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

I Love the Fall

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Tonight I will sleep with the window open and the air off. I do believe summer’s heat is finally behind us, and I am free to fully appreciate my favorite season. These are some of the things I love about fall (and yes, I do this almost every year—how can I not?).

  • The dance of leaves falling from trees and swirling on the ground
  • The warm colors of yellow and orange, red and brown displayed in leaves, gourds, and mums
  • Light shining from dining room windows in the earlier darkness
  • Apples in bowls on the counter, or oozing through an apple press to make sauce, or baked into a pie, or on a stick covered in caramel
  • The fragrance and fullness of tartly sweet apple cider
  • Pumpkin muffins and breads, cookies and pies, and seeds toasted in the oven with a dash of salt
  • The cooler weather and the coziness of soft sweaters and sweatshirts
  • The anticipation of Thanksgiving when gratitude swells and family comes home
  • The quietness that comes with the arrival of a new season and its reflection of God’s faithfulness

There is much more than this brief list. What would you add?

A Pumpkin Perspective

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

It’s officially fall! Leaves are floating, though their color has not yet turned vibrant. I fear that summer’s heat and drought may deter the bright shades of yellow, orange, and red we love in North Jersey. But we do have pumpkins!

I spot them grouped with mums on front porches, propped against light posts on bales of hay, and scattered through my house as part of the fall décor. Pumpkins are happy, vibrantly orange, inspirers of cheer. A small seed has produced a large gourd with tasty pulp we bake into pies and breads. It flavors lattes and cookies and adds its unique fragrance to candles. And, it is filled with more seeds that contain the promise of reproduction in the future.

This stirs in me a “Pumpkin Perspective.”

  • Be bright and bold.
  • Let your presence cheer others.
  • Share your unique flavor.
  • Spread your seeds for future increase.
  • Shine in your season.

Our existence, like the pumpkin’s, is transitory. Let’s give it all we have and be a blessing.

Let your light shine before others, that they may… glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

A Prayer Perspective

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Andrew Murray lived from 1828 to 1917. He was born in South Africa more than a hundred years ago, but He experienced the national tensions we suffer today. He lived through the Anglo-Boer War and recorded his reflections. His question and his thoughts gripped me when I read them last week.* I share them with you.

Would it not be sad if we came into God’s presence divided into two camps, praying one against the other? No, we must pray for both our leaders and for all who are in authority. As leaders of the people, their influence, for good or evil, is inexpressible [beyond words].

Their hearts are in God’s hands, and He can turn them wherever He wills. Let our prayers ascend to God in all sincerity and He will hear and grant that which is good for the whole land.

Let us pray, “Lord, the hearts of rulers are in Thy hands; teach them to do Thy will.”

Amen.

*From Daily Secrets of Christian Living

A Grace Perspective

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I love to be shown grace. I deeply appreciate the many times my unwise words are forgiven, my lack of kindness is excused, and my ignorance is overlooked. I am awed by the grace God extends when my bad behavior is repeated, or my neglect reveals my selfishness, or my complaints are shamefully without excuse.

Grace—unmerited favor—so sweet to receive and so challenging to give.

This week, we are mourning the loss of a man who exhibited grace. This is not a eulogy for Charlie Kirk, but an acknowledgement of his inspiration as a grace-giver who demonstrated tolerance and acceptance without compromising his beliefs.

My prayer and hope is that Christians and Americans, and all who have eyes to see and ears to hear, will examine their hearts and the words that flow out of them. May our words reflect the remarkable grace God has shown us.

O Lord, may we be like You.

Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth,

but only that which is good for building up,

that it may give grace to the listeners.

Ephesians 4:29 MEV