From Grave Clothes to Grace Clothes

Posted on April 29, 2020 by juliearduini

Take Off Your Grave Clothes

Last time I shared the resurrection story of Lazarus and how it took Jesus four days to reach His friend. Yet because of that “delay,” so much more took place than a healing. Everyone witnessed a miracle. It’s a great reminder as we wait on signs of this pandemic ending and the good things we are praying so hard for on the other side of it.

As I wrote that message, I also felt God’s gentle nudge that I wasn’t done. What did Paul Harvey used to say? “Now, for the rest of the story.” Well, it’s time to share. I’ve said it often, but I only write when I feel God’s leading, and only the words I feel I’m supposed to. So here goes.

Imagine. Lazarus makes his way out of the tomb bound with linens. Alive. But as Martha pointed out to Jesus when they arrived at the stone, Lazarus had an odor. Another Bible version said there was a stench. But dead for four days. That’s going to be a horrific smell, and the look can’t be any better.

So what if while everyone is rejoicing and praising Jesus, Lazarus hopped off in those linens to continue with his new life?


Days later he’s at the market browsing the figs when the vendor smells Lazarus before he sees him. And when their eyes meet, that’s about all the fig guy can see, Lazarus’ eyes. Because he’s still in grave clothes.

Of course the thought is ridiculous, and fiction on my part.

Yet, how many of us experience a fresh start, a healing, a second chance—and we walk around in the old? We carry the stench of death with us, and hop around in our proverbial grave clothes?

In the New International Version, NIV, once Lazarus emerges, 

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43-44

The last week or so I have felt a new direction in prayer. Beyond decreeing this virus be destroyed by the blood of Jesus, not to return, beyond praying protection, health, and provision for the front line workers, I feel it’s time to pray for our lives once restrictions lift. Will we stop in our tracks every time someone sneezes? Will we feel tempted to load up, really load up on toilet paper just in case? 

Because I think there’s a difference between fear and wisdom. I think living in fear is the same as staying in the grave clothes. Life IS going to be different. When I watch old TV shows and see a crowd, I already think about social distancing. It’s a new way to think. But instead of grave clothes, it needs to be grace clothes.

Let’s take the lessons we hopefully learned in isolation and make them our new way of living. Immense compassion. Abundant generosity. Amazing reconciliations and forgiveness. 

Because we are close to returning to public living outside our home. Let’s make sure the grave clothes are off, and our fragrance is sweet.

***

One isolation accomplishment was my daughter Hannah and I completed our series, Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’, with You’re Brilliant. It’s available for pre-order and will soon be in print. Although it’s part of a series, it can be a stand-alone as well. This is for young teens and women of all ages. Check it out!




 

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In the quietness…

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Kristin

This lockdown should be a writer’s dream.  There are no interruptions save the dog.  My book is nearly finished and yet, it’s the little things that drive one towards insanity. The inability to get an espresso at 10:30 p.m. — or a.m. for that matter. Having to stare at my bare feet with no nail polish because one can’t get a pedicure.  Not being able to sit in a restaurant or coffee shop and meet with friends.

It’s Zoom and Facebook meetings for all of us now and a lot of time to sit and think.  Why God?  Why us?  Why now?  What are we supposed to learn from this quietness and the freedom from our normal daily life?  If we’re supposed to learn what’s important, I already got that aspect of life.  People are important.  People are the only thing that matters.  We are here to sacrifice for others and keep the weaker, healthy.

“Whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” 1 John 2:10

Living alone during these times makes the empty nest that much harder, but God is sharpening all of us.  He is reminding us what’s important.

And He is giving me time to finish this book without excuses.  What have you found is the best part of lockdown?

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A Time to Thrive by Tara Randel

Posted on April 27, 2020 by tararandel

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I’ve had this orchid plant for a few years now. My daughter gave it to me on my birthday. I absolutely do not have a green thumb, so I wasn’t sure about the poor thing’s life span. But every year, it blooms, each time even more beautifully than the year before. It thrives, in spite of me!

When I took this picture, the colorful petals reminded me that no matter our circumstances, we thrive when we put God first.

