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

The Carpenter and the Crossbeam

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

The son of a carpenter, Jesus grew up feeling the grain and inhaling the fragrance of hewn wood. It is not a stretch to imagine Him hefting a hammer or pulling a saw to construct…what? A table? A chair or a baby’s cradle? Woodworking was not His calling, but it was His trade.

Years later wood became a symbol of His calling when He was forced to carry a crossbeam up to Golgotha. This time the wood Jesus held was not to create something useful, but to accommodate His death. It hurts to think about it.

The severity of His suffering, coupled with the humiliating shame, causes me to squirm. His attitude makes me even more uncomfortable—no objecting, defending, ranting—just quiet submission. And here’s what I find really unbearable. Jesus created that wood. He created the hill on which He would die. He created the Jews who condemned Him, the soldiers who mistreated Him, the thieves who hung next to Him.

Jesus, Creator God, suffering and dying by the products of His own creative power. How great was His love for us that He would pay such a price—a price we cannot calculate or fathom.

We call tomorrow “Good Friday”—only so because Easter follows. Our sins are erased from the record. The door to a merciful God is open wide. Our forever is secure.

Jesus, thank you for carrying that crossbeam.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Image from freelyphotos.com

Good News

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem was exciting, joyful, hopeful! But days later, nothing seemed triumphant when He was arrested and sentenced to death. His crucifixion had to stymie His once enthusiastic followers. Those who threw up their hands in worship days before, must have thrown up their hands in confusion. But then, the unimaginable happened. Incredibly, gloriously, victoriously—Jesus rose from the grave!

Forty days later He had His true triumphal entry. In the sight of angels and His disciples, Jesus triumphantly ascended into heaven—the New Jerusalem. He regained His place of glory and sat on His throne to forever reign.

His victory came through suffering we could never know—it came so we would never have to know. Jesus’ life purchased life for us and for all who accept Him.

I love Peter’s summary of Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:34-43:

“I… realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him* and does what is right…

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and… He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him…

“All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

Let’s allow ourselves to be caught up in the emotion of Palm Sunday and worship the One who made a Triumphal Entry into our hearts. He gives us life now and for eternity.

Our Triumphal Entry awaits us!

*honors, respects, loves Him

News Alert (3 of 3)

~ Barbara ~ 4 Comments

Current Headlines

  • Israel has warned that Hamas in Palestinian territories, as well as Iran, is likely to take advantage of the Ramadan season to start another violent uprising. 
  • Senate passes $460 billion package to fund the government
  • Putin warns the West that Russia is ready for nuclear war
  • FBI director warns of ‘very dangerous threats’ at border, smuggling network with ‘ISIS ties’
  • US-funded report issues urgent AI warning of ‘uncontrollable’ systems turning on humans

How do these headlines make you feel? Worried? Anxious? Powerless?

The God who is all-powerful is not wringing His hands or searching for plan B. Psalm 2 tells us He sees nations conspiring and people plotting but is neither worried nor anxious. Actually,

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them (verse 4).

If we are impressed by weapons and armies, stymied by governmental decisions, frustrated by our inability to change things, we are looking for power in the wrong places. Psalm 33 corrects our vision:

No king is saved by the size of his army;
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.

It is not a vast military or strong defenders or powerful weapons that give us hope. It is confidence in the God who is over all and controls all—read verse 18:

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

When the psalmist asks, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 2:1) God’s answer reverberates above the tumultuous earth,

“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain” (verse 6).

Fear not. Focus above. Feed on the Psalms.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixaby

News Alert (2)

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Top news: the primaries, the slander, the accusations. Opinions are rampant, triggering divisiveness and suspicion. Who can be believed? It is easy to worry and become fearful.

But… this is the confidence we can have when we trust God:

He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:21-22

Fold up the paper and turn off the TV. Let the Bible feed your faith and replace your fears.