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 Spring

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Another detour to Valley Hospital prevented me from blogging last week… and the weather would have complimented this post so much better! Since then we’ve had snow flurries and temperatures that may have been record lows.

Still, my calendar tells me it’s spring and tomorrow April will arrive. I’m sure there’s a lesson in this about truth not being skewed by circumstances but I’m going to stick to reflections on spring because right now I need those happy thoughts. Every change of season inspires me—just one reason I love living in New Jersey—but spring is uniquely inspiring because of its promise of life.

I love the first bright yellow-green buds that pop out on tree branches and the way the landscape grows greener by the day.

I love the thrill of discovering a crocus pushing through the dirt and the promise of a daffodil blooming and bobbing amid its slender green leaves.

I love the hopping, chirping, nest-building birds flitting from branch to branch, sweetening the air with their song.

I love the promise of strawberries ripening and the anticipation of seedlings becoming a crop of fresh produce.

I love longer daylight, longer walks, and lighter jackets.

I love the greening grass and bluer skies and the way the sun seems to shine more yellow.

I love the spring peepers cheeping outside my window, their chorus confirming the arrival of spring.

I love forsythia teasing us with hints of yellow and await the spectacular appearance of pink cherry blossoms and magnificent magnolias.

I love being reminded that Creator God has designed the rhythm of seasons—in nature and in our lives. And I am so grateful that, even when our physical well-being is threatened, every design and plan is God-ordained and good.

I love knowing the beauty of spring that swells my heart is dim compared to the colors, designs, and wonders that await me…

“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, 

And which have not entered the heart of man,

All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Cor. 2:9, Amp

A FULL Heart

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Will I always regard Wednesdays as The Day of the Stroke? Exactly two weeks ago I was working on a rough copy of the blog I would send out that night. Of course, that didn’t happen. Days later I came home from the hospital and glanced at my desk. There was my well-planned, numbered, and prioritized to-do list, with only a few items crossed off. My life had been abruptly interrupted and most items on that list didn’t matter at all.

At the outset of 2022 I determined to FILL the new year with good things—virtues and priorities that would make my life more fruitful. I held myself accountable to you, my friends and readers, by blogging about each one:

  • Thank-Full
  • Peace-Full
  • Mind-Full
  • Hope-Full
  • Mercy-Full
  • Joy-Full
  • Grace-Full
  • Prayer-Full

A stroke wasn’t on the list but, then again, our lives are punctuated with events not our lists. This is why it’s vital to live God-aware—to grow in His likeness, to reflect His heart, and to maintain ongoing conversations with Him. Then, when life is interrupted, we will discover our hearts are thank-full, peace-full, mind-full, hope-full, mercy-full, joy-full, grace-full, and prayer-full.

May He grace each of us with eyes to see Him more clearly, ears to hear Him more precisely, and hearts to follow Him more intimately in 2022.

The Lord  bless you and keep you;
the Lord  make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord  turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Prayer-FULL

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

How appropriate that our final look at fulness in 2022 is Prayer-FULL. I have been blessed, protected, and covered by an uncounted cadre of prayer warriors this last week. Only hours before I planned to write my post for Thursday, I had a small stroke. I am well and almost completely recovered but, oh, how precious was the knowledge that friends, known and unknown, were pleading with God on my behalf.

My best prayer teacher has been our son David. He is basically nonverbal and functions at, maybe, the level of a 6-year old, but his 42-year old heart is attuned to the Lord and he knows from where his help comes.

We have never passed a siren without praying for the stranger in the ambulance, the destination of a fire truck, or those in a roadside accident—every siren is a call to prayer. We pray for the salvation of every waitress who takes our order and for every nurse or caregiver who touches David. Every upsetting situation is covered with prayer—the Ukraine? Covered. Police movies? Covered, it matters not that they’re fictional, they’re people who need prayer. I can’t tell you how many times we prayed about the Super Bowl halftime.

There are no needs too small or too large for David’s God. There is no limit to the mercy David expects from Him. There is no trial or challenge he doesn’t carry to God. And David is no respecter of persons—he prays for the stranger as fervently as for his loved ones. We can’t cut his prayers short, David prays until he’s emptied his heart. And then… he walks away! Heartfelt burdens are brought with tears and then left at Jesus’ feet. David knows God’s got it covered.

Over the years, David’s limitations have been marked by inabilities. But his faith doesn’t know limitations, he is trusting and confident of God’s listening ear.

When I grow up, I want to be like David.

Grace-FULL

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

This just may be the most beautiful asset we can add to our lives in 2022. It is not to be mistaken with graceful—which is lovely, but I gave up on that a long time ago! Grace-FULL, being full of grace, looks something like this:

  • Giving the benefit of the doubt
  • Forgiving when it’s n
  • ot deserved
  • Accepting uncomfortable quirks
  • Offering your time
  • Speaking to a stranger
  • Extending a hand though tired
  • Refusing to take offense
  • Showing kindness
  • Speaking gently
  • Listening intently
  • Praying consistently

I’ve adopted a perspective that helps me be grace-filled—everyone is a package, filled with experiences, hurts, and fears we know nothing about. The package they walk, talk, and live in is a reflection of experiences accumulated over years. Maybe they can do better, act nicer, be kinder—but so can I. I love it when someone shows me grace. I love it when God shows me grace which, actually, is all the time.

Let’s mirror His grace as we walk through 2022, leaving glimmers of God’s light along the way.