As we are still staying home, this has been an interesting time. On the positive side, we are with family, perhaps talking more with friends. We’ve slowed down, whether we want to or not, and found new rhythms in our daily routines. Taking walks. Talking to God more frequently.

On the flip side, our schedules are in a state of flux, we may not be working and concerned about finances or, on the opposite end, working overtime. Let’s face it, things are not the same, but we can still thrive.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21

I’d like to encourage you to keep your eyes on the Father. He is the great Almighty and has everything in hand. Take this time to rely on Him more. To search Him more. To feel Him more in your life. Let this become a new and permanent pattern.

As we grow stronger in Him, may we then help others in whatever way possible. God will open doors of opportunity for us to give our time and finances. To be better neighbors. To reset our mindsets toward others.

So, despite our current circumstances, thrive! God is good!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.

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The Danger in Anger by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Bridget

Have you ever noticed that by adding the letter D to the front of the word anger, it turns into the word danger? This struck me recently. I think there is something we can learn from that. It might be appropriate to be angry in some instances. However, there are a lot of people walking around with unhealthy anger in their hearts. And this is dangerous territory. Anger can lead to Danger.

You might be familiar with the story of Cain and Abel. We meet the two brothers in Genesis 4. Almost since the time of creation, man has had problems with the spirit of anger. Basically, the two brothers brought very different offerings to the Lord. Cain’s offerings did not please the Lord, while Abel’s did. This caused Cain to become angry.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’” – Genesis 4:6-7

Well, you likely know the rest of the story. Cain murdered his brother Abel. In the end, Cain “went out from the Lord’s presence” (v. 16).

Anger is still a big problem for many people today. Sometimes we feel anger over small annoyances. It might be more of an irritation. Something under our skin. It can be subtle at first. But it’s still there, nonetheless.

Sometimes we harbor anger inside of us for many years or even decades. After spending so much time with anger, we might be hesitant to let it go. It might feel like an old friend. But the truth is that it is not a friend at all.

Anger can sometimes cause us to burst out inappropriately. Someone might say something completely innocent to us, and we snap at them. It’s not really because of what the person said. It’s because we have been hiding anger in our hearts.

Anger can lead to strife in our relationships. Proverbs 29:22 says that “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”

I believe that in many cases, the root of our anger comes from the enemy. When we feel unhealthy anger, this is the enemy trying to bring us down. When we are angry at another person, the enemy is working to cause division among us.

In Galatians 5, Paul lists “fits of rage” as one of the acts of the flesh. And he said that “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit.” So it is obvious that unhealthy anger is not of God.

The Bible contains quite a few verses instructing us not to play around with unhealthy anger:

  • My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19
  • Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. – Ecclesiastes 7:9
  • Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. – Psalm 37:8
  • A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

What should we do if we feel unhealthy anger in our hearts?

God told Cain that “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Cain did not listen to this advice, but we certainly can.

The first step we need to take is to pray about it. We should humbly confess our struggle to the Lord and ask Him to help us overcome it. In the case of Cain, he had a chance to do this, but he didn’t.

We also have to take action. Just as God had instructed Cain, we “must rule over it.” When we feel unhealthy anger boiling inside of us, we have a choice to make. We can remind ourselves that this is coming from the enemy and we must not allow him to have the upper hand.

Repeating one of the Bible verses listed above (James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 15:1) can help you to feel calmer. There is power in God’s Word! If you can’t remember the Bible verse off the top of your head, then simply saying to yourself, “I will not get angry” can also be a big help in cooling your temper.

If your anger involves another person, you can choose to walk away and come back to discuss the matter at another time.

Anger issues can be overcome, if we take the right steps to work on it. We do not want to risk leaving the Lord’s presence, as Cain did. The good news is that God is always there to help us when we need Him. He wants what is best for us, and will gladly guide us towards healthier feelings.

© 2020 Bridget A. Thomas

boys brother children country

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

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Urgent and Important

Posted on April 22, 2020 by jrcoggins

Have you ever met people who just have to talk? If they know something, they just have to tell you?

Take the other night, for instance. My wife woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me I was snoring. Now, that was useful information, but it wasn’t urgent. It could have waited until morning.

But sometimes my wife tells me things that are both useful and urgent. When I am driving the car, for instance, my wife is constantly saying things such as: “Stop at the red light.” “Don’t hit those parked cars.” “Watch out for the kid on the bike.” and “Don’t run over those people on the sidewalk.”

The story of Jesus is like that. It is useful, important, and urgent. Sometimes people get annoyed when we talk about Jesus, but that is only because they don’t know how useful, important, and urgent it is.

On Palm Sunday, when the crowds were proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, the religious and political leaders told them to be quiet. But Jesus said that if the children were silent, the stones would cry out. The message is so important that it must be told, no matter what. That is how useful, important, and urgent it is.

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Irony? (by Hannah Alexander)

Posted on April 21, 2020 by alexanderhodde

Folks in our community have explained to us that this past winter has been the worst they’ve seen in a very long time. We were iced in for 2 1/2 months, unable to escape in any direction. We couldn’t walk outside because the ice was thick and snow was piled high. It has only been recently that we were able to safely drive out of town. And then we were asked to shelter in place.

So yesterday, the first day we have felt like it in six weeks, Mel and I escaped town. And do you know where we went?

Yeah, does that make any sense to you?

I’m calling this irony, but I know there’s got to be a better word for it. Would a wordsmith out there please suggest a better one? No, not idiocy. Not insanity. We had actually driven south toward the mountains for a nice hike in the desert, but since we were there, we couldn’t resist playing in the snow. Actually, we hadn’t been able to do that all winter because of the horrific wind and cold.

We had a good hike. Another irony? My allergies acted up because, despite the deep snow, there is pollen blowing around out there. The temp was in the 50s.

I grew up in Southern California and Southern Missouri.

This looks nothing like those places. If you live north of us, you’re laughing at me. But seriously, is irony the right word?

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Starting the Day by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Nancy J. Farrier

My husband and I are so different. He gets up before the sun, has his coffee, something to eat, and is ready to go. I do not get up before the sun unless there is an earth-shattering reason for me to do so—like catching an early flight. J I sleep in until six-thirty or seven in the morning. Then I take some meds, take a walk, and have coffee, breakfast, and Bible reading when I return. 

Neither of these ways of getting up in the morning are the right or wrong way. This is the way we are both wired and how we choose to start our days. 

Whether I start the day by jumping out of bed raring to go, or I drag my exhausted carcass to the kitchen for the first cup of coffee before anyone dare speak to me, the most important choice I make for my day is expressed in the following Psalm.


O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

There are four points that stand out to me in this one verse. I’m sure you can see them too.

  1. O God, You are my God—Every day I must make a decision on Who or what will be my God/god. Self is a big contender as I want to please my selfish desires. If I choose to please myself, even saying I’m doing an action for God, without consulting Him first, then He is not my God. I must choose to put Him first. Right away. Every day.
  • Early will I seek You—I try to pray first thing, before I open my eyes and even consider getting out of bed. Does that always happen? No. Life happens and sometimes I have to jump out of bed and rush off to handle some minor crisis or another. I remind myself it is okay because as soon as possible, I can seek God’s counsel. Also, I do not set my alarm so I get up first to seek God. This isn’t a case of the early bird gets the worm. God’s grace doesn’t run low as the day goes by. Early is in reference to an individual’s sleeping pattern, because some people don’t have the option to rise early in the day.
  • My soul thirsts for You—There have been few times I’ve been without water long enough to be truly thirsty. There is an element of suffering in the Hebrew word for thirsty. I don’t know if I’ve ever suffered from thirst. But I can imagine and read accounts of others. My soul thirsts. 

But does it? Is God just a passing thought or prayer to me? Do I pray something like, “Morning, God. Help me with my day,” and then go on about my business without another thought about Him? Sometimes, it’s true. But, that isn’t a soul suffering thirst. I want to feel the thirst for God and to do that I have to drink of His word every day to the point that I can’t start my day without Him.

  • My flesh longs for You—Not only my soul should be longing for God, but my flesh too. It’s like every cell in my physical form should be tuned in to God and longing for His filling and His presence. Not just my heart. Or my brain. Not my hands or my feet. But every particle of me should be His and be longing for Him.

Even though I have time when I don’t follow the above truths, I still strive for these values. To make my day start right, I need God at the opening, throughout the day, and at the closing. 

Then whether I’m up early, early like my husband or sleep in until noon, my day would be pretty perfect.

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Sabbath

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Bridget

Sabbath is something which God has been speaking to my husband and me about this year. We kept hearing this theme come up long before social distancing, quarantines, and staying at home became the norm. Now all across the globe, things are shut down, and people are being forced to slow down. This is the perfect time to start implementing some new habits in our lives. But after this is all over, we should hang onto the new habits we created. And I hope that honoring the Sabbath, and slowing down in general, are things all of us will continue.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. – Exodus 20:8-11

In the Ten Commandments, one of the instructions God gave us was to observe the Sabbath. According to biblestudytools.com, “The origin of the Hebrew sabbat is uncertain, but it seems to have derived from the verb sabat, meaning to stop, to cease, or to keep.”

On the day of Sabbath, God is telling us to stop and rest. God made the heavens and the earth in six days, and rested on the seventh day. So He commanded us to also rest on the seventh day. This can be difficult to do in our normally fast-paced world. Prior to the pandemic, many of us were often running from one thing to the next.

When I was around ten years old, I remember going camping with my family. My parents, grandmother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, and even my grandmother’s dog were all there. It was a nice opportunity for us to spend quality time together. One thing I especially remember about this trip is the story my mother relays about it at times. She had a difficult time just sitting and doing nothing. This is how many of us are these days. It seems to have gotten worse in recent times with all the devices we have now.

But resting is essential for our well-being, our spiritual life, our emotional state, and our physical bodies as well. It is not good on us to always be going and going. Eventually something has to give. We will burn out if we do not seek rest.

Ironically, as we are currently forced to stay home, I have heard a lot of complaints of boredom. Personally, I have not been bored for a single moment since I have been in isolation. Perhaps this is because I am a homebody. And I am working remotely, so my weekdays are still consumed with work. But after my working hours, I have been enjoying the slower pace. I am not making light of this situation. My heart breaks to think about how many people are suffering in different ways right now. Of course I do pray that the pandemic ends soon. However, in the meantime, I believe the Lord is trying to teach us all some things during this season.

This is the perfect time for all of us to learn to slow down and savor our time. Spend quality time with those in our household. Play a board game. Read a good book. Watch a movie. And most importantly, spend time with the Lord.

Resting in God’s presence truly refreshes us. Different versions of Psalm 23:3 say: “He refreshes my soul” (NIV), “He renews my strength” (NLT), “He restores my soul” (ESV). This is so true. Recently one Friday afternoon I was exhausted after a long week. For about twenty minutes I closed my eyes and just talked to the Lord. Afterwards, I felt rejuvenated.

In my opinion, resting also plays into hearing from God. If we are always busy and filling our head with different things, we do not have room to hear from the Lord. But when we take time to quiet our minds and focus on Jesus, we can truly see miracles in our spiritual lives.

Something I have been trying to do in preparation for the Sabbath is to get ahead by doing as many chores as possible the day(s) beforehand. I also try to stay off devices on the Sabbath, which helps me to quiet my mind and focus on the Lord. Devices can be a big distraction which takes our attention away from God and from our families. I believe staying off of devices one day a week can help refresh our minds and souls, especially if you have come to rely heavily on your devices. I also am intentional about being present. This helps me to have more quality time with those around me. When I do these things it helps me to have a peaceful day and gives me a renewed strength.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Please share: Is there anything specific that you like to do (or don’t do) on the Sabbath? And have you been working on any new habits related to slowing down these past few weeks?

© 2020 Bridget A. Thomas

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

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Four Days Late by Julie Arduini

Posted on April 15, 2020 by juliearduini

During this season where we’re home and so much is unknown, my newsletter subscribers asked that I share weekly content that encourages. This message has helped me through a lot of personal valleys, and once again served as a reminder. I shared this in my most recent newsletter. I pray it encourages you.

Lazarus lives because Jesus was four days late. Pixabay image. Click on image for video.
I’m not going to lie, celebrating Easter is surreal this year. For our family, I designated myself as the only shopper weeks ago and last week my husband encouraged me to get enough to last for two weeks. That meant I had to get the Easter dinner fixings, along with ingredients for our traditional chocolate peanut butter eggs and basket items with other grocery items. Weird, right?

Beyond that, the shelves were mostly cleared out and I was growing frustrated with the lack of compassion from other shoppers to the clerks. Social distancing was not being adhered to at one store. I know overall our personal situation is full of blessings. We are safe, healthy, my husband is working, and we have food. Yet, on the drive home from that excursion I lamented to God, “When is this going to end?”

I got my answer days later.

Years ago my husband used to sing special music back at our home church in Upstate NY. One song that continues to impact me long after he finished singing it was “Four Days Late,” a southern gospel song by Karen Peck and New River. It’s the story of Mary and her sister Martha, regarding the death of their brother, Lazarus. Jesus was great friends with the three of them, so when word reached Him, you’d think He’d run to get to him.

Not so.

To our eyes, and to Mary and Martha, Jesus took His sweet time. 

When He finally arrives on the scene, Lazarus is dead, wrapped in linens, and buried. The grief Mary and Martha were experiencing, well, I can’t even imagine. What I can picture is the sisters asking Jesus what took so long? Don’t you care? 

If you know this story from John 11, Jesus was overcome by their grief, and His own. Lazarus was his friend. He asked Martha to take Him to Lazarus and Martha’s like, “You don’t understand. You’re late. He’s gone. He died four days ago. He’s buried.” To be specific, he was rotting and smelly. Dead, dead, dead.

Jesus wept, and ordered the grave stone moved. And with a command, He ordered Lazarus to come forth.

And Lazarus did.

Here’s what I love about the song. When the sisters ask where were You, don’t You care, they realize in the resurrection of Lazarus that had Jesus showed up when word reached Him, where would the miracle have been? A group of people saw Lazarus leave his own tomb very much alive. Can you imagine the commotion? People running home to tell everyone, EVERYONE the miracle they just saw. Thanks to Jesus.

As the song goes,”He was four days late but right on time.”

We are a month into isolation. The stats we see on the news are scary, devastating, and hard to process. The texts I receive from my friends in healthcare, I don’t understand. That is so much for a human to see. Doesn’t Jesus get it? Doesn’t He care?

I know the answer. So do you.

There are purposes to His timing. In this isolation I’ve seen reconciliations. Churches rise up in safe ways to encourage the world. People speaking out and lending a hand in ways that lets be honest, wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

To us, Jesus is late. But He is right on time.

I believe with everything in me that this Easter and Passover timeframe is monumental in heaven and that we will see things on earth shifting. In a good way. I am praying that not only is the virus destroyed with no option to mutate/come back, but that restrictions will lift maybe not immediately, but sooner than the experts are telling us.

Because Jesus is right on time. Always.

I know it’s odd to share an Easter message about a resurrection and it not be Christ’s. Yet, without the miracles of Jesus during His ministry, we would never comprehend the power of His own resurrection and all that means for us.

I invite you to subscribe for free to my newsletter. Confirmed subscriptions receive a thank you digital copy of Entrusted, a contemporary romance with an exclusive epilogue.
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Walking Hand in Hand by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Nancy J. Farrier

When my children were young, we attended a church within walking distance. We walked to church at least three times a week in daylight or in the dark. No matter the weather, we walked, because it seemed so silly to drive such a short distance, maybe the length of a football field.

We lived in the country, a very rural area with few to no outdoor lights at the time. There weren’t street lights, so on moonless nights the stars were amazing and our feet found the path because we walked it so often.

One night, one of the men at the church wanted to walk over to the house with us to see my husband, who had stayed home. He had a question for him. He’d visited our home several times, but he’d never walked there before. The overcast night shut out even the light of the stars and you could barely see your hand in front of your face.

