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Stones of Remembrance {Grace and Truth linkup}

January 30, 2025 By 2

This week I’m featuring Lynnae McCoy’s post, “Where are Your Stones of Remembrance?” This post was a great reminder of God’s faithfulness, both in my life and for the Israelites. Lynnae shares several suggestions for how to honor and remember those times in our lives when God proved Himself faithful, and why we need to have those stones of remembrance in our lives.

You can find Lynnae on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and G+. Stop by and check out her post, and her suggestions for implementing stones of remembrance in your life - you’ll be blessed!

Stones of Remembrance

Thanks for linking up with us last week. Feel free to grab a featured button below!

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Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Meet Your Hosts

 

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Leah Adams
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Being Confident of This
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

Grab A Button

Grab button for Grace and Truth

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God Never Gets Tired of Us Needing Him

January 25, 2025 By 6

Roused from my attempt at sleep once again, tripping through the darkness toward the sound of plastic against plastic, willing my eyes to open. Everything in me wanted to lie back down, to let someone else handle the situation, to ignore the ugly, messy situation. But love compelled me to keep going; after all, I had given my word and she was counting on me. What I wasn’t counting on was the precious reminder, every single hour of the night, that God never gets tired of us needing Him.

 

God Never Gets Tired of Us Needing Him - a late-night reminder of God's love and grace || rebekahmhallberg.com

We weren’t made to live life alone, to have to navigate the uncharted waters of life on our own.

From the moment we are born, we’re delivered into companionship, and likely into community. We grow up with extended family, school friends. We enter adulthood finding companionship with work colleagues, church friends, maybe even a spouse.

We were created to need community, companionship, Christ. Click To Tweet

We were created, by God, the Creator of all to need community, companionship, Christ.

Last night, our daughter was awake every hour of the night, often multiple times each hour. She was so very sick and she needed us to be there. I bumped the bed once, tripped over a toy, and hit the door once in my attempts to get into her room. (Lack of sleep does not agree with me.) Nothing would keep me from her, though, because I knew she needed me. There was no sleep for the three of us until after 5am. It was an extremely long night.

Every time I stumbled through the darkness, I could feel my exhaustion. I felt the thoughts rising in me:
“Ugh, again? Can I stay in bed and just let my husband deal with it? She doesn’t really need me, does she?”

Each time I staggered through the doorway into her room, I could immediately hear the song on the radio. See, she keeps K-Love radio playing all night and there would be a song playing that would remind me that we’re never alone, that Jesus is always with us. That helped to refocus me so that I could be the help she needed. Being reminded of God’s love, through song, helped me be able to remind her that I love her, but even more than that, God loves her.

In the middle of the night, in my daughter’s room, I met Jesus - over and over again. Just as we were her strength, He was the strength we all needed for a long, restless night. As we were awakened to help her, He met us in that place - in our tiredness and weakness - simply because we called to Him. We didn’t tire of helping her, and Jesus didn’t tire of helping us.

Just like my daughter needed me in her night of severe sickness, we have the same need for Jesus.

Without Him, we are so sick - spiritually sick. Our hearts are full of sin, and no one can cleanse them but Jesus. We have to go through the cleansing process - asking for forgiveness, making things right with others, changing our behaviors to fall in line with our Savior’s. But God is there.

And just like we can’t completely prevent the return of a physical sickness, we also can’t guarantee that we’ll never have to deal with spiritual sickness again. We may fall into old habits, we may develop new ones. We may wander from God’s plan for our lives and find ourselves alone, scared, helpless in the dark.

Just one call, though, just one mention of His name, and the gap between where we are and where Jesus is immediately closes.

God doesn't get tired of us needing Him. Click To Tweet

God doesn’t get tired of us needing Him. Just as we’d run to help someone we love, God is always there when we are in need. A prayer, the mention of His name, the simple longing of our heart, and He is there to provide His love and care for us.

Where are you today? Are you tired? Are you sick? Have you had to be the support for a long season?

