A Voice Of Hope

May 11, 2026 Gracie

Words Matter: A Voice of Hope

What are your posts like on social media?

Are you a voice of hope, or do your words divide?

Is encouraging others your goal, or changing someone else’s politics?

There are so many angry negative voices out there.

For that reason (and a few more), I gladly got off Facebook.

My time (and yours) is much more valuable than going down those rabbit holes.

Our purpose in life is to use our gifts to tell others about the life-saving grace of our Savior Jesus.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “What would Jesus do?”

Similarly, what about what “did” Jesus do?

Jesus had a distinct mission during his life on earth. A great example of this is in the Book of Luke. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, spent time with Jesus, renounced his sins, and sealed his final destination in Heaven.

The words from Jesus Himself:

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10, NASB.¹

Jesus coming to earth is everything (and He’s coming back!).

We glorify God by telling others about Him.

The more we get to know our Creator and the more we love Him (Matthew 22:37–38), the better we understand who we are and what our purpose is. We were created to bring Him glory. God has unique plans and purposes for each person (Psalm 139:13–16), but we can know that, whatever those plans look like, they will ultimately result in His glory (Proverbs 3:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31). – gotquestions.org..²

Every day, a mindset of seeing the world from a godly perspective gives us reason to rejoice.

Have you ever shared your testimony before?

You can find mine here on delight-in-God.com.

I have also shared it during a funeral service for my dear father-in-law, and also in person with a friend. As much as I love to write, there’s just something special about talking one-on-one to someone who is seeking the Lord.

It is an honor.

I pray that if you are reading this, you too will feel encouraged to share your story.

Be honest about what your life was like before you met Jesus. Be ready to share the wonderful changes a relationship with Him has made. No one has a redemption story quite like yours. It is powerful, and you should tell it at every opportunity. – Pastor Allen Jackson.³

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²Quotation from gotquestions.org from “What is the purpose of man, according to the Bible?” n.d., para. 6. Web. Accessed May 3, 2026. Retrieved from Purpose of Man.

³Pastor Allen Jackson quotation, courtesy of allenjackson.com, “Unrelenting, Unyielding Advocate for Jesus” n.d., para. 1. Web. Accessed May 3, 2026.

Our Exceptional God

Never A Moment Late

May 4, 2026 Gracie

Never a Moment Late: Trusting God’s Timing

Patience on hold

Have you ever tried to call a major airline or phone carrier and been put “on hold” for what seems like forever?

Waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . .

What’s worse is that you have no control in how long the waiting will take.

It’s frustrating, right?

“Waiting” is something we’re not really used to anymore.

In our now fast-paced world, new technologies often enable instant gratification.

However, that expectation is not realistic where faith is concerned.

You’ve heard it before: “God’s timing is not our timing”.

It’s a difficult lesson to live by, but we have to let God work out His will for our lives, no matter how long it takes.

In Psalm 27:14, David serves this blessed reminder as he experienced his own period of waiting on God . . .

Never a moment late

The Lord’s timing is perfect and He’s never a moment late.

Don’t give up!

Keep praying and trusting – God never fails.

Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow. – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.¹

God’s timing always works for the greater good.

Never a Moment Late: God’s Perfect Timing

Are you going through a tough period of waiting?

Bring everything to the Lord in prayer.

It’s important to realize that He will strengthen you if you just ask.

With that in mind, the following poem is a recent discovery.

I hope it encourages you like it does me.

Do You Trust Me?

Do you trust me
When things aren’t going right, 
When life deals some painful blows, 
When finances are awfully tight?

Do you trust me 
When tragedy comes your way, 
When you don’t get all the answers 
When you bend
your knee to pray?

Do you trust me 
When friends don’t understand, 
When there’s no one you can talk to, 
No one to hold your hand?

Do you trust me 
When there’s warring in your soul, 
When there’s darkness all around you 
And you’re left out in the cold?

Do you trust me 
When evil is against you, 
When there’s nowhere left to run 
And you can’t find the truth?

Do you trust me?
I need to ask you this,
‘Cause you don’t always know 
I’m there in the midst

Of all your tribulations, 
Everything that you go through, 
I am always there, my child, 
And I will never leave you

So I must ask of you 
To see if you believe, 
No matter what you face in life, 
You must always trust in me.
© By M.S.Lowndes.²

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¹Quotation by Warren Wiersbe, (1929-2019), courtesy of Christian quotes.info.

Attitude of Gratitude

January 8, 2024 Gracie

An Attitude of Gratitude – Count Your Blessings!

Have you heard the old expression, “oil and water don’t mix”?

Here’s one you don’t hear often . . . How about “cooking” oil and cars?

You heard that right.

A few months ago, the local news reported that a truck carrying cooking oil started leaking its cargo along a well-traveled roadway.

A six mile stretch of road was closed down as several cars started slipping and sliding through the oily mess.

leaking oil and cars don't mix

The cleanup took hours. Observers joked that the area smelled like ”fried chicken”.

Joking aside, some things (like leaking oil and cars) just don’t mix.

But, how about gratitude and attitude?