We were just starting down our long, curved driveway, when our friend stopped. “I can’t see where I’m going. I think I’ll go back and get my car.”

My girls and I all stopped too. I hated to see him go all the way back. We were halfway home by then. To us the path was easy to navigate. 

“Here, put your hand on my arm.” I held out my arm and he took hold. One of my daughters came up on his other side. Between us, we guided him the rest of the way to the house where he talked with my husband and then used a flashlight to return to his car.

I’ve often thought of that night and how important it is to familiarize myself with the path I need to walk. As an analogy of walking in faith on the path God wants me on, there are times the path is dark and no matter how much I’ve planned and prepared, I still need to take someone’s hand and have them guide me. Of course, the hand I must reach for is that of the Lord, Who is always there to help me.

In this time of upheaval in our world, I find the need to reach for His steadying hand much more often. He keeps me on the course I need to take. He even shows me a new path that is important for the times right now.

The book of Ephesians has much to say about walking. These verses guide me and give light to my path during dark days.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10 (NKJV)

I must walk in the good works God has given me to accomplish. These works may have changed in the past weeks from what I normally do, but I must be flexible and willing to walk where God guides me. When I do what He’s prepared for me, I find so much comfort. I’m no longer concerned about myself or what I can’t do, but am looking toward others and how I can help them.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph.4:1-3 (NKJV)

This verse is especially important right now. Not only must I walk worthy of my calling, or the invitation God extended to me, but I must walk with humility and patience for others. Why? To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Peace is something that seems to be missing right now and as a Christian, I have a peace some don’t have access to. By walking in this manner, I can be an example to those who are fearful and struggling. I can bring a measure of comfort and point them to the one Who brings true peace.

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Eph. 5:2 (NKJV)

Whoa! Walk in love as Christ loved. As I stay home day after day, this becomes a little difficult at times. I know those who have children and spouses home and aren’t used to the added chaos and disruption to schedules are stretched more than I am. Yet, I must remember to walk in love. To bite back that harsh word. To do an act of kindness that I may not feel like doing. To be humble and patient. To become as a sweet-smelling aroma to God. With His help, I can walk in love.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Eph. 5:8 (NKJV)

I need to remember where I came from. I once walked in fear and darkness. Now that I walk in His light, I have to remember how scary and uncertain those times were. This will help me be understanding to those around me who don’t have the comfort and peace that I have. Instead of spreading rumor and uncertainty, I am tasked with walking in light and sharing Jesus peace and comfort to a world in desperate need. What a beautiful calling.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise…” Eph. 5:15 (NKJV)

I must be diligent in my walk. I can’t act one way and then become different the next day. That is confusing. I have to continue to be steadfast in my faith, even when the world around me is going crazy. God is the same always. I can rest in that and find comfort that He is there. Walking diligently and displaying my faith in the same manner all the time is walking in wisdom, not as a foolish person.

I can only walk like this when my hand is firmly planted in the Lord’s hand. With Him to guide me, I can walk through dark times with peace and confidence. I hope and pray that you will take His hand and walk with Him. Who knows, maybe someone will need to place their hand on our arm to navigate the path until they reach Him.

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Happy Easter!

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Bridget

This weekend we will celebrate Easter, honoring the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you are a Christian, then you know what Easter is all about. We were all born sinners. We all fall short. Not one of us is perfect or blameless. God is perfect and we are not, so our sin separates us from Him. We each deserve death and hell. But God loved us too much to allow that. He made a perfect plan to save us.

In the times of the Old Testament, the Jews had to sacrifice a perfect animal for their sins. This was a temporary atonement for their waywardness. Fast forward to the times of the New Testament where we read about Jesus. He was the Holy Son of God. He was perfect. The only man to walk the earth that knew no sin. He came to this earth in order to save us all. He was put to death on a cross. He was our sacrifice. That is why He is called the Lamb of God. He paid for our sins once and for all. But that’s not all. Three days later, He was resurrected. He rose from the dead. This defeated death. This proved He was the Son of God, the Messiah.