Wherever you are, God is there, wanting to help, wanting to provide refreshment and rest. Last night was one of the most sleepless nights I’ve had in a long time, yet today, I feel so very refreshed. We were made to need each other, and to need Jesus. Have you reached out to Him today?

God never gets tired of us needing Him.

 

Sharing at Grace & Truth

Filed Under: having faith in God

Grace & Truth Linkup, Week 2

January 23, 2025 By 3

Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

This week, I’m featuring 2 wonderful blogs from last week’s linkup. Both of these posts spoke to me in such precious ways. First, Anne, from Front Porch Inspired wrote a post called “Empty”. We’ve all been empty at one time or another. Anne talks about the emptiness, bringing us back to the story in the Bible about the widow who pleaded with Elisha. When the woman’s jars were all full, the blessing stopped. Anne shares, “And I wonder, did she ever wish she would’ve brought more empty?”

Click here to read this beautiful post and to be encouraged in your emptiness.

You can find Anne on Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Instagram.

The second post I’m featuring is called You Are Welcome at His Table - Even if You’re Afraid of Food. Asheritah shares about how she is letting God shine His light on unresolved issues. I was blessed while reading this post, knowing that God loves us enough to work through those issues with us.

You can find Asheritah on Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, and YouTube.

You Are Welcome at His Table - Even if You're Afraid of Food || onethingalone.com

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Satisfaction Through Christ

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

A Virtuous Woman

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Arabah Joy

BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Leah Adams

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Being Confident of This

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories

BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels. This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted. We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

4.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

In order to be featured next week:

5.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured.

6.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

Grab A Button

Satisfaction Through Christ

Grace and Truth - a weekly Christian linkup with a giveaway to get us started || rebekahmhallberg.com a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join the link-up below!

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Filed Under: Grace and Truth

It’s Going to Rain

January 21, 2025 By 12

“I’ve been out in a cave for forty days, with only a spark to light my way…But I still believe…
For people like us in places like this, We need all the hope that we can get
I believe, I believe, Through the shame and the grief
Through the heartache, through the tears, Through the waiting and all the years.
I still believe.”
-Russ Taff lyrics, “I Still Believe”

 

She stood in the noonday sun, longing for even a drop of water. The heat just might do her in. How long can one stand, heart-broken and laid bare, sun beating down on the fresh wound?
Yet, she stood, in spite of the circumstance, resisting the questions, letting go of the shame, because she knew what was coming. And she determined in her heart that she wouldn’t just believe the truth, but she would trust the truth - the truth that it’s going to rain.

We all go through dry seasons, tough struggles and the times of wondering why God is choosing to work as He is. This year, God’s brought me many reminders of the coming rains. There are some Bible verses, quotes and blog posts, all with a reminder that we need to prepare because God will send the rain.

I’ve spent a lot of time reminding myself of the truth, preaching gospel to myself, that if God promised the rain, then indeed, it will rain.

It’s been a long, hard road, but I believe. I believe God’s going to send the rain.

Even so, I find myself asking, “How can you be so sure, with all that’s happened?”

If I’m being honest, my gut answer is sometimes, “I don’t know.“

What I do know, though, is that God has a plan. This has been my time of choosing whether I can trust God and the plan He has, no matter the size of the storm. God isn’t going to leave us alone and in need. Quite the opposite - He’s going to provide for our needs.

Not only that, I firmly believe that He will provide overflowing joy.

…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5b

What I’ve learned from some of the things I’ve come across in my reading this year, is that it will rain.

We can wait for the rain, or we can prepare for the rain. There is a big difference.

The first, waiting for the rain, is reactive. Once it starts to rain, we’ll grab an umbrella, or our rain coat, we’ll cover our plants to protect from the rain, we’ll move things under a shelter.

The second, though, preparing for the rain, is proactive. We prepare our fields in advance, we carry our umbrella, we aren’t scrambling at the last minute.

I believe it’s already started to rain, in my life. It may be just a few drops, but it’s enough to sustain me until the drenching rains come.

And so I wanted to gather the reminders, for myself, but also for you, so that we can have them when we need them.

Friends, it’s going to rain. Are you ready?

(These reminders are in no particular order.)

Arabah Joy paints a beautiful picture of why we need to carry an umbrella when we leave home today. After all, if it’s going to rain, you’re going to need it.

Hosea 6:3- “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

This image found on Pinterest, goes so beautifully with that verse:

I love this quote from Leslie Parrott about standing up for what’s right, even in the face of adversity:

“…someone had to be the first drop of rain….”

My family watched “Facing the Giants” a few nights ago. I’m always struck by this clip, reminding us to be faithful and diligent in our work. Let’s prepare our fields for the harvest that will come with the rains.

I hope these are an inspiration to you - a reminder to work as you trust. We want to be ready when the blessing comes, when God sends the rain.

Maybe you’re wondering what I mean when I say “preaching gospel to myself”. I think it can mean something different, depending on who you ask. For me, though, it comes at those times in my life when I need a strong reminder that, yes, I can do this. I can carry out what the Lord has asked. I can make it through another day. I dig deep for those fighter verses that encourage me to pursue God. I fall back on some of the verses that have meant so much to me.

What are some of those verses? Well, right now, Psalm 71:14, Ephesians 3:18-20, Jude 24-25, and Isaiah 41:10, just to name a few.

This clip, also from “Facing the Giants” reminds me that I’m capable of doing so much more than I think I can. God doesn’t call us to difficult circumstances without being right there with us each step of the way. He doesn’t ask us to stand firm without being the One who holds us up. He doesn’t ask us to walk through deep waters and then abandon us to the waves. He is right there beside us, every step of the way.

I’m going to leave you with this video clip. I pray this small collection of some of my favorite reminders is a blessing to you.

Friends, I believe. It’s going to rain. Are you preparing for it? Are you giving all you have?

 

Linking up with Grace & Truth

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Filed Under: having faith in God

Grace and Truth

January 16, 2025 By 7

Welcome to the first week of the Grace and Truth linkup. We are looking forward to seeing what God will do with this space, and we’re encouraged to read your thoughts and your posts each week. You should find all the details that you’ll need in the post below. We’d love to have you share the linkup in your circles as well. Welcome to Grace and Truth! Grace & Truth : A Weekly Christian Link Up
Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement each and every week. If you’re a blogger our hope is that you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader our hope is that you’ll meet new bloggers that love Jesus just as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.

Grace&Truth-MainImage2

Satisfaction Through Christ
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER |G+

Kaylene Yoder
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

The Brown Tribe
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

A Virtuous Woman
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Arabah Joy
BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | G+

A Divine Encounter
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | G+ | STUMBLEUPON

Leah Adams
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Being Confident of This
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Busy Being Blessed
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Sharing Redemption’s Stories
BLOG | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER | G+

Grace&Truth-Rules2

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels.

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. Links of this kind will be deleted.
We also reserve the right to delete posts that don’t align with the theme or that are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.

3.) Grab a button or link back to encourage new linkers. This is not mandatory to participate, but is required to be featured next week.

4.) Visit 2-3 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community, so please don’t link and run!

5.) Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week. See requirements above to be featured.

6.) All links are randomly sorted - feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!

7.) By linking up you agree to allow the hosts to use your featured post image if you are chosen as a feature for next week.

Grab A Button

Satisfaction Through Christ

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Filed Under: Grace and Truth

Our Goals

January 12, 2025 By 2

Welcome to The Loft! This week we’re sharing about our goals.
What goals do you have for the coming year?
We’re eager to read about them and pray the Lord’s blessings on you as you step out to meet those goals.
We here at The Loft are also stepping out to meet some of our goals for our linkups.
We’re so excited to take this leap of faith, and we pray that it’s a benefit for us all!
Details below - for now, though…

The Loft is open, come on up!

 

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

 

Before we get to this week’s topic, we have an important and exciting announcement to make!

After this week, #The Loft is merging with another brand new link up for Christian bloggers.

It has been a pleasure to open The Loft and connect with you all since we started back in August. At that time, we wanted a place to connect, converse, and grow.

I am proud to say that we have done all of those things well. Many linkups are “link and leaves.” The Loft is not by design. I have heard this sob story from multitudes of hosts: they end up having so little interaction that the hosts either call it quits or spend hours upon hours each week trying to maintain it.

We have never had those problems… because you all are the best, hands down! As far as click throughs go, we are one of the best out there.

Now we want to serve you all even more. We want to focus on the “network” part of our goal. We want to open the doors even wider and get our linkers even more exposure.

So after much prayer and discussion, The Loft hosts have decided to merge with Grace and Truth Linkup, a brand new linkup that will launch later this week. YOU have the opportunity to be part of this from the beginning!

Grace & Truth linkup, starting Jan 16, 2025 || rebekahmhallberg.com

 

Here are the main differences and reasons why we are merging:

Grace and Truth will be a Christian Living linkup. Having a weekly topic has been great. It has defined us and for those who love it, well, we love it! But it does greatly restrict participation. We know that many of you would link more often if you could choose your own post. At this point in our growth we believe this change, although significant, will serve our community of bloggers best.

Grace and Truth will have a few more hosts. Links will appear on nine different blogs. That is EXCELLENT exposure for a blogger. A no-brainer there!

Grace and Truth will do “featured posts.” That means if selected, your post will be a shared on social media and featured on the following week’s link-y. More great exposure!

Grace and Truth will be on Fridays. Bloggers can link up any post from their week (or their archives!)

Also, there will be a $100 gift card giveaway this week for the kick off of Grace and Truth so you don’t want to miss it! Go ahead and link up your Loft post today (we’ll still be visiting and reading!) and then come back here Friday at 6am and link up any Christian living post.

We are committed to you and your growth as a Christian blogger and are so thankful for this community. We hope you continue to connect, converse, grow and network with us!

 

This Week’s Topic: “Goals” (Share a goal you have for 2015 or about your goal setting process? Anything to do with goals!)

 

 

 

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 your posts up!

This Week’s Topic: “Goals”

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

One Word

January 5, 2025 By 2

Happy New Year! I sincerely hope you enjoyed Christmas and the many traditions that your family and friends weave into that special holiday! I feel like Christmas came and went quickly, but I thoroughly enjoyed the break from our usually-hectic schedule! I’m excited to read the posts you link up, sharing your one word or one verse for the year!

The Loft is open, come on up!

 

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

 

Welcome back to #TheLoft! We are eager to hear from you all!

This Week’s Topic: “One Word/Verse for 2015” (We can’t wait to hear what has the Lord given you for 2015.)

Next Week’s Topic: “Goals” (Share a goal you have for 2015 or about your goal setting process? Anything to do with goals!)

 

 

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 your posts up!

This Week’s Topic: “One Word/Verse for 2015” (We can’t wait to hear what has the Lord given you for 2015.)

 

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Filed Under: My One Word

Redemption 2015

January 1, 2025 By 30

Happy New Year, friends! I’m grateful for the year that’s gone by, but I’m looking forward to an amazing year ahead. See, I never intended to be one who chooses a word for a year. I don’t really do resolutions, either. Mostly, I try to walk quietly through the year and to listen to God’s voice. Last year, though, God gave me a word - one that I would need to cling to the whole year through. Friends, Hope 2014 was a year of drawing close to God and trusting, no matter what. After a full year of focusing on just one word, I asked God for a new word this year, because attention to just one word helped to keep me focused on what God had for me.. I heard Him the first time He said the word for 2015, and honestly, (shamefully) I tried to resist because I didn’t want to feel let down if the word didn’t apply in certain situations. But after a year of Hope, it was easier to trust for the new year. And so today, January 1 -

Redemption 2015

My One Word - Redemption 2015

Image courtesy of Traci Michele.

 

Redemption. Honestly, it’s not the word I would have picked for this year. After all that has gone wrong in my life the past 15 months, I was not prepared to hear “redemption” as the word for this year. But God, in His wisdom, kept bringing Scripture verses, conversations and bigger perspective into my way of thinking so that I couldn’t get away from the word redemption.

He also reminded me that it’s not all about me.

When I started writing in this space, it was always about writing what I felt God was sharing with me, and letting Him do what He would with the words. God’s taken these simple posts around the world - to people I don’t know, in places where my geography knowledge has failed and I’ve had to look them up to remember their location.

Redemption is my word for the new year, yes, and I’m trusting God to redeem so many areas of my life that have become battle-weary and filled with scars of past wounds.

A few days ago I took some much-needed quiet time. The kids were off from school and happily doing their chosen activities so I climbed the stairs to my room and decided to turn on Pandora. I put on a station I haven’t listened to all that often and just sat and listened.

The first song was “Nothing But the Blood” by Jesus Culture,
the second song was “Manifesto” by The City Harmonic
and the third song was “Let it Rise” by Big Daddy Weave.

Through these songs, God kept saying “Redemption - write about it, because it will mean something different for everyone who reads it.”

And then, this was on my heart:

You can’t know Redemption without knowing the Redeemer.

Redemption - You need to know the Redeemer before you can know Redemption. My one word for 2015 || rebekahmhallberg.com

I can sit here and tell you how I hope God will work His redemption this year in our marriages, our finances, our employment situations, our children - any area that might need some redeeming. Many of you could agree with me in those prayers and hopes.

Maybe, though, you’re here and don’t know that God can provide redemption in those areas.

We live in an imperfect world - a world with people who can’t save themselves from an eternity apart from God. We needed a sacrifice to atone for the wrong that we do, in order to be able to spend eternity with God.

Examples of sacrifices are used all throughout the Bible. Animals were used to atone for sin, the shed blood being what was needed for the atonement. It was in that manner that someone could receive redemption for their wrongdoing.

That same shedding of blood is what was needed for our redemption - for us to be able to spend eternity with God.

God the Father sent His son, Jesus, to be that atonement for us - to shed His blood for our sins. Jesus, being fully God, was perfect and so His blood could be shed for our sins. Accepting His free gift of salvation, His atonement for us, is the only way to ensure that we can spend eternity with Him.

But you won’t find Him on the cross anymore…He died, He rose again on the third day and He is in Heaven with the Father, where He’s preparing a place for us. (John 14)

I wonder - do you know Him?

How amazing to think that someone would love us, despite all our problems and messes, enough to want us to spend eternity with Him. It’s true - that’s how much He loves us. And He offers all of us that free gift of salvation, regardless.

You don’t have to be good enough.
You don’t have to have everything together.
Your life doesn’t have to be perfect.

You just need to accept that Jesus died for you, that He forgives your sin, that He loves you, and that He wants to help lead you in righteousness. That doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again - it does mean that He will help you when the temptations come. He will forgive you when you sin. You will still have to deal with the consequences of your choices, but His forgiveness does not run out.

If you don’t know Him, there’s a simple prayer that you can pray, and there is nothing special about these words - it can be any words you choose.

Dear Lord, I know that I need you to redeem my messes.
I acknowledge and accept your free gift of salvation.
Please forgive my sins and make me whole.
I give you control of my life - help me to walk in your ways.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer to accept salvation, would you let me know? You can comment here, you can find us on Facebook and hang out with us there. You can email me (see the Contact tab above).

This year can be your Redemption 2015 as well as mine.

I’m not sure what redemption is going to mean for each of us this year, and I don’t know what God is going to do this year, but I’m so eager to be following Him and to be available for what He has.

Do you have a word for the year? If so, would you share it? I’d love to know what’s ahead for you!

 

I’m linking up at One Word 365 at Front Porch Inspired and at Grace & Truth.

Filed Under: Hope, My One Word, Redemption