Powerful Words from Generous Hearts

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

I was recently doubting myself in two areas. In each instance someone spoke words that flipped my perspective and sparked joy.

First, I was feeling down about my hair—I’m losing it! Not a big deal, but a distraction. I faithfully thanked God it wasn’t due to disease or chemo treatments, just another aging nuisance. Still, I told Him I’d really like it to stop.

We attend a super-friendly church and each Sunday are enthusiastically greeted like our being there is the best thing ever. Two weeks ago the greeter, a stranger to me, exclaimed, “I love your hair! It looks so healthy!” Now, people may have commented on my hair style or color, but no one ever has remarked on its health. I’m guessing you’ve never been told that either. What an unusual comment—and exactly what I needed to hear! I thanked her for being so outgoing and unwittingly building me up. Now I brush the hair off my shoulders and say to myself, “What healthy hair!” You know, I think less is falling!

The second self-doubt came this morning. I felt dry and was praying about what to post this week. I questioned if I should take a blog break. In the middle of my musing a new friend texted me, “I felt compelled to start reading your blog! I’ve read a few and I’m now a subscriber!” Wow! Then a second friend in the chat responded that she knew nothing about following a blog, “I was just reading it. So good!” They knew nothing about my struggle but spoke words of life and… here I am!

I hope you’re encouraged to speak up, to let compliments and positive words flow. We’ve had this safety measure drilled in us: “If you see something, say something.” Let’s steal the mantra to remind us to say kind words to others.  

Ephesians tells us to speak…“what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (4:29). In the communications I described words were spoken to build me up. The speakers didn’t know of my need, but God did, and He used them to bless.

Friends, let’s be generous with words that compliment, edify, and encourage. According to Proverbs 25:11 (ESV),

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

Share a golden apple today!

No Fear Here, 2

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Any parent or grandparent can fall prey to fear when we look at the dangers our children face in today’s society. We must take a stand and declare, “No fear here!”

This article lifted my heart—I hope it does the same for you.

Don’t Feel Sorry or Fear for your Kids
Raise Them up to Walk in Faith

Don’t feel sorry or fear for your kids because the world they’re growing up in is not what it used to be.

God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they’re in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence or an accident.

  • Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
  • Train them up in the authority of His Word.
  • Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
  • Empower them to know they can change the world.

Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it.

Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.

  • He knew Daniel could handle the lions’ den.
  • He knew David could handle Goliath.
  • He knew Esther could handle Haman.
  • He knew Peter could handle persecution.

He knows that your children can handle whatever challenges they face in their life. He created them specifically for it!

Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose you to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise to the challenge.

Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers, and Peters!

God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world.

He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth.

Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them … they were born for such a time as this.

—Alex Cravens, Russellville, Arkansas,
featured on Randy Alcorn’s website: eternal perspectives ministry

Some Gave All

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

I hope Memorial Day brought to mind the American lives sacrificed in war. My reading of historical fiction as broadened my appreciation of veterans in many arenas—the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WW1, WW2, the wars in Korea, Viet Nam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Whatever our political views, the men and women who fought, bearing arms and stretchers, sacrificing safety and security, deserve our respect and gratitude. But let me spotlight a different cadre of soldiers—the men and women who travel to foreign countries armed with the Gospel.

These “soldiers” left comfortable homes and ventured into dark, unfamiliar places to bring the good news of truth and freedom. Many Christians give some for the sake of the Gospel. Some Christians give all—like Davy (23) and Natalie (21) Lloyd. This young missionary couple married in 2022 and moved to Haiti to minister in an orphanage and school. On May 23 they were murdered by gang members.

This Memorial Day season I have an increased appreciation for those who serve—in the military and in missions. “Thank you” seems too small. Financial support and prayers also seem too small, but they are what I have and what I will give… for those who give all.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Wedding Thoughts

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

As I read through Jesus’ parables I noted that two were about a wedding—His wedding. We’re all invited and it will be like none we’ve ever attended. It will be the wedding of all weddings. The beauty, the vows, and the feast will supersede anything we’ve experienced. Take a look and see if you can identify the “R” word I designated to each parable.

Jesus’ describes a lavish wedding banquet prepared by a king for his son. Amazingly, when the servants invited guests, they didn’t come—actually, it says they refused to come. It seems that most were too busy but others reacted to the invitation with violence, killing the messengers. This did not change the king’s plans—the banquet would be held, the celebration was planned and anticipated, all of time and history pointed to this singular event. So he sent his servants to the streets and they invited all the people they could find, “the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled” (Matt 22:10).

A second parable tells of ten young women waiting for the groom to arrive for his wedding banquet. He had been so long in coming the women fell asleep. When the wake-up call awoke them, five discovered their lamps had burned out and they were without oil. The other five, known as the wise virgins, were prepared with extra oil—they didn’t risk being left out. Jesus’ closing words in His story were, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matt 25:13).

The two R’s I came away with were these: Be responsive. Be ready.

It is a wedding feast we will not want to miss.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart