The hardest seasons are sometimes the most poignantly beautiful – if you simply take the time to look.
Isaiah 40:31 says if we hope in the Lord our strength will be renewed. We will soar on wings like eagles. We will run and walk without growing weary or faint.
What is the significance of soaring on wings like an eagle? Why the eagle imagery?
The eagle has superior aerial skills. Since ancient times, the majestic bird has been a symbol of strength and courage. An eagle’s wingspan can reach up to eight feet across. Its feathers are designed to reduce turbulence. When its wings catch a thermal wind, it can soar for significant distances with minimal movement, which in turn helps conserve energy.
Eagles don’t flap their wings frantically to stay aloft. They fly high above the lowlands making use of the wind currents to gain height almost effortlessly.
I don’t know about you, but many days I don’t feel like I’m soaring. I feel more like a helpless bird, desperately flapping its wings in a frantic attempt to keep flying. This is usually the result of focusing on my problems or worrying.
Biblical truth is so simple and straightforward, but it’s easy to forget the simple words in scripture that can change our lives for the better. What do we need to do to soar effortlessly like the eagle? One thing. Hope in the Lord.
If we are hoping in the Lord, our focus is on him and eternity, not on our daily struggles. When we dwell on our earthly troubles, we lose the wind beneath our wings, start to fall, and end up flailing about in desperation to stay aloft.
I find great comfort in Isaiah 40: 31. It’s always been one of my favorite verses of scripture, but what does it really mean to hope in the Lord?
To hope means to look forward to something with an expectant attitude and assurance that things will work out. When we hope in the Lord, we can rise above the turbulence of everyday life. We see things in light of eternity rather than the here and now. We know the best is yet to come.
A Bible study teacher once said we should always keep our eternity glasses on. When we only look at the things going on around us, it’s easy to feel discouraged and hopeless.
We turn on the news and see only the growing immorality across the world. As Christians, it’s hard to stay positive in a society that endorses ungodliness and filth. We look at problems within our own families or work environments. Our hearts break when we see others suffering. Instead of feeling hopeful, we often feel hopeless.
Now, more than ever, we must hope in the Lord. We must look to the future with an expectant attitude and trust in the Lord and his promises in scripture.
If we are Christians, we know we will spend eternity in heaven where there is no pain or suffering. We will experience the greatest love of all when we go to be with the Lord.
When we fail to trust God’s truth and choose to worry and fret about all the things going on in the world and our personal lives, we become like a helpless bird. We flap our wings furiously to keep from falling. This zaps our strength and results in weariness and exhaustion.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching an eagle glide across the sky, it’s amazing to see how effortlessly they fly. The eagle’s flight is peaceful and serene. It appears confident and powerful.
What a great reminder of the confidence we can have when we trust in the Lord. It doesn’t require great effort to soar like an eagle. We only need to hope in the Lord.
Are you soaring today or flapping your wings in a desperate attempt to stay aloft?
The Bible is full of scriptural references to the natural world. I find it fascinating when the everyday things in nature, which we often take for granted, provide us with a visual reminder of God’s promises.
It’s not uncommon for me to wake up in the early morning and find a thick mist has settled over the mountain. The mist can linger for hours making it difficult to see beyond the smokey haze. When walking outdoors or driving down the mountainside, it causes me to feel a little disoriented at times. I feel like I’m in a prison, unable to escape the suffocating effects of the fog.
I’m always relieved to see the mist fade away and the lovely mountain scenery reappear. It’s a perfect reminder of Isaiah 44: 22. What a comforting thought to know God can sweep away our sins like the clouds and scatter our offenses like the morning mist.
Sin is disorienting. When trapped by sinful habits, we feel suffocated, unable to see beyond the sinful life we are living. Sin that is not confessed separates us from God. It prevents us from growing in our faith and being the women God wants us to be.
No sin is too big for God to sweep away. In a world where nothing seems easy, knowing we simply need to acknowledge our sin, confess it to God, and ask him to forgive us, is a wonderful thought. God’s grace truly is amazing, and it’s a gift we should never take for granted.
As the morning mist dissipates revealing the beauty of the mountains, I’m reminded that a life cleansed from sin is a beautiful life.
But the Godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
Psalms 92: 12-14
As I read through the Bible, I am amazed at how often God uses words like flourish, overflowing, and abundant in scripture. It’s a stark contrast to the words I hear echoing throughout the culture today. Stressed, discouraged, exhausted, hopeless, frustrated, and worried pop up in everyday conversations and often I hear those words coming from my own lips.
Why do we settle for anything less than the abundant life God has for us? Maybe we are just influenced by the world we live in where complaining is a national pastime. Perhaps it’s because we have replaced time spent in God’s word with swiping and scrolling through social media. Maybe we are only living in light of this world rather than fixing our eyes on eternity.
The cares of life often weigh heavy on our hearts, and it can be difficult to navigate the unexpected challenges life throws at us. Life is not easy, but we are not called to live in despair and hopelessness. What if we choose to focus on the goodness of God and look to his word when we feel overwhelmed by the hardships of life? What if we seek him diligently and allow his word to soak into the parched spaces in our souls?
Jesus is the only one who can replenish our weary and exhausted lives. He is the only one who can make us flourish in seasons of drought. He is the only way to a truly abundant and blessed life. I pray you will overflow with hope and flourish in his presence today, as you embrace his abundant promises.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Romans 15: 12 – May the God of 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.
Isaiah 58: 11- The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
Jeremiah 30:2
The message in Jeremial 30:2 should encourage every Christian who feels called to write but feels intimidated by the rules of the publishing industry. God inspired the scribes of the past to simply write. He did not tell them they had to have an established platform with thousands of followers on social media. He did not tell them they had to have perfect punctuation, use a certain font, or have perfectly spaced paragraphs. What mattered was simply getting all the words he spoke to them written.
Writers often struggle because they are told they will never get published if they do not follow a certain set of guidelines, have a social media presence, and meticulous writing skills. Unfortunately, stories remain untold because it all seems so overwhelming.
If God has called you to write, you must pursue your calling with passion and diligence. Nothing is impossible with God. To say you must do this or that for your writing to make a difference in the world is to deny the power of God.
Will you believe what the world is telling you or will you follow what God’s word says? Write! Believe! Trust! God can use your writing in ways you cannot imagine. Not every writer is called to write a book or get published in a magazine. In fact, you may never know the impact your words will have this side of heaven.
I remember going through my mom’s belongings in the old farmhouse a year after she went to heaven. It was my birthday, and I found her handwritten journals and a book of poems she had written. Mom kept diligent journals about her life on the farm and wrote about being a farmer’s wife and mom to us three kids. It was the best birthday gift I ever received. I shared her journals and poetry with others who were inspired and encouraged by the words she penned over decades of farm life.
Mom probably never imagined the impact her written words would have long after she passed. Revealed in the pages of her journals, most written in dime store notebooks, was a woman who loved her life on the farm and who knew a contentment few women will ever find. You never know the impact your words will have long after you depart this earth.
Many famous authors and poets were never recognized until after their death. Do a Google search on writers who became known and famous after their death, and you will be surprised by some of the names on the list. Imagine if they never wrote down the words on their hearts!
If you are called to write, just write! God has a plan for the words he places on your heart. There is nothing wrong with following industry standards and striving to be published, but do not allow the rules to stifle your writing. Get the words written. God’s plans for your writing will prevail with or without a set of rules and regulations.
Spring has arrived in all its glory here in the mountain. The geese are proudly showing off their new goslings, colorful bluebirds and cardinals are busy preparing nests for their young, the cooing of doves is a delightful sound, and the blooming daffodils and tulips are a beautiful reminder of a new season filled with hope and renewal.
Spring will always be my favorite season of the year. There is just something exciting about witnessing the earth waking up to newness of life after a long winter. The daffodils are always the first to poke their heads through the barren winter ground, and shortly after the Canadian geese arrive to begin their mating and nesting season. Each morning I wake up to new vegetation sprouting and trees budding and blossoming across the mountain. It is a sight that never gets old. Every morning I thank God for giving me another spring to see his awesome creation overflowing with beauty and abundance.
Spring always makes me think of Song of Songs 2: 10-13.
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
Surely heaven must be a little like spring, as we trade in the trials and tribulations of this old world for a new and beautiful beginning. At times life feels like a barren winter season, as this past winter felt like to me. An unexpected breast cancer diagnosis found on a routine mammogram, a dissecting aortic aneurysm unexpectantly taking the life of my 48-year-old son-in-law, my niece rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening health condition, and my aunt taken for emergency surgery for a heart valve replacement.
While the arrival of spring cannot erase all that is happening in life, it is certainly a reminder that hope is alive and barren seasons do not last forever. As we observe Good Friday today and Easter this Sunday, it is another perfect reminder of the new life we have when we accept Christ as our savior. He willingly went to the cross, suffered, and died so we could have eternal life. Now that is newness of life! Praise his name!
As you celebrate Easter this weekend, ponder the precious gift of eternal life that would not be possible if Jesus had not endured the suffering of the cross. Place your hope in him and allow the cares of life to fade away in the light of his marvelous grace. Happy spring and happy Easter!
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7: 9)
Today is Valentine’s Day. Many women will wake up in anticipation of flowers, chocolates, lovely cards, jewelry, and romantic dinners out with their husbands or boyfriends. Tonight, some women will go to sleep feeling disappointed because their expectations weren’t met.
From the time we are little girls until we grow old, we long to be loved and cared about. We dream of finding our prince charming. We crave romance. Sadly, some women will spend their entire lives looking for the perfect man and the fairy tale romance.
Those who are married to men who are not the romantic types may even end up seeking a divorce in search of a more romantic guy. The lives of children will be uprooted and homes destroyed, all because the expectation of having a perfect and romantic husband led to feelings of discontentment.
The search for love can also lead women into addictions that destroy their lives. In 1980, there was a popular country music song, recorded by Johnny Lee, titled Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places. This could be the theme song of many women today.
True love that satisfies our thirsty and longing souls will never be found in food, alcohol, drugs, pornography, excessive spending, or extramarital affairs. In fact, these things will only leave us empty and longing for more. Eventually, they will ruin our lives and leave us filled with guilt and shame.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be loved. It’s a normal human desire. God created love. In fact, the Bible states that God is love. God created us to have a love relationship with him. While we are distracted trying to find love in all the wrong places, God is waiting for us to come to him.
God also created romance and marriage. They are beautiful things when enjoyed as he intended. However, perfect relationships do not exist. People have faults. People are not capable of loving us to the extent that God loves us.
If you are looking for real love and romance, God will never let you down. God’s love is perfect and pure. He never breaks his promises. He won’t abandon you. He loves you unconditionally. He desires intimacy with you.
Every minute we spend getting to know him better is never wasted time for we will spend eternity with him. He is never too busy or distracted to listen to our prayers. He understands our hurt, pain, and suffering.
On this Valentines Day, my prayer is that we will seek the true and loving God, whether we are in a loving human relationship or not. God is the creator of love and romance. In a world filled with broken relationships and divorce, his love is the one thing we can count on forever.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Last week was one of those weeks where life seemed to be spinning out of control with one thing or another from early morning until late at night. Computer malfunctions, crazy work issues, and an unexpected health diagnosis, which will likely require surgery in the near future. Add to that the usual daily distractions of living in a world full of modern technology with the phone ringing, text messages buzzing, and email notification alerts dinging, and you have the perfect description of a chaotic life and the weariness it brings.
After a restless night, I sat down at my desk early one morning and glanced over my planner for the day ready to start the madness all over again with a full to-do list to begin checking off. It was then that it hit me. Life had been so busy and crazy that even my time spent praying and reading the Bible had become little more than an item I checked off my to-do list each day. I had been so distracted by all these other things that I was rushing through my prayer time and scripture reading time. No wonder I felt burdened!
As I looked at my schedule for the day, I decided to cross out everything on my list for the morning and write in teatime with Jesus. It was freeing to clear my morning schedule with the stroke of a pen! Working from home and setting my own hours does have its benefits, and I am grateful I can take a break when needed.
As I began to sip my tea and started to read my Bible, I felt at peace and the stress began to ease. There is nothing like God’s word to bring refreshment and relief from whatever is ailing me. In fact, I often call the Bible my natural prescription for depression and anxiety. However, too often I make a cup of tea and it gets cold before I finish it. Too often I pray and read God’s word in a rush so I can jump into my workday.
Sometimes we just need to sit still and allow God to fill us with his presence. We need to silence the phone and other technology and saturate our minds with God’s truth and love. His word tells us to go to him when we are weary and carry heavy burdens and he will give us rest.
Are you feeling weary and burdened? Jesus is inviting you to bring your cares to him.
Do you often feel inadequate when you look around and see the accomplishments of others? As a writer, I feel that way every time I read a great book or an article. I feel like I will never be able to write the riveting drama and captivating stories like some of the best-known authors have written.
It was those very thoughts that held me captive for years. I spent a lot of time writing in my journals but was always fearful of writing for the public. I felt I wasn’t good enough. I worried about grammar and punctuation errors. I wondered if anyone even cared about what I had to say.
I hesitated to start a blog for the same reasons, but I always felt God nudging me to write for him. To be completely honest, I don’t desire to be famous or have thousands of followers on Facebook or Twitter. However, I do feel passionate about writing the things God places on my heart as I read his word and study the scriptures.
My journal entries usually consist of insights gleaned from my daily scripture readings. As much as I enjoy structured Bible study and learning, I feel most content when I’m recording things in my journal that God reveals to me through the scriptures.
At times I still struggle with feeling inadequate and fearful about writing for the public, but I feel I must move forward and write the things God places on my heart. I believe if God calls us to do something, we must step out in faith and obedience to our calling. The rest is up to God. He has a purpose for our talents.
There are several examples in scripture of people who God called to specific tasks who felt very afraid and inadequate. Two that come to mind are Moses and Jeremiah.
Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4: 10-12)
“O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. (Jeremiah 1: 6-7)
I find it comforting to know I’m not alone in my fears. There are no perfect people on earth. You probably know a few people in your personal life that God is using in remarkable ways. These people may seem like the most unlikely ones God would call to a certain task, but he is using them to present his message to others. We were not created to be like anyone else. How dull and boring the world would be if we were all the same!
There’s so much pressure to be perfect today. Social media doesn’t help. People are quick to find fault and tear others down over the most trivial things. Constructive criticism is helpful, but hateful criticism can be crippling if we allow it to be.
More than ever, we must look to God and let him show us the best way to use the gifts and talents he equipped us with. It’s okay to listen to our critics and learn from our mistakes, but we should never allow destructive criticism to keep us from doing what God is calling us to do.
Like the flowers, we must bloom where God plants us. There’s no pressure to be like the other flowers in the garden. Every flower is unique and has a beauty of its own.
When we focus on our unique calling, instead of another person’s calling, we are free to be the person God created us to be. We can use our talents without the pressure of comparing ourselves to others.
What is God calling you to do? What unique talents has he given you to use for his glory? What is stopping you from blooming?
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. ‘ Now I have told you. ” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings, ” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and worshiped him.
Matthew 28: 5-9
The above passage of scripture fills my heart with joy. Imagine being with the women who were the first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb, find it empty, be informed that he had risen from the dead, and then meet Jesus face to face after leaving the empty tomb!
In the culture at that time, women were often considered second-class citizens, but Jesus never thought of women in that way. He valued women and welcomed their presence as they followed him. Women were the first to appear at the empty tomb and the first to see him after his resurrection.
Many women today struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, myself included. We battle fears and insecurities. At times we may even feel like second-class citizens, but Jesus loves us. He cares for us and values us. He is right there with us through all of our insecurities and fears.
He has risen! If we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior, we can rejoice that death was defeated on the cross and we have eternal life through him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3: 16-17
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord, ” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified , and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Romans 10: 9-10
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10: 13
As we celebrate Easter today, I pray we will rejoice along with the women who found the tomb empty, and that we too would clasp the feet of Jesus and worship him.