A Year of Hope

November 9, 2024 By Rebekah 0

A year or so ago, sometime between mid-October and mid-November of 2013, the Lord gave me a word. As the end of the calendar year was approaching, people were beginning to discuss their plans for Christmas and also their New Year’s resolutions. Knowing that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I wasn’t sure just why the Lord gave me that word. I had heard about the “one word” project, where people chose a word to focus on for the year. After some time in prayer, seeking what God was doing, I decided that the word He had given was to be my one word for the year. And so began my plans for the new year - a year of hope.

The word that the Lord gave me, just the one, small word, was hope.

My family had just gone through a major crisis, I was pretty sure that things were going to just keep falling apart (which, to some extent, they did), and I wasn’t sure which way was up…and God said, “Hope.”

It made no sense.

But God didn’t ask me to understand.

He asked me to be still, to watch what He was going to do. He reminded me time and again that all that happened was not about me.

My only choice in the matter was how I would continue from that moment forward.

And that’s where I needed hope…and Hope. Hope that was, and is, the very nature of God Himself at work.

I chose not to move. I made the decision that I would trust what I felt God was saying to me.
It was terrifying, and I questioned that decision many times over.
But I determined to stand, being confident that I would see God’s goodness at work.
(Psalm 27: 13)

And at some point this year, I came across Psalm 71 again, particularly verse 14:

As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

The dictionary defines hope as “to expect with confidence”.

When I determined to take hold of the one word God was giving to me, I wasn’t sure what I was hoping in. I couldn’t have explained it to you if I tried. I asked a few people if the decision I was making made any sense. No one could give me a definitive answer, except to say that I should trust what I felt God was telling me. Most people jumped in to support my decision in any way they could, not knowing what was ahead. In the tough spots in life, the ones who walk in when the world walks out are the ones you want to cling to. Like I’ve shared before, there was a lot of loss due to the situation. But God gave me hope.

I determined to stand my ground. I grasped on to Hope even more tenaciously.

There were times - there still are - when I felt like I was standing in the middle of a downpour while the world passed by draped in sunshine. All I could do was to put my chin down, close my eyes, and keep standing, knowing the downpour would pass. And other times it felt quite the opposite - that I was in the middle of a dry, thirsty desert, praying for some of that rain that had just poured down.

Yet, I stood.

Because in my heart, I firmly believed that while the main part of the journey truly did belong to someone else, my part was to stand in Hope and to trust God.

Many times, I reminded God of His promises to meet our needs, to never leave us or forsake us. My life looked and felt unconventional and I knew it. There were times when even I wondered what I was doing.

But when I stood, when I kept trying to listen to what I believed God wanted, Hope showed up, because God Himself is Hope.

When I went to a store, there would be a trinket or decoration with the word hope on it.
When we had to face the struggles, we were met with hope.
I found hope in random acts of kindness, knowing God had not forgotten me.
When a friend shared a verse that God placed on their heart, it was full of hope.
I saw hope in small acts of goodness from people who may never know the impact of their deeds.
When I didn’t know how to pray, I prayed for mercy and grace, expecting hope.
And expecting Hope.

Hope changed my life this year. Hope kept me going when I didn’t know if I could keep on.

And I believe that’s why God gave me the word hope for this year - because He knew I would need it.

Standing in the face of the unknown - and to keep standing - is difficult.

Maybe you find yourself in that same situation - wondering how you can keep going? Wondering why God is asking you to do a thing.

Dear friend, I do not have the answer. When I first started this journey, I wished someone could just give me the answer. All I wanted was to know why, and that things would improve.

I had a lot of people encouraging me to keep listening to God, but no one could give me the answer I wanted - the ultimate yes or no.

And that’s where the verse from Psalm 71 kept coming to my heart. It was as if God was reminding me to change my focus - to worship when I wanted to worry. When I filled my heart with praise, I found more hope. We can’t always determine what will happen to us in this life, but we can always determine how we respond. (And no, my praise, in this situation, was not to thank God for the mess I was in; rather it was to thank God that HE is the way through, and out of, the mess.)

This image below is what I started 2014 with:

You see, I wasn’t assured of anything at the start of the year. Only Jesus, and only hope.

As I took Psalm 71:14 to heart and began to praise God in my troubles He began to fill my heart with hope, despite my circumstances.

This year, as I have stood the ground that God called me to stand - holy ground because God met me there - God began giving back some of the precious gifts that I thought I’d lost.

If you are struggling, if you find yourself feeling hopeless and that the world is crashing in around you, would you consider the words of Psalm 71:14? I don’t have much that I can offer you - I don’t have the yes or no you need.

But I can offer you hope - life-saving Hope.
The Hope that not only is in Jesus, but the Hope that is Jesus.

I don’t know if God will give me a word for the new year. I am praying He does as this year of hope has been such a blessing. I’m praying that He continues the work that He is doing in our circumstances, and that His name will be magnified in all we do.

If you have found yourself in a struggle of hopelessness lately, let me know?
You can comment on the post, you can use the icons at the top of the page to find me on social media,
you can use the page at the top to find contact information.
I would love to stand with you in prayer,
to encourage you and to share the hope that has grown in my heart.
Life can be messy at times, but there is Hope!

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Filed Under: finding peace, having faith in God, Hope

Giving Purpose to the Journey

October 31, 2024 By Rebekah 8

I’m on a journey today - traveling with my little Picasso to appointments that he needs. He struggles with things that can’t be immediately fixed, but God is giving purpose to the journey that he is on, and there is so much beauty.

Purpose to the journey - that got me thinking about my own life. What I’m sharing here are just my thoughts. They are the wanderings of my mind on this day, on this particular journey, which is a part of a greater journey. And I’m thankful to be following God on the journey of life.

* * * * *

The sky is blue. The clouds are white.
The leaves seem so alive as we pass hillside after hillside arrayed in color.
Today is a beautifully bright, crisp, fall day and I am soaking it all in.
It’s amazing how very aware we become, even of small, seemingly insignificant things, when they’re almost taken away from us.

Once upon a time, I thought that my story to share with you would be that of a slightly-overscheduled, almost-always-a-little-tired mother and wife, doing her best to shine for Jesus in her small corner of the world. And while that is still very true, it’s interesting how God allows us to go to places that we maybe wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves.

And maybe it isn’t even that He allows us to go to those places, but rather that His love does not prevent our free will in making choices that may end up carrying us to some of the places we never planned to go.

That may be the reason that I’ve traveled through the valley recently.

Or, it may not be the reason.

Maybe God has something bigger on the far side of the valley, at the top of that mountain that will mark the end of so much of the brokenness that has been a part of my life lately.

Whether or not there is a reason that would define this journey, I know for sure that God takes our journey and gives it a purpose.

I am as sure of that as I am of the blood that runs through my body.

My natural instinct, when faced with an extremely difficult circumstance, is to panic. I want it to be fixed, corrected, repaired immediately. I want so desperately for the reason of the problem to be fixed…immediately. My timetable doesn’t always line up with God’s, though.

I’m learning that the purpose - the purpose that God gives - in our journey, can produce greater beauty than just fixing what caused the problem in the first place.

And that’s how I came to notice the blue sky, the white clouds and the trees dancing in the beautiful fall sunshine.

So often we can find ourselves in tough situations, and every once in a while we can find ourselves in the fight of our life.

God knew that, before He even created us.

And sometimes the choices we make can put us in a place where everything almost breaks, beyond repair.

Those are the moments when I go back to the things I know - to the things my heart knows, no matter what.

God is good. His name is more powerful.
The enemy will try to sneak in, trying to incite a riot of fear in our hearts.
If I wait on God - truly wait - He will direct my paths.

Waiting on God - I’m always stumped by that. What does it look like? How do I know I’m truly waiting on God?

I think being in those situations - the ones we can’t control - teach us to wait. It’s those times when all we can do is to be still. We can’t change our circumstances, we can’t predict the outcome, we can’t move things onto our timetable.

All we can do is raise empty hands to heaven and wait on God to work around us.

That is a hard place to be, and if I’m being honest, I’d be happy to run away, fast, from anything that puts me in that situation.

But, God.

Because when we raise our empty hands and set in our hearts that we will wait on God, He begins giving purpose to the journey we find ourselves on.

He gently molds us, He works in and among us, drawing us closer to Him. He reassures us of His love, of His grace and mercy.

It’s in those tough times, those soul-crushing painful times, that we can hear God, maybe even more clearly than any other time.

Why? Because when things are broken, when they’ve almost fallen apart, all that’s left is Jesus.

And in those times, I begin to notice the small, simple things in life that add beauty to our journey.

And on this day,

The sky was blue. The clouds were white.
The leaves seemed so alive as we passed hillside after hillside arrayed in color.
Today was a beautifully bright, crisp, fall day and I loved soaking it all in.

It’s amazing how very aware we become, even of small, seemingly insignificant things, when they’re almost taken away from us.

And when God is merciful enough to give it back to us, the journey we’re on becomes full of purpose.

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I Stand For Redemption

October 2, 2024 By Rebekah 15

A year ago today, my world turned upside down. The shock of what happened that day is not something that subsided quickly. I walked through the valley of the shadow of death and I’m not out of those woods yet. I am here, though, one year later, to tell you - I met God in the valley. He was there that very first moment, and He is here even now. Today I want to share some important things with you. What I’m sharing today has been on my heart since early September, and it was a refreshing reminder that God is still at work - even in the valley of the shadow of death. It’s a story of redemption - to let the world know that I stand for redemption.

A year ago I was plunged/shoved/bulldozed into a situation I never wanted to be in, talking to people I never intended to deal with, keeping appointments I never would have made on my own. Shock, fear and sleeplessness were my new companions. Emptiness was a feeling with which I became incredibly familiar. Trust…years of my life poured into something only to see it blow up in my face in a major way. These are not situations into which I would put myself.

But that’s just it - we are relational beings, and when we have others in our lives, their choices do sometimes directly impact us.

I’ve watched relationships of convenience and frankly, they frustrate me. I’ve seen people be friendly until it wasn’t beneficial for them any longer. I’ve seen couples stay together, until one was tired of the old and ready to move on to the new. Where has commitment gone? There are a lot of hurting people out there because someone turned their back on them when they were no longer viewed as “convenient”.

* * * * *

When things first fell apart for me, I couldn’t make a decision. I didn’t know what to eat, what to wear, I couldn’t even determine how to feel. The million dollar question really was, “What are you going to do?” I couldn’t make a life-changing decision at that point; I could barely figure out which toothbrush to use in the morning.

And so I waited. Here I was, in this horrible predicament, against my will, because of someone else’s choices. Waiting was my only option. The situation and the timetable were out of my control, and so I set up camp.

I set up camp in the valley of the shadow of death.

I waited. I wondered. I worried.

I called, cried, cried out, but I did not move.

The peace of God, the hand of God in my life, became so evident. It was the hand on my head that prevented me from running. It was the instinct that let my heart know that God was at work, even though I could not see it.

* * * * *

Last month I was blessed with a ticket to the Women of Faith event. The theme for the conference was, “From Survival to Revival” - and I had been in survival mode for 11 months and 3 days on the day of the conference.

Friends, can I just tell you, God had words for me that day. Words to lift my heart, to bless my soul and to get me to pack up camp. That was the day I picked up my mat, decided I wasn’t camping out anymore, looked my enemy straight in the eye and said,

“My God can shut your mouth!”

You see, on October 2, 2024 at 7:10am, I am convinced that the devil was having a party. He knew what was coming at 7:15am and I am certain that his plan was for our demise that day. When everything fell apart at 7:15am, I have no doubt that he was just bubbling over with happiness!

* * * * *

I tell people that I have a boring testimony. I wasn’t saved out of drugs or alcohol. My life wasn’t a mess. I was born into a Christian home to parents who have loved Jesus for a long time. I came to know Jesus at an early age and I haven’t diverted from that decision. I can recount story after story of how God has worked in my life and in the lives of people I know. And at 39 years of age, I can tell you that there hasn’t been a time, since childhood, where I have not loved God!

And now I have a story that is one year long, that will last a little while longer, and that is messy and ugly. It is full of deceit, sin, mistrust, painful indiscretions of the past, and has the enemy’s name written all over it.

I camped out there this year. I thought this was going to be “my story” that would maybe, somehow, be a blessing to other people. I took my time, I worked through my pain and my fear. I let God work, and then I heard some very wise words at that conference.

Friend, I have a story that will someday ooze with redemption, but it’s only a part of my life. It’s only one year of my 39 years on this earth. Why, why, would I camp out there? Don’t get me wrong - someday, I may really be able to extend compassion, grace and mercy to someone who has a similar story.

But, I have 39 years of my “boring testimony” where God was always there, where God always provided, where I was never forsaken, and I camped out in the one year story. I camped out in the tiny slice of life. Granted, I was trying my best and there will always be benefits of going through that valley. Now, though, I can see that the “boring” testimony is really more of a story of God’s never-ending faithfulness.

* * * * *

My redemption choice has come at a high price. I’ve lost a lot this past year - ministry opportunities, friends, peace of mind, trust, a sacred place in my heart. I was frustrated about the choices being made around me, until I realized that even though I don’t like it, all of this is not ultimately about me. It’s about God at work - grabbing hold of someone and doing a work in their heart that only He can do.

And that’s the other side of us being relational beings - when God does a work in the life of someone around us, we get to share in that blessing! We get to see their growth, we get to celebrate in their gains, we get to rejoice in the gift of their redeemed life.

My personal stand for redemption means that I am choosing to stand to see the redemption of another person, whether the world chooses to stand with me or not. All of the things that I thought were exactly what I needed - many of the things I lost as a result of my redemption choice - were a “safety net”. When all of life fell apart and when I let go of my perceived safety net over time, do you know what happened?

I did not drown.

Instead, quite the opposite. God started a movement in a different way and gave me other ministry opportunities. As I let go of my safety net, God refocused my priorities - faith, family, ministry. And He is blessing and working in so many ways. Maybe I needed a reason to let go of my safety net, and God moved in such a way to remove everything so that I would fully trust Him.

* * * * *

You see, the devil had a plan, but so did God. It was a good plan that the devil had.

Sin is ugly - it’s horrible. But there is not a “big sin” or “little sin” in God’s eyes. The “smallest” sin is no different than the “greatest” sin. I find, myself included, that we often judge people based on their level of sin.

We look at a person and we call them by their sin - “Liar, Cheater, Thief….”

When God looks at us, though, He sees our sin, but He chooses to call us by name - His name. (Isaiah 43)

What if we looked at everyone based on their need for redemption? We’d see equality everywhere, in every face, in every heart.

In my 39 years, I have seen redemption win out time and time again.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is not willing that anyone should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 -

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

What do we lose by going after the one who is lost? Time, effort, energy, yes. Sure.

But what might we gain by pouring effort into the one who has strayed?
Another soul saved for eternity.
Another child of the King.
Another one taken out of the clutches of the enemy.

* * * * *

The cost for this decision has not been easy to bear, but God doesn’t promise a smooth and easy path. Through this past year, I have had an overwhelming sense that this will all work out for the good. I can’t explain it, but similar to the feeling of peace, I can tell you that this is something only God could place in my heart.

“The devil, on his best day, couldn’t take me out on my worst day.” -Christine Caine

But the devil is going to wish he could have. See, I plan to go after the same people he’s going after - but for exactly the opposite reason. He’s going after them for harm; I’m going after them with the good news of salvation. I’m pursuing them to tell them of redemption - not just reformation, but redemption.

You see, about 2,000 years ago, someone stood for my redemption. God sent Jesus, who was without sin, to stand in my place, for my redemption. He paid the price so that I could have the opportunity to live a transformed life. It wasn’t an easy choice - Jesus asked the Father if there was any other possible way to provide for the redemption of mankind. (Mark 14:35,36)

There was no other way. And so Jesus went to die on the cross. He went to take His stand for my redemption - for our redemption - offering us the opportunity to accept the gift of salvation, yet knowing full well that some would never choose to accept the gift.

* * * * *

Why would I stand for someone else’s redemption? Why would I choose to stand up and say, “I believe in you,” when I could turn and run?

Friends, I am not a theologian, so I don’t have a deep, philosophical answer to give you.

I have an answer that comes from 39 years of loving Jesus and seeing how He works.

Why would I stand for someone else’s redemption?

Simply, because Someone stood for mine and it has made all the difference in my life.

Maybe you’re here today, feeling like your sin is keeping you from God. It is. But God gave His Son to bridge that gap. Today could be the day of your salvation - your redemption. If you would like to accept that gift today, all you need to do is pray this simple prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for standing in my place.
Thank you for sending Jesus to provide a way of salvation.
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need your salvation.
Please forgive my sins, create a clean heart within me.
Guide and direct me as I seek to follow You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you said that prayer, today is your day of salvation. Your redemption has come today!

Friends, I wish that we didn’t have to deal with some of the hard things in life. I wish my October 2nd had not happened. This life - it’s a journey, but it’s not our destination. God provides a way for salvation so that we can be with Him forever in Heaven. Our imperfect humanness prevents us from Heaven, but God’s redemption opens the door.

And until the whole world hears, I stand for redemption!

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Seeing in Part {But Needing to Wholly Trust}

September 22, 2024 By Rebekah 2

I am a creature of habit; most of my mornings begin the same way. I sit on the end of the couch closest to the window and drink my coffee. The curtains are still closed, but they are thin enough that I can see through to determine the weather. However, my perspective is, in fact, hindered because of the curtains. I can see, but I’m only seeing in part. The whole concept of only being able to see in part sent me back to one of my favorite verses.

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

I find that I often get caught up in my own perspective on things - problems, struggles, issues we face. I see from my perspective and I often act from my perspective.

One of the most interesting things that we’ve worked on with one of our boys is the idea of perspective taking. You can get two people together and ask them to complete a similar task, but it will turn out differently because each person brings their own ideas, filtered through their knowledge and beliefs.

Here is an easy way to illustrate this. Gather two people - any two people. Give them each a piece of paper and ask them to draw a house. Their houses may be very similar, or they may be vastly different. Each person has drawn their idea of a house, and they are not wrong. Each person’s representation is right - it is their perspective of a house. Do you think they will draw identical houses, though? It seems very unlikely. Even if you were to ask two siblings to draw a picture of the house they grew up in, the pictures are likely to be different based on ability, or based on feelings regarding the home.

What you asked for was a picture of a house.
What you got in return was one person’s perspective of a house.

When I look at my problems, struggles, situations, even my joys and my happy moments, they are my perspective of any given situation.

As it relates to my struggles, fears and concerns, I’m so quick to look around and wonder, “Where is God?” Or, “Why is God allowing this to happen?” (I’m speaking only for myself here, because maybe you don’t struggle with this as much as I do.)

And, no doubt, the things I face are difficult. We all have those tough things that we’d really rather not have to deal with, or that we wish would be taken from us. Jesus, did, too - He asked God if there was any other way to provide for our salvation other than his death on the cross.

You see, our ability to perceive our life events is like my ability to see the weather without opening the curtain. At best, it’s going to be hampered, visible - but unclear. I can’t see too far out the window - maybe twenty feet at best. And we can’t see very far ahead in our lives.

But we weren’t created to see the whole picture.

We were created to trust in an almighty God - One who is all-powerful, all-knowing.

We were not created to understand the things of God in this earthly realm.

I was looking at an aspect in my own life lately. Like I said at the beginning, I am a creature of habit. There have been some situations this year that have pushed me way out of my comfort zone. I have spent a lot of time asking God “why” and “how come”. I keep coming back to the realization that even in my own life, I can see - but only through the curtain. I can know and understand but only based on my limited experience.

Perhaps God is stretching me through some of these situations, to get me into a place where I’ll be even more useful for His purposes.

I’m sure you know the saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” I have no feelings one way or the other on the validity of that statement. What I do know is that each day when my eyes open, God has opened a door (or window!) for me to be used in that day. So maybe my situation is going to change, and maybe it’s going to be different from what I’d like it to be. Maybe it’s time I stop being such a creature of habit and take the reminder that I’m providing here - just trust.

We were created to trust in One who takes the talents He gives us, the abilities He gives us, the pain that we endure, the struggles that come. When we surrender our lives to Him, we turn over all aspects to let Him do as He will. We don’t know what that will look like, we don’t know what will come, we don’t know what will be asked of us. We must choose to trust that the One who created heaven and earth can take every part of our life, orchestrate it as He will, and use it for His glory.

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Limitless Chances

September 2, 2024 By Rebekah 15

Last week, Miss Rebekah sent me a message on Facebook. Yes, we have the same name, spelled exactly the same way. How do you tell us apart? Well, she’s 16, and I am…not 16 anymore. Our families have known each other for some time and she was asking some questions about missions, life overseas, and sharing a little of her heart with me. I read in her message what I heard in my own heart at that same age - a strong desire to make an impact in this world. And not just any impact, a God-sized impact. Here is a young lady who is already using her talents for God’s glory. She likes to take pictures and she writes, and she is using those gifts to bless others. I asked if I could share some of her work here from time to time, and the very first piece she sent was titled “Limitless Chances” - a sermon that she wrote for a Fine Arts competition, but that is already making an impact in the world.

As you read the piece, please consider how you are using your chances.
I’m pretty sure I’m not always using mine very well.

Rebekah asked if I would pray for her, as she continues to work at making a God-sized impact in her world. I asked her if I could share her prayer request with you, in her own words, because it caught my heart.

“…I ask that as I start this journey you would join me in prayer as I not only pray that the door may be opened for me to be able to minister to people, but that this generation will set the example and break down these walls and break these chains,
that there will be a revival.”

Would you join me in praying for Rebekah as God brings her to mind? Would you pray that, indeed, this generation would rise up to be the hands and feet of Jesus, that we might see a revival across our world?

I’m happy to say that Rebekah’s post marks the first guest post that I’ve shared on this blog. It’s a blessing to find others who share a heart for God, and it’s a tremendous privilege to share her words with you!

*** * * * * * ***

LIMITLESS CHANCES

I remember reading an interview about a man who accomplished many things in life. He was famous and had it all going for him. He made some bad decisions and became infamous, as a result. His name was Lance Armstrong. He was the most accomplished cyclist in history before he cheated. This man once said “If you ever get a second chance at something, you’ve got to go all the way.”

How many of you have received a second chance in life? Have those opportunities been wasted or taken for granted? We as human beings are undeserving of them, and wasting them is irresponsible. But we’re blessed that we serve the God of second chances, whose love is never ending. Whose mercies are new every morning. God’s redemptive plan, his forgiveness and mercy, are limitless.

I began to think about many of the stories in the bible and how God blessed countless people with second chances. Jonah, disobeyed God. Our Lord redeemed him in an amazing and miraculous way and then used him to save Nineveh. Moses, killed a man but was still used by God to save Israel from the pharaoh. Peter, denied Christ 3 times but was later used to preach to thousands of people who became followers. There is one person however who is mentioned in each of the 4 gospels who received another chance but we don’t know how he used it.

His name is Barabbas.

If you think about it.. Barabbas was the ultimate redemption story. He was a murderer and Jesus, the Son of God, was literally crucified in his place. Picture this: Barabbas is in prison but he can hear the distant crowd shouting at Pilate. First he hears them shouting his name then he hears them shouting, “Crucify him, Crucify him!”. Soon after that, Roman guards are dragging Barabbas out of the prison. He has to be thinking, “This is the end”. But our gracious and limitless God even had a redemptive plan for a murderer like Barabbas. THIS is the concept that defies all understanding. If Jesus wasn’t sacrificed, Barabbas would have been crucified and WE would never get our second chance.

The Bible never completes the story of Barabbas which leaves us with several questions. Did Barabbas take this opportunity for granted? Did he continue to murder other people or did he turn his life around? Most importantly, why was the story of Barabbas even in the Bible? It’s just a fragment: A story with no beginning and no end. Regardless of how Barabbas lived from that moment on, Jesus still chose to die in his place. Christ gave his life that day even though Barabbas’ future actions are unknown or unrecorded. God so loved Barabbas that He gave His only begotten Son. How grateful we should all be that we, much like Barabbas, have been given the ultimate second chance. The difference is we still have time and our future actions can be known and recorded IF we choose to live our lives for God.

There is yet another person in the Bible who is different than Barabbas. His life is recorded in great detail. He, too, was given another chance. The Apostle Paul was persecuting the very people of God when he had a direct encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul used this opportunity to preach everywhere about how Jesus was the Son of God. His life was transformed. It wasn’t easy at times and he was even thrown in prison and eventually martyred. Paul’s response to God’s calling was almost limitless. He was not confined to human constraints. What he accomplished in his life is super human. No it was supernatural. We could say he went all the way. Or as many athletes say, he left it all on the field.

Barabbas is an unbelievable example of God’s radical love for us. Christ literally took the place of a common criminal. He is also a warning that we can slip into obscurity and completely waste our lives in spite of God’s calling. Lamentations 3:22 says, “The Faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.” If his mercy never ceases then our response to His love can never cease. The only thing we deserve is death. But Christ died on that cross because he loves us so much! He died on that cross so we didn’t have to. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while WE were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Yes, we are sinners. But we’re blessed with the gift of salvation. Let’s respond to God’s call and leave it all on the field. Let’s go all the way. We all have the potential to respond to God like Paul but the enemy wants us to be a Barabbas. Which one will you be? I challenge you to go all the way and bring honor and glory to his kingdom.

*** * * * * * ***

Many thanks to Rebekah, age 16, for this post! I’m looking forward to sharing more of her work in the weeks and months to come. Would you pray with me that the desire of her heart would continue to be a love for God and that, indeed, she would make a lasting impact in our world!

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Relentless

August 10, 2024 By Rebekah 2

Relentless. I want this to be a word that describes my pursuit of God, and I pray that I continue to move in that direction. What I’m finding, though, is that the more we actively pursue God, the more the enemy ratchets up the attacks on us. He’s relentless in his battle for our soul. I was thinking tonight about how we fight back with God’s Word and with the testimony of what God has done in our lives, and I wanted to share a story, and an idea, with you.

A year or so ago (maybe longer, time does seem to pass more quickly as I get a little older) my daughter seemed to grasp hold of God’s love on a deeper level. She was so eager to express her love for God, her understanding of salvation and her knowledge that other people needed this salvation.

She got a pack of heart-shaped post-it notes and told me how appropriate they were, as hearts, to express God’s love. I remember thinking that was a nice sentiment.

I was out one day and noticed the transformation almost immediately upon my return home.

Pink hearts.

Everywhere. Kitchen, dining room, living room, doorways, walls, near the ceiling, by the light switch, beside the TV, bedroom doors, a dresser. Everywhere.

With a variety of messages on them expressing her love for God.

She was relentless in expressing her love for God, and in sharing that as best as she knew how. There was no doubt, based on the evidence she left, that she loved Jesus.

How about us?

How relentless are we in sharing our faith out loud?

Not just that, though, but how relentless are we in standing up against the enemy when he comes to battle for our soul?

When I’m struggling and the enemy seems to be lurking nearby, I know the right answer is to speak out in faith, and to remind him of the One to Whom we belong.

The enemy is relentless, though. If he can’t take us down - and keep us down - he’ll try to attack in another way. No doubt you’ve stood up time and time again after his attacks, only to be knocked over by a stronger, more powerful hit. It gets exhausting to have to stand back up each time he tries to knock us down, doesn’t it?

Sometimes I can’t think of anything else to say in the face of his attacks other than to say the name of Jesus - and that is certainly THE most powerful thing we can say during a battle with the enemy.

What if…

What if my sweet girl has it right?

What if we took our thoughts about God, our love for Him, our favorite Bible verses, and wrote those on paper to place around the house?

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…
Deuteronomy 11: 18-20

Do those who come to visit your home know that you love Jesus? Asking that question of myself.

When the enemy comes knocking, can he see God’s Word lived out in your home, or is it just a book that sits on a shelf? Asking this question of myself, as well.

When he becomes relentless and we’re soul-weary from battle with him, wouldn’t it be wonderful to just look up - to the door, the wall, the light switch - and see a reminder of God’s faithfulness?
To see a reminder that we love God?
To see a reminder that the battle we’re in truly matters?

To see a reminder that the battle we’re in truly matters.

I’ve done this on a small level and it’s worked well. I’ve posted a few favorite verses in various places from time to time. The more I read them, the more I committed them to memory and they have become a part of me.

But I haven’t done this on a large scale like my daughter has done. She was relentless in her acknowledgement of God.

So what am I going to do?

I’m going to be intentional with choosing Bible verses to hang in my home. I want to be more intentional about committing God’s Word to memory. I want my kids to learn these verses, I want them to be etched on their hearts as they continue to learn and grow. I want to point to these verses in our tough moments and say, “Remember this? God is faithful!”

When the enemy comes knocking, as he will, I want to be relentless in my battle with him because I serve a God who is relentless in his love for me!

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Romans 15:13 - The Power of One Small Word

August 8, 2024 By Rebekah 2

The simplest of ideas often come to me when I’m alone, when I can quiet away the noise of the day, or when I can grab some quiet moments before the day gets going. Today it was a few thoughts on one simple verse, and even beyond that, the meaning of one of the smallest words in the verse. I wanted to share just a few of my thoughts today, a small word study if you will. It’s not anything in-depth, it’s just a few thoughts from my quiet time this morning as I pondered Romans 15:13, and specifically, the word “of”.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

I sat thinking about “the God of hope…” and started thinking about “the Queen of England,” or “the Grand Duke of Luxembourg”. From there, I went smaller in my thinking -
*the box of cereal
*the cup of coffee
*the vase of flowers

(Yes, you can probably tell that all this happened around the time that I was gearing up for my morning…coffee, breakfast…just keeping it real here!)

Anyway, what’s so special about “of“? It’s a small word, it doesn’t seem very significant as you read through Romans 15:13, but I’d venture to say it may be one of the most powerful words in the verse.

In all the examples above, the word “of” refers to the one person or item that possesses the other.

For example - the box of cereal - the box holds the cereal
The cup of coffee - the cup holds the coffee
The Queen of England - the queen possesses/holds power over England.
You get the idea.

The God of hope.

That certainly falls in line with the Queen of England and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg - they are the ones who claim sole ownership of a nation, of a particular location, a certain portion of the world.

The God of hope.

Not the God of ‘some hope’.

Not the God of ‘sometimes hope’.

The God of hope.

All of the hope. Every last bit of it.

It’s all His!

He holds all of the hope to give as we need.

Let’s look at the verse again:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why would the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace?

If I’m the one answering that question, on a personal level, it’s because I can’t seem to find hope in my life in those tough situations, unless I’m focused on the joy and peace that only Jesus can give.

How do we get that joy and peace? By spending time - whether it’s in His Word, whether it’s worship songs, whether it’s prayer - we have to be focused on Him. We have to clear out the other distractions to hear Him speaking to us.

We need to let Him place the peace and joy in our hearts, which will transform our hearts from hopeless, to hope-full. Full to overflowing.

This verse, Romans 15:13, is my prayer for you today - wherever you are, whatever your situation.

Romans 15:13. Amen.

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My Latest Adventure

August 3, 2024 By Rebekah 5

Today I wanted to try something a little different, so instead of writing the usual blog post, I made a video for this post instead. This is a brief(ish!) message from me, sharing a little about myself and this little corner of the world. This is certainly “an adventure in living boldly” for me (the tagline of this blog), and a journey way outside my comfort zone. On the other hand, I hope it helps us to connect a little more than we might just through written words here on the page.

I’m open to trying these videos from time to time, so if you like it, let me know - I definitely need feedback on this sort of thing and would love to hear your thoughts. And a future video would probably be at a different spot in the house. I chose my favorite spot for this first one, so that I could feel a little more comfortable and confident in sharing with you.

In addition to sharing a little about myself, I’m sharing two of my all-time favorite Bible verses. To this day, I’m not sure why they’re my favorite - maybe because they talk about Jesus’ attitude towards us, maybe because they remind me of the One to whom all the glory is due, maybe because they’re from a short book and so I’ve read them countless times in my life and they’ve stuck with me. Those are all possible reasons that this is one of my favorite passages.

So here it is - my latest adventure in living boldly! Let me know what you think, please - you can share in the comments below, or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you! Keep in mind that this is the first video, so they can really only get better from here, right? I hope so!

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The Loft

August 1, 2024 By Rebekah 0

Graphic by Kerry Messer

#TheLoft

The Loft is the place for conversation, community, networking, and Christian growth. Each week we provide a topic to start the conversation.

Then, Monday night, at 9pm Eastern, the link 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.

Listening is a lost art. Especially in the blogosphere where everyone wants to be heard. At The Loft, we know that listening is rewarding and rich… surprisingly so. 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.

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

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

When you link up at The Loft, your link will appear on 6 blogs! We’d love for you to visit The Loft co-hosts and know who we are:

Leah
Kathy
Arabah
Jen
Rebekah
Kimberly

This Week’s Topic: “I am…” (finish the sentence, introduce yourself, share your passions, experiences, maybe tell us a few odd facts, or just link to your “About” page. We’re all ears!)

Next Week’s Topic: “Blogs that Inspire” (tell us what blogs or websites you go to for inspiration and what makes them attractive. Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if someone mentions yours after finding you today?)

Bring your favorite drink and come share a few quiet moments with us in #TheLoft.

The first link up goes live on August 24th at 9pm.

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What Makes You Beautiful

July 30, 2024 By Rebekah 0

Recently I’ve heard several conversations about beauty and what makes someone beautiful. As a people-watcher, I love to see the interactions and hear what people have to say about beauty. So often, though, there are the negative responses that we all know too well - and that we’ve probably all said at one time or another. People feel they aren’t beautiful because of a perceived defect, a dislike about their appearance, the fact that they don’t live up to the latest fashion standards. I’d like to talk about beauty for just a few minutes, and I’d like to share what makes you beautiful - regardless of who you are, what you look like, or what you’ve done.

We all know the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and I’ve even said that while looking at some works of art in our local art museum. It’s hard for me to find beauty in some pieces of art; I don’t understand them and so I write them off as “odd” or “quirky”. But to some people, they are genuine works of beauty.

I think many of us, especially women, feel beautiful when we are wearing the latest fashion, are adorned in beautiful jewelry and have our make-up done just right. That certainly adds to the beauty of our appearance - our outward beauty. So many people certainly look beautiful when they are “put together” and dressed well!

Beauty also comes from within, though. Some of us may be the first to jump in when there’s a problem, or if a friend needs a meal, or if a fellow mom is struggling. Inner beauty - we all know these people, too, and hopefully many of us have not just an outer beauty, but an inner beauty as well.

And, in thinking about beauty, I realize that we often find beauty in child-like innocence. How often do our kids say something and we think about their innocence - how they haven’t been warped by the world’s standards, or the world’s opinions of them - and realize we’re beholding beauty? Innocence can do that - it can remind us of true beauty!

But, really, what makes you beautiful?

All of the beauty I’ve listed above, all of the reasons to call something beautiful, are not what makes you beautiful, though, at least not at the root of it all.

You are beautiful because someone wants you.
Because Someone wants you.

