they will one day spend eternity with you,

So please help them to keep setting their eyes on Christ,

That they may continue to run the race with perseverance until the end.

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*Poem shared, courtesy of Stephen Wong, from url: https://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=185177.

Our Exceptional God

Why Not Phone A Friend?

April 24, 2019 Gracie

Why Not Phone A Friend?

Are you “all thumbs?”

You may be, and didn’t even realize it.

It’s time we talk about your problem.

Okay, I’m kidding, let’s talk about “our” problem.

Many people I know text a lot.

Or, at least their teenagers do.

Don’t get me wrong, texting is necessary sometimes … but all of the time?

With all this “convenience” technology, aren’t we losing something?

Generally, I’m not a fan of texting.

This dislike developed over time and it took a comment from my amused better half to make me realize I was falling into a bad habit.

There have been instances when a friend and I have texted back and forth for quite awhile, prompting my husband to ask a good question: “Why don’t y’all just call each other?”

He has a good point.

Texting has easily become a mindless habit.

Even though I text a lot, I realize that I do miss hearing people’s actual voices.

Does anybody else out there miss personal telephone calls?

“With our digital wands — TVs, smartphones, iPhones, iPads, etc. — we trick ourselves into believing that we are better connected … But are we?” – Times Union Online article.

Something To Think About

Smart phones, Smart this, Smart that … in our homes, in our cars, at work.

We have so many conveniences available to us to make our lives easier.

Even though some of the latest medical and scientific breakthroughs are amazing, others are downright creepy – like the Big Dog robot.

Is that menacing-looking thing really necessary?

It also makes me cringe when I hear news headlines about topics like:

Artificial intelligence

Implanted chips

Genetically-modified whatever

Whoaaaa.

When it comes to those kinds of advancements, I want to say “slow down, mankind!”

We are not God.

When you really think about it – is that what life is all about?

Is that what God desires – for our lives to be easier and more convenient?

Christians should know the answer to that one.

The growing “disconnect” in our communication with each other makes me sad, even though I’m sometimes guilty of it myself.

Ultimately, this isn’t heading to a good place.

So, I think I’ll go phone a friend right now – the old-fashioned way.

A Prayer For Biblical Discernment

God, in this time of incredible technological advancement, give us clear eyes to see what is happening through a biblical lens. Give us the mind of Christ. May we be wise and careful in how we employ emerging technologies.

May we not invest them with out-sized importance.

Set our hope on the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will heal every disease and give us glorified, resurrected bodies. – Dr. Robert Jeffress, First Baptist Dallas.

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* Quotation from Times Union Online, “Techonology Only Hurts Interaction.” Web. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Technology-only-hurts-interaction-4392687.php

**Quotation from Dr. Robert Jeffress, Bible teacher, pastor, and author. Taken from Worldview Today with Dr. Robert Jeffress. “Prayer.” Accessed April 5, 2019.

Our Exceptional God

Happy Easter 2019

April 17, 2019 Gracie

Three Days Later

What a difference three days makes.

When Jesus was put to death on the cross, His Glorious Resurrection became the single, most pivotal, truth-affirming foundation of our Christian faith.

³¹For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” – Mark 9:31, NASB.

Happy Easter 2019

We can rest in the truth that over 500 witnesses saw Jesus after His Resurrection.

Over 500 people.

Oh, to be one of the 500 on that day.

He is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

May you and your families have a blessed celebration.

Happy Easter 2019

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Our Exceptional God

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