That depends.

A “bad” attitude can send a person right into a never-ending ditch of self-pity.

An attitude of gratitude does just the opposite.

Gratitude is having the right attitude of thankfulness, no matter what our circumstances.

Gratitude is more than a passing trend or a means of glossing over our very real-life struggles and challenges. It is a conscious act of cultivating awareness of the good things in life, expressing this gratitude to others, and creating daily practices that reinforce these positive observations and actions. These efforts result in tremendous benefits for the individual who practices gratitude. – Dr. Monica Vermani, Psychology today.¹

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

An attitude of gratitude

From the old testament to the new, the Bible affirms the faith of grateful hearts.

In Psalm 107, commentators assert that the psalmist is referring to Israel’s deliverance from exile. But, as believers today, we can rest and rejoice in the revealing of God’s character in these psalms and throughout the entire Bible.

God is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting. – Psalm 107:1, (NASB).²

Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed,
called in one body, rule in your hearts;
And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15, (NASB).³

Even for what might be considered the smallest of blessings, it’s important to express thankfulness to our Creator.

Choosing an Attitude of Gratitude

keeping a journal What’s a good way to reflect an attitude of gratitude?

You can start by writing in a journal.

I’m sure you’ve heard of gratitude journals.

They are an excellent way of recording your hopes, dreams, and answered prayers.

It’s rewarding to look back on those writings later and reflect on God’s grace and providence in your life, especially during more challenging times.

Bible teacher, the late Warren Wiersbe, eloquently described expressions of “gratitude” this way:

An attitude of gratitude is a wonderful weapon against unbelief, disobedience, a hard heart, and a bitter spirit. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s be thankful for what we do have, because God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him . . . We can’t control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to them. That’s what faith is all about, daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we don’t feel like it or see it happening. – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.⁴

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¹Quotation from Dr. Monica Vermani. Courtesy of Psychology Today online magazine, “Understanding and Practicing Gratitude.” Accessed December 30, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202312/understanding-and-practicing-gratitude

⁴Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) quotation from the Give Thanks Commentary, [2015] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Web. Accessed 30 December, 2023.

Our Exceptional God

The Joy Of Early Morning Prayer

October 3, 2023 Gracie

Starting Your Day Off Right With Early Morning Prayer

What better way to start the day off right than with early morning prayer.

Rise and shine!

It’s a new day to praise the Lord. 🙂

early morning prayer

How can a person really enjoy a beautiful sunrise or a sunset, a beautiful spring day or even a beautiful winter day, if he can’t thank the One who creates these things? – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.²

Early Morning Prayer – Does Lengthy Equal Better?

Many times, I wake up as early as 4:30 in the morning.

That would have sounded awful to younger me, but I look forward to the early morning hours now.

I relish the peace and the quiet at the start of each new day.

And, as a bonus, in a few hours I get to watch that magnificent sun rise!

For me, it’s the perfect time for praying and seeking God’s wisdom.

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10, (ESV).³

Do you know who else engaged in early morning prayer?

Jesus!

Mark 1:35 tells us that, “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.”⁴

How long do our early morning prayers have to be?

That’s between you and God.

Not only does He hear our longer prayers, He also hears our short praises, even a simple, “Thank You Jesus.”

When I first became a Christian, I got a little caught up in that.

I would hear a friend pray a lengthy prayer and it would sound so eloquent.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that it’s not the length of our prayers that matter.

Long or short, eloquent or simple, He hears us!

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²Warren Wiersbe quotation from the Psalm 113 Commentary, [2021] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Subheading, “The Responsibility of Praise” Web. Accessed 2 October, 2023.

Our Exceptional God

New Year New Plans

January 9, 2019 Gracie

New Year’s Resolutions

Welcome 2019, and welcome to all of you who have found this blog!

Do you have any special plans or resolutions?

I’m guessing a “new diet” is in there somewhere.

Trust me, I completely understand.

Christmas cookies

Colorful Christmas cookies and homemade pies are “oh so tempting” around the holidays, and very hard to resist.

So, I didn’t!

Starting The New Year Off Right

Bible reading plans

From a Christian perspective, the new year is just the encouragement you need to you to start a new Bible reading plan.

There are so many good ones out there, like this one.

If you’d like another option for a reading plan, I wanted to share this additional resource with you that you may not have seen yet.

If you click here, it will take you to Bible Gateway. At the top, click on the word “Study.” There you will find a series of reading plans to choose from.

Even further, you can also sign up for their devotionals. I found two great ones that I enjoy reading though every day. They are so encouraging!!

New Year, New Plans

There are countless searches online asking the question, “Why should I read the Bible?”

If you haven’t taken the time to read through Scripture, please consider this.

The year 2019 starts a new chapter in your life,

and a renewed time to delight in God.

Why not start the new year off right by reading daily the inspired Word from Almighty God – the One Who created you out of nothing?

No doubt, this new year will bring its share of challenges, as well as victories.

Are you ready?

“The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” – Warren Wiersbe, International Bible teacher and author.

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* Warren Wiersbe quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info

Our Exceptional God