Through Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins. We can walk in a relationship with Him every day. And we can have the gift of Heaven to look forward to when we leave this earth.

But we have to accept Jesus first. We have to acknowledge that He is the Son of God. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” And in Romans 10:9, Paul said, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Many people pray a prayer to get into Heaven. And while that is part of the deal, that is not the only thing that matters when we pray to accept Jesus into our lives. We are accepting a relationship with Him. We are handing our lives over to Him. And we are saying we will walk with Him every day for the rest of our earthly lives. Your life might not be perfect, but with Jesus by your side, you will have a peace and a joy that cannot be matched.

If you have never accepted Jesus as Savior, I invite you to do so today. (If you want to know how, you can say the prayer found here. And if you need information on next steps after that, contact me here.) This will be the best decision you ever make. This will bring true contentment into your life. And this will bring you hope. In these uncertain times, we all could use hope. And the only way to find true hope is through Jesus.

Once you accept Jesus into your life, it makes you a child of God, adopted into His family. What a glorious feeling to know that the King of kings and Lord of lords loves you and is there for you anytime you need Him. And He will guide your steps every day, if you allow Him to.

I hope you have a happy and blessed Easter Sunday!

© 2020 Bridget A. Thomas

Photo courtesy of Pexels.

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Silent Saturday by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jrcoggins

April 11 this year is the Saturday before Easter.

Christians have much to ponder on the day before and the day after. The Bible records many events on both days.

Good Friday is the day on which Jesus was crucified. It is a day to mourn for sin, lament the evil that human beings do to each other, and ponder the brokenness of the world. It is a day to remember that it was all of this evil and brokenness that drove Jesus to the cross, to remember that Jesus chose to take all of this evil and brokenness on Himself. It was a terrible price to pay.

Easter Sunday, two days later, is the day on which Jesus rose from the dead. It is a day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, new life, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal blessings.

But, for the Saturday in between, there is very little to be said. The only Bible verse about this day is the second half of Luke 23:56. There it says that the women who followed Jesus “rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment” (NIV). It is the time when we recognize our sinfulness and brokenness and our inability to do anything about it, the time when we must endure the silence of God, waiting for Him to say or do something. In the meantime, the only thing we can do is do what God has told us to do (obey the commandments, even though they are old and God is giving us nothing new), rest in the assurance that God will do something (even though we cannot discern what could possibly be done to correct a hopeless situation), and wait for God to act.

Silent Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but it is also something we experience at various other times and in various ways.

Oh, there is one other passage in the Bible about Silent Saturday. Matthew 27:62-66 tells of the Romans and the Jewish religious   leaders, who violated the Sabbath in order to try to prevent the resurrection, but that is of no concern to Christians. Such efforts have no power to prevent the resurrection, which came anyway and will come anyway.

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Medical Perspective (by Hannah Alexander)

Posted on April 7, 2020 by alexanderhodde

Today I thought readers might enjoy encouraging information from the medical side of the Hannah Alexander duo. Mel has been collecting information from his medical sites about the pandemic–such as some of the earliest projections for April 4. There were projected to be at least 1.5 million confirmed cases of COVID19 by this time in the United States, and at least 150,000 of those were to be in the hospital. Every one of the apx. 55,000 ICU beds in the nation would be filled with COVID19 patients. That is not the case. Some states have been hit tragically hard, but nationwide, instead of 1.5 million, we have about 210,000 cases reported. Now, that could be because test kits have been quite rare, and because enough people have observed the social isolation request to successfully flatten the curve. But the bottom line is, if there really were 1.5 million cases, it was believed that between 10-20% of the cases were expected to be hospitalized. That has not happened.

All of the states that have been hit hardest, with the highest populations, are now reporting decreased numbers of new cases.

But it isn’t over yet. So to that end, Apple is making a million new face shields for medical personnel a week–the shields are used along with N95 face masks to protect both patient and medical personnel from the spread of the virus.

Another company has FDA approval for a portable unit that can sterilize used N95 masks by the tens of thousands in 2.5 hours.

Spain and Italy are reporting declining infections and death rates.

The hydroxychloroquinine-zpack combo has been FDA approved for experimental treatment.

Medical friends in fly-over states are still braced for COVID19 to reach them next, and so this means we need to continue to wear our masks, observe social distancing, and protect those around us who are more susceptible to a bad outcome.

Oh, and if you like to hike? Kristin Billerbeck told me yesterday that hiking trails around her have been shut down because hikers without masks crowded the trails without observation of social distancing. This virus is just as contagious outside as it is inside. It’s a worldwide pandemic, not an indoor pandemic.

Integrity is how you behave when no one is looking. I have asked myself many times over this past month with COVID19 whether my behavior could possibly be infecting someone else, even though it wouldn’t be obvious to anyone else. You might be young and healthy and strong–just as we have recovered and are no longer in danger–but what about a local nursing home where other young, strong, healthy people work? Will the virus be spread to that home as a result of your frustration with restrictions to your lifestyle now?

Many heroes have emerged during this difficult time to bless us in many ways. We can be heroes, too. All we have to do is be aware.

 

 

 

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April Greetings from Tara Randel

Posted on April 6, 2020 by tararandel

Hello friends!

While it will probably feel like a long month due to everyone staying home, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the outdoors. I’ve been taking regular walks through my neighborhood since I can’t go the gym. The temperatures are pleasant right now and the sun has been shining most every day. I’ve talked my daughter into joining me, so she puts a leash on her dog and off we go. I’ve cherished this time to be with her, since normally she’s so busy. She works in a hospital and with everything going right now, she needs to de-stress, and I’m happy to make sure she gets some much needed exercise. It’s a small thing, but we all can do our part to help others during this anxious time.

I’ve compiled some pictures of spring in my neck of the woods to share with you. I hope you enjoy this cheerful snapshot of the season.

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To everyone out there, stay safe and continue to follow the health guidelines. We are in this together, and we will all come out on the other side together as well. Take time out of the day to focus on the positive, lend a helping hand in any way you can, and if possible, get lost in a good book. And remember above all else, God is in control!

~Tara

9781335889577

ALWAYS THE ONE AVAILABLE NOW!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.

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Just Like Us – Book Review

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Bridget

I recently read a wonderful book that I wanted to tell you about – Just Like Us: 7 Ways Biblical Women Were Just Like Us (And Why It Matters) by Jennifer Hayes Yates. This book is directed towards women specifically, especially since the focus is on women from the Bible. This book is very special and unique. It touches on different topics that we all deal with – contentment, value, purpose, faith, truth, courage, and hope. When digging deeper into each of these topics, the author presents several Biblical examples that we can learn from, as it unfolds ways we can grow today in present-day circumstances. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning more about various people and stories in the Bible.

This book would also make a great Bible study tool, if you want to dig deeper into Biblical stories that are part of your daily Bible reading. For example, one of my favorite stories in the Bible deals with Queen Esther. When reading that book of the Bible, reviewing the chapter on Esther in the book Just Like Us would help bring deeper insight into Esther’s story. This book makes a great supplement to your regular Bible reading.

And on the other hand, when reading through this book, it will help spark a new passion for the Bible. Each chapter offers much insight, which will entice the reader to open the Bible for themselves. For example, when reading in Just Like Us about Ruth, you will want to open up the Bible and read that story for yourself in order to obtain a fuller understanding of the story.

For me personally, this book, Just Like Us, really helped me to appreciate various stories of the Bible from a deeper level. There are some stories in the Bible that I have read before, but the author’s perspective has opened my eyes to new twists that I had not noticed when reading them in the past.

This book also opens our eyes to the love of God. In many of the Bible stories, the women have felt rejected, overlooked, or misunderstood by other people. But God loved them, accepted them, saw them, and understood them. No matter what we are going through, God is there to see us through it, if we turn to Him. He sees our hearts and understands the things we are going through. He will guide us down the right road, if we allow Him to.

Reading this book has been an amazing journey for me. I think it will be for you as well. No matter where you are in your Christian walk, I believe you will get some value out of it. Here is the link to find the book on Amazon.

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