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Happy New Year - The Loft

December 29, 2024 By 0

Happy New Year from The Loft!

Merry Christmas from The Loft
For these two weeks, we are taking a break here at The Loft to quietly celebrate the holidays. We hope you’ve had a very merry Christmas, and we wish you a very happy new year!
Our next link up will be Tuesday, January 6th. We look forward to hearing about your “one word” or verse for 2015!


January 6th Topic: “One Word/Verse for 2015” (We are eager to hear what the Lord has laid on your heart for the upcoming year!)

 

About #TheLoft

 

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth.

Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

 

While there are many link and leave blog hops out there, we are different in that we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic. This fosters community and conversation. It also helps us practice “topic” writing as bloggers. Please mention The Loft in your post so we can find each other. Thank you so much!


Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic.

We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section.

So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.

 

To Participate:

 

1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic :)

2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find and share with each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.

 

The Loft Link Up

 

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 4 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Jen, Rebekah, Leah, Arabah

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reflection

December 28, 2024 By 2

The end of a year is always a good time for reflection. Many of us look back on the good things that happened, and realize just how much life we lived inside of twelve months. For a lot of us, there are hard times woven in with all the beautiful memories. We don’t discount those, but we don’t want to dwell there, either. In order to move on from a difficult situation, though, we often have to look at it, acknowledge it, understand the lessons learned before we can move on. For me, this post is an attempt at just that - looking back at what has been the hardest year of my life, and then to move on.

Reflection - looking back at a year of hope, and looking ahead to my one word for the new year || rebekahmhallberg.com

I recently read a quote from one of my favorite books, The Velveteen Rabbit. I’m always amazed by just how much wisdom we can find in the pages of a children’s book. This particular quote jumped out at me because it talks about living life - about the change from a pristine, untouched life, to a messy, beautiful, fully-loved life:

“You become. It takes a long time.
That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges,
or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off,
and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly,
except to people who don’t understand.”
― Margery Williams

This year has, in fact, been the worst year of my life. If things had gone even the slightest bit differently, I stood to lose my marriage, my husband, my home. I felt like my life was in a state of pre-Job quite often. I read Job’s story, knowing that at any moment, that could be me.

I spent a lot of time this year thinking that was the important part of the story. I felt like the shame was the weight around my neck - the one that almost took me under. I felt (and still feel) the stares and questions, the wondering. And what’s been the hardest part - those have come from people once very close to me. But they don’t understand. They don’t understand the power of redemption. And that’s where I can identify with Margery Williams’ quote - “…because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

I read an article last night that discussed how so many of us look at going to do God’s big works - whether it’s to a country overseas, or to a neighborhood that needs rebuilding and ministry. But what if God calls us to stay and deal with the messiness and the uncomfortable aspects or our current situation? What if we can do the greatest good right where we’re at?

I spent so much time this year, just trying to breathe and survive moment to moment, that it takes times of reflection like this for me to see that while the year has definitely been about all that’s gone wrong, the bigger picture shows all that is going right.

I have shared about standing my ground - waiting, while God works around me. And yet, I’ve watched my life fall around me. The words of II Corinthians 4:8-9 have become very real to me:

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Yes, every one of those things happened in my life this past year.

Hard pressed. Perplexed. Persecuted. Struck down.

- but -

Not crushed.
Not in despair.
Not abandoned.
Not destroyed.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because I know so many of you face challenges like I have. The circumstances may be different, but at one time or another, we all face the fight of our lives. The enemy will come knocking. He’s going to try to destroy us, in any way that he can. And friends, he has the power to cause some intense pain. Life may come crashing down, friends may turn and leave you. A life that once made so much sense may become utterly meaningless. Everything you thought you loved may be asked of you. You may feel like your life has become a pile of ashes.

Like me, you may feel that’s your story.

Can I encourage you, though, that it’s not the end of your story. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 61: 1b-3 reminds us -

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

I don’t know where you find yourself right now. I have been at every end of the spectrum this year - from barely able to breathe, to now having eleven great days in a row. I went from not knowing which end was up, to being extremely grateful at the start and end of each day.

When we find ourselves in the fight of our lives, we can be sure of one thing: God.

We have the head knowledge of what He’s done in the past, and we have the heart knowledge that He never changes.

Oh, we may feel like He changes. We may feel like we’ve been left high and dry. But that’s not our God.

Our God is faithful and our hope is in Him. Those times when we’re fighting for our lives? Those are the times to drop our anchors - to move the head knowledge of faith in God, to a heart knowledge. Stay with Jesus. Don’t move. Pray for His grace and mercy.

Because it’s only through hope that we can look ahead to the redemption that God is going to bring. Our God is a God of redemption - He is redemption.

As we head toward the new year, you’ll hear more about redemption - my one word for 2015. I’m so excited to see what God is going to do!

Friends, this time of reflection has been so good for my heart. It’s taken me 3 days to get this post written because there were so many different reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness. This has been a year of survival. But I firmly believe God’s going to redeem the year I’ve had and use it for His glory. And I believe the same for you.

If you’re struggling right now, if you’re feeling like you’re in the fight of your life, will you let me know so I can pray for you, and with you? Feel free to leave a comment below, or email me - my contact information is listed in the Contact tab at the top of the page. And would you consider joining us on Facebook for the new year? I have such a heart for sharing redemption in the new year, and would love for you to join us.

I know this post has mostly been for me to reflect; I do pray you’ve found something to take away and keep close to your heart.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
I Corinthians 13:12

Check back soon for the start of the year of redemption!

 

photo source

Filed Under: Hope, writing

Merry Christmas from The Loft

December 22, 2024 By 0

Merry Christmas from The Loft!

Merry Christmas from The Loft
For the next two weeks, we are taking a break here at The Loft to quietly celebrate the holidays. Our next link up will be Tuesday, January 6th. We look forward to hearing about your “one word” or verse for 2015!


January 6th Topic: “One Word/Verse for 2015” (We are eager to hear what the Lord has laid on your heart for the upcoming year!)

 

About #TheLoft

 

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth.

Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

 

While there are many link and leave blog hops out there, we are different in that we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic. This fosters community and conversation. It also helps us practice “topic” writing as bloggers. Please mention The Loft in your post so we can find each other. Thank you so much!


Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic.

We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section.

So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.

 

To Participate:

 

1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic :)

2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find and share with each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.

 

The Loft Link Up

 

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 4 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Jen, Rebekah, Leah, Arabah

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

“Ode to Joy”

December 17, 2024 By 2

In a house of pianists, I listen to a lot of classical music. At least two of my kids, and possibly all three, have played some variation of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Regardless of whether they play a beginner version or a more advanced version, I am always amazed by the joy that I feel when listening to the song. This morning I decided to do a little more research on the piece, wondering what I might find. What I found completely surprised me. In fact, it was really almost overwhelming. I want to share it with you as “Ode to Joy” is such a popular piece of music.

Thoughts on joy, considering Beethoven who composed "Ode to Joy" yet was never able to physically hear it when he performed it.

If you’ve been around social media for any length of time, you’ve probably seen this video of the orchestra flash mob. I’d ask you to take a minute and listen to it, though, in light of what I’m about to share with you.

The information I found comes from the Utah Symphony’s blog. No doubt there is a lot more information out there, but the article I found was short and gave the information that I was looking for. Basically, I was curious as to just how deaf Beethoven was when he composed and performed his Ninth Symphony, which includes “Ode to Joy”.

The very short article can be found here. The final paragraph, though, is so very compelling:

In the first performance of Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Beethoven pounded out the beats he couldn’t hear (his hearing now completely gone). According to one witness, “the public received the musical hero with the utmost respect and sympathy, listened to his wonderful, gigantic creations with the most absorbed attention and broke out in jubilant applause, often during sections, and repeatedly at the end of them.” Beethoven was given five standing ovations – people waved handkerchiefs in the air and raised their hands and hats so Beethoven, who was now deaf, could see the response. Never before had the theater seen such an enthusiastic response from the audience. In the end, he truly conducted an “Ode to Joy,” which may be a tribute to his life. Though it was hard, frustrating, and sometimes overwhelming, his was a fulfilled life that would be celebrated, at least nightly, somewhere around the world to this day.

Beethoven’s hearing deteriorated over his lifetime due to the ringing in his ears. Yet he composed some of the great masterpieces we know today. According to the article, he may have suffered from other health issues as well.

Yet, Beethoven set “Ode to Joy” to music.

“Ode to Joy” is a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in the late 1700s. You can read the full text here. It was a poem that Beethoven had wanted to put to music for a long time, but was not able to come up with the right tune and form.

Deteriorating hearing, possible health and mental issues, and he wrote one of the most well-known, joy-inspiring pieces of all times.

And did you see in the paragraph above? The very first time he performed his Ninth Symphony, he was completely deaf.

Presumably, the only times he ever heard the song were when he was writing it.

And that’s when I stopped.

What would make Beethoven have such a connection to “Ode to Joy” when his own life was filled with such frustration and grief? The article references death of a parent, a thwarted attempt at marriage, and the health and mental issues he struggled with.

Ode to Joy.

Composed by one of the most famous pianists.

And he could not hear it performed.

I look at this and struggle to understand how Beethoven could have felt joy.

This is pure speculation on my part, but because Beethoven was so isolated from the world around him due to his loss of hearing, maybe he had to dig deeper to find joy.

Maybe he knew something that we need to grab hold of this Christmas season - that joy isn’t found in gifts, in interactions with the world. Maybe Beethoven understood that joy came from within, deep within.

Joy is not something the world can give us. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5).

This Christmas, let’s remember that we can have joy, whatever our circumstances may be, if we have the Lord in our lives.

original photo source

Filed Under: writing

The Loft-Christmas Traditions

December 15, 2024 By 1

This week we’re sharing Christmas traditions.
I can’t wait to read what everyone has to share - join us?

The Loft is open, come on up!

 

The Loft: A weekly Hangout and Link Up for Christian bloggers
Graphic by Kerry Messer

 

This Week’s Topic: “Christmas Traditions” (Tell us how you celebrate this rich holiday.)

Next Week - The Loft will be taking a 2-week break for Christmas. This will give us all time to relax with our families, to feel refreshed, and even to get through the posts here at our own pace and focus on the real meaning of Christmas as we enjoy learning about how others celebrate.

 

About #TheLoft

 

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth.

Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

While there are many link and leave blog hops out there, we are different in that we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic. This fosters community and conversation. It also helps us practice “topic” writing as bloggers. Please mention The Loft in your post so we can find each other. Thank you so much!


Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic.

We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section.

So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.

 

To Participate:

 

1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic :)

2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find and share with each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.

 

The Loft Link Up

 

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 3 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Rebekah, Leah, Arabah

 

 

Now it’s time to link up!

 

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Loft - Best of 2014

December 8, 2024 By 1

This week we’re sharing our “best” of 2014.

The Loft is open, come on up!

 

The Loft: A weekly Hangout and Link Up for Christian bloggers
Graphic by Kerry Messer

 

This Week’s Topic: “Potluck: Best of 2014” (Link up your best post of 2014. “Best” is defined loosely!)

Next Week’s Topic: “Christmas Traditions” (Tell us how you celebrate this rich holiday.)

 

About #TheLoft

 

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth.

Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

While there are many link and leave blog hops out there, we are different in that we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic. This fosters community and conversation. It also helps us practice “topic” writing as bloggers. Please mention The Loft in your post so we can find each other. Thank you so much!


Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic.

We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section.

So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.

 

To Participate:

 

1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic :)

2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find and share with each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.

 

The Loft Link Up

 

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 4 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Jen, Rebekah, Leah, Arabah

 

 

Now it’s time to link up!

 

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Nothing Can Hold Back Hope

December 2, 2024 By 10

A year ago, I stood looking ahead at uncertainty, filled with fear. I want to take a look back at what I’ve learned this year, and try to share some of the precious truths with you. This has been my year of hope - because nothing, nothing, can hold back hope!

Nothing can hold back Hope - not even the darkness || rebekahmhallberg.com

I’ve learned that hope is so much more than the feeling we had, as children, eagerly waiting for Christmas morning. Hope encompasses so much more.

To hope implies that we know we have a need or a want.

When the car breaks down and we hope the tow truck comes along soon, it’s because we have a need for their help. Or when we’re at the doctor with a sick child, we hope the doctor can help.

When we want to get together with a friend, we hope our plans will come together.

To hope also implies trust.

We hope the chair will hold us; well, we’re not going to sit in an obviously broken chair, are we? Of course not. We’ll pick the one that looks sturdy.

If you are struggling and need a friend to pull you through, you’re going to hope in a friend who you trust to actually help you.

To hope in God, though, is so much more than acknowledging a need and trusting in Him.

To hope in God means that we stand with all the authority of His Word,
the Bible, as our strength and our defense.
Hope in God means a trust in His unfailing promises.

 

At the start of 2014, I stood looking into the proverbial lion’s mouth.

Fear, shame, guilt - they were sharp teeth ready to grab hold and devour my life.

For months I said a very simple prayer because I did not know what else to pray.
My prayer was just four words:
“Jesus, mercy and grace….”

And He protected me - maybe not in the way I’d hoped for, but His ways are so much higher than ours, aren’t they? I’d rather put my hope - my trust - into an all-knowing God than into my own finite abilities.

I prayed mercy and grace for a large part of the year. On occasion, I stood in that power from God and determined to let the enemy know that my God was bigger than any attacks the enemy could send my way.

In September, I was blessed with a free ticket to Women of Faith. One of the speakers spoke directly to the whole idea of the proverbial lions we face. Her message was based on the story of Daniel in the lions’ den, when Daniel was sure that he would be attacked and killed by the lions. Daniel survived the night and the king asked him how that could possibly have happened.

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”
Daniel 6:22a

Our God never changes. He is the same through all ages. If He can send an angel to shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel, He can do the same for us.

The speaker was reminding us to live in the boldness of hope in God, and to remind our lions that

My God can shut your mouth!

 

That has been such a powerful reminder for me as I have stared into the mouths of my own lions. The One I place my hope in, the changeless God of the ages, can shut the mouths of hungry lions waiting to devour us. The story of Daniel has been a challenge and reminder to me to live a life honoring to God, and to remind the lions that my God is so much more powerful than they are!

I have lived a year of hope - a year of acknowledging my needs, a year of needing to trust.

God very clearly gave me the word “hope” for 2014 and I have learned to stand firm in my hope in God.

I have learned that nothing can hold back hope when God Himself is our Hope!

This is the verse that God placed on my heart, and reminded me of, many times through the year of hope:

“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.”
Psalm 71:14

As I have looked back at 2014 and prayed with thanksgiving, I have also started to ask God for a word for the new year. He has answered in a special way! For as important as hope has been in 2014, I am almost giddy with joy looking ahead to 2015.

There have been a few verses that have come to my heart so far, in looking ahead for the new year. This one, though - this is so perfect to end the year and start the new year:

“Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.”

As we prepare to move from this year and into the next,
I know that nothing can hold back Hope, especially as it ushers in Redemption.
The year ahead is the year of Redemption!

 

Hope makes way for Redemption || rebekahmhallberg.com

I’m sharing this post at The Loft - join us?

photo 1 source

photo 2 source

Filed Under: Hope

The Loft - 2014 In Review

December 1, 2024 By 0

2014 in review -
What have you learned this year?
What is something you’d like to share with us?
This week is your opportunity!

The Loft is open, come on up!

 

The Loft: A weekly Hangout and Link Up for Christian bloggers
Graphic by Kerry Messer

This Week’s Topic: “2014 in Review” (We are getting introspective this week. Share the greatest lesson of 2014 or anything else about this year that you’d like to.)

Next Week’s Topic: “Potluck: Best of 2014” (Be prepared to link up your best post from 2014. “Best” is defined loosely :) )

About #TheLoft

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth.

Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

PLEASE NOTE: While there are many link and leave blog hops out there, we are different in that we ask that your link stick to the weekly topic. This fosters community and conversation. It also helps us practice “topic” writing as bloggers. Oh, and please mention The Loft in your post! Thank you so much!

Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the linky goes live and all week you can link up your post on that week’s topic.

We’ll have fun topics, serious topics, practical, soul-ful, holiday, and so, so much more…we can’t wait to get started! This is not only a great way to connect with others, it’s also a fun and easy way to establish a writing habit. If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to join in by leaving your comments in the comment section.

So grab your coffee mug and come on up! Hang out for a bit. We betcha you’ll be glad you did.

 

To Participate:

1. Be creative. Feel free to use words, photos, video, audio, your family pet, whatever, to communicate on the weekly topic. But please stick to the weekly topic :)

2. Listen twice as much as you talk. If you leave one link, visit two. Trust us on this one~wink.

3. Be a community. Include #TheLoft graphic and/or link back in your post so we can find each other. Also, share the great stuff you find when you visit around…we’ll be doing the same.

 

The Loft Link Up

 

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 4 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are: Jen, Rebekah, Leah, Arabah

 

 

Now it’s time to link up!

 

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized