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.

News Alert (1)

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

Whether we diligently follow the news or can only bear to take occasional peeks, we are not unaware of the troubling headlines that reveal a distressing view of our world.

Read enough?

Media headlines are enough to upset us during the day and keep us awake at night. We feel helpless and may wonder if God sees all this. Friends, read on.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
from His dwelling place He watches  all who live on earth—
He who forms the hearts of all,  who considers everything they do.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,
    on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.

Psalm 33:13-15, 18

We are not without help. God sees, watches, considers. Hope not in leaders or armies, but in our powerful God who has the ability to create with a word and destroy with a breath.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixaby

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Dwelling and Feeding

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I can’t move on to my next blog post until I share part of a verse that gripped me the other night. It is the last phrase in Psalm 37:3: “Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”

I laid in bed and turned the words over and over. How does one “feed on” God’s faithfulness? Does it mean think about it? Or thank Him for it? When I feed on food I don’t just think about eating—I’d still be hungry. I thank Him before my meals, but I’m not full until I actually ingest food. How do I “feed on” God’s faithfulness?

You probably see the answer quicker than I did, but just before dozing off a picture flashed in my mind—the picture I posted last week. I saw the birds feeding on my husband’s faithfulness.

They were not deterred by the storm. They were not hiding in their safe places or huddled in a feathered conference. They were freely, innocently enjoying the food faithfully supplied for them.

Lord, let us be that simple. Guard us from the worries and fears that complicate our lives. Give us hearts that readily accept the gifts you freely give, the supply you never fail to provide. We are grateful. Thank you, Lord.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Psalm 37:3 NKJV

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart

Bird Food

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

In anticipation of Tuesday night’s snow storm, my husband took steps to assure the birds would be fed. In the dark, before a flake fell, he filled our feeders with seed and hung a second peanut butter log.

The following morning the predicted snow was falling and, though it came down in heavy flakes, the birds were more active than usual. Cardinals, juncos, and sparrows swooped and flitted in a symphony of activity, picking up seeds and pecking at the peanut butter. It was a show to behold—and we pulled up chairs to watch.

As I reflected on my husband’s forethought to provide for our feathered friends, Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:26 came to mind:

“Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

Just as we noted last week that God is present when all looks gray, He is also present when storms come and He lovingly provides for us. We need not be anxious.

After He points out God’s care in feeding the birds, Jesus asks the disciples—and us—a question,

“Are you not much more valuable than they?”

He invites us to trust our heavenly Father.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart.