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

Summer Psalms: Strength

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

No one chooses to be weak, not physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We respect and desire strength, but do we choose to be strong? Notice that I didn’t ask if we want to be strong, but if we choose to be. Most of us want to be improved, set free, and victorious, but are we willing to do the work? Will we wait for a magic wand to change us, or make choices that strengthen us?

Psalm 1 offers us options that will increase our strength:

  • Don’t listen to sin-soaked people, or keep their company, or join in their mocking.
  • Do delight in God’s Word and ways, and consider His truth day and night.

Solid choices deliver everything we could hope for:

  • Secure footing, like a tree that’s firmly planted,
  • Fruitful lives that affirm our reason for living,
  • A thriving life, not one that withers with weakness.

Be strong. Choose the happy, holy life God intends for you.

He will watch over you as you walk this path, and He will bless you.

More about Joy

~ Barbara ~ 7 Comments

Meet David. He is our 46-year-old son, our fourth child. David has many limitations, the chief ones are his inability to speak and his intellectual simplicity. But he has many assets, such as faith, a worshiping heart, and JOY. He is the happiest person I know.

There is no problem or distress too big for God, so David prays. About everything. And then he walks away with joy because God’s got this. You may have skimmed over the words “about everything.” That is not an exaggeration.  

On our way to church Sunday morning, we saw two police cars with flashing lights. One officer was headed to the back of the house, the other to the front door. Prayer is as natural as breathing for David. He folded his hands to signify that we needed to pray. We prayed for the people who had a problem, for wisdom for the police, for safety for all involved. Amen.

No, not amen. This was not enough for David. He signed “Jesus.” The prayer wasn’t over until we asked that everyone involved would know Jesus. David’s faith was activated, and his joy was complete. Amen.

So I ask, could I be the deficient person? Me, with my great understanding, who can stress over media reports, or personal bad news that drains my joy? It’s certainly not David. His simple prayers are enough for any stressful situation because he lives Nehemiah 8:10:

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Pure Joy!

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Where do you see the most smiles?  At baby showers? Birthday parties? Weddings? Many celebrations are joy-filled, with participants wearing wide grins. But a few days ago, we attended our grandson Ty’s graduation from Liberty University, and I do believe the big smiles on the graduates’ faces topped those at any other type of celebration. They were contagious; everyone was smiling!

The significance of a graduation is multifaceted. The accomplishment of passing tests and writing papers is combined with a student’s first foray from home. Now they turn their tassels and toss their hats in triumph, anticipating a future that will make use of their achievements. No wonder smiles beam from every face.

If you know me at all, you can anticipate where I’m going with this.

I envision the day our smiles will exceed those of the class of 2026. We too will be robed, not in throw-away gowns but in righteousness. We will have made it, written our stories, passed the tests, and graduated with honors.

We will hear, “Well done.” We will toss our crowns before our Father. Our “tassels” will turn from the earthly war we waged to the heavenly victory we face.

Full, complete, unmarred joy will be ours. Pure joy!

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
Matthew 5:12

The Colors of Spring

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

I love the warmer temperatures of spring, the absence of bulky jackets, and no threat of snow. But I think what I love most are spring’s colors.

It may be an illusion, but the blue skies look brighter against green trees than they did against the shades of gray branches. My favorite color combination has always been blue and green.

And green is everywhere! We seemed to wait so long, eagerly watching for green buds that finally emerged and then darkened to provide rich foliage. The color elevates my spirit and seems to breathe new life into me.

My next favorite color is yellow. The daffodils, the azaleas, and (be still my heart) the goldfinches, all bright and cheerful.

Add pinks and purples to the palette as flowers bloom and color our world with petals of various shapes and sizes. God is amazing!

Even red thrills me, showing off in color-popping flowers and its vibrancy enticing us with luscious strawberries and juicy watermelon.

And don’t get me started on lilac bushes, where color and fragrance blend to stimulate our senses. I love the lavender-blue wild flowers that grow alongside highways. My favorite lavender-ish flowers are hydrangeas.

I hope you’re enjoying your spring. Remember to stop and smell the flowers, and pause to appreciate the colorful beauty of spring.

God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth…
Everything was created through Him and for Him.
He existed before anything else,
and He holds all creation together. Colossians 1:16-17