Author: Barbara

My passion is to encourage women wherever they are on their life journey. In everything I write and in every opportunity to speak, my goal is to offer hope. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

Love

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

A five-minute search will reveal that Valentine’s Day has questionable origins, including a pagan Roman fertility festival and the martyrdom of Saint Valentine (of which there are at least two). But honestly, who cares? It has become a feel-good, syrupy emotional celebration of love. In the midst of snow and frigid temps, we are given a reason to decorate our homes with red, ice cupcakes, and send cards.

Although the sentiments are often superficial—less about commitment and devotion and more about lace and hearts—it’s a fun day! But I throw out a challenge: if we’re going to celebrate love, let’s do it right and go to the source. 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Bible’s “love chapter” and explains what is and is not love.

We learn that love is not revealed in chocolates and roses, or dinners and candlelight. Love is exhibited in patience and kindness, humility and gentleness, forgiveness and mercy. Selah.

Our most eloquent professions, generous gifts, and greatest sacrifices are actually nothing without love. The qualities of true love run deep:

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance” (verse 7).

Love isn’t found in a cut-out paper heart, but in cutting out the selfishness in our own hearts.

The final verse of the chapter reminds us what has enduring value:

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—
and the greatest of these is love” (verse 13).

February is a great month to share love!

Snow

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Have you heard the news? Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter!

Not only is New Jersey seeing record snowfalls and frigid temperatures, but so is the rest of the country! Have you seen pictures of Nashville’s trees wrapped in ice? Snow is a wonder of nature, sent by God, at His command—and there’s nothing we can do about it, except shovel a path and admire the beauty.

“He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.
Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.” Job 37:6-7 NLT

The sunny days that followed our latest snowfall have been dazzling! Granted, I’m a retiree who neither treks to work nor clears her own sidewalks, but even before I reached these golden years, I loved living in the rhythm and wonder of four seasons, winter included.

The pristine, glistening snow always reminds me of God’s promise in Isaiah 1:18:

“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”

Perhaps we can better appreciate the marvel of that statement when we look at the polluted, gray, mud-splattered snow on the side of the road. Even when our hearts are stained and polluted, God’s forgiveness washes them and makes them pure, “as white as snow.”

February is a great month to draw near to God!

Living Aboard “Wor-Ship”

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Wor-ship is not a cruise ship we board on Sunday morning. It is not about singing songs, reading psalms, or testifying, though all of these may be included. Sailing Wor-ship adds value to every day of our lives. Boarding this ship is about the position of the heart. It is based on a deep conviction that God is over everything, that His purposes and ways are superior to our understanding. There is only one Captain, and He is exalted for His love, goodness, and mercy.

Those who board Wor-ship are determined to prioritize their faith over their feelings. They have strong convictions and demand that life’s experiences submit to the truth of God’s sovereignty. Disappointments, bitterness, moodiness, fear, and anger defer to assured certainty that pain and discomfort do not rule; God’s purposes do. Once onboard, passengers discover that our Wor-ship is actually a Warship. When we worship, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us” (Psalm 46:7).

This could generate a year’s worth of posts, but I will simply end with Isaiah 42:10,13:

Sing a new song to the Lord!
    Sing His praises from the ends of the earth!
Sing, all you who sail the seas…

The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero;
    He will come out like a warrior, full of fury.
He will shout His battle cry and crush all His enemies.

This is our last word about life’s ships. Embarking on Wor-ship and making it your lifestyle will change your style of life. Your perspective will shift from earth’s pain to heaven’s glory.

Photo credits: DVIDSHUB/Flikr

Embarking on “Hard-Ship”

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Hard-ship is the vessel no one wants to board. When we hear the alert: “Rough waters ahead,” we batten down the hatches and prepare for a storm. When health, relationship, or financial crises threaten, we shudder at the thought of facing choppy waters, but storms are unavoidable. No one goes through life without them.

Hard-ship is the barge that slowly pushes forward with its heavy load. The only way to safely move ahead and avoid a shipwreck is to put our trust in God.

Remarkably, we can have peace in the storm, despite the enormity of the unwelcome load. We can be assured of safekeeping and confident in the promise that God mysteriously makes all things work together for our blessing (Romans 8:28). We are merely crew members with limited control of our ship or our destiny. But we have a Captain who is in full control! He has power, capabilities, and knowledge we cannot fathom.

Let Him be our focus in the midst of a storm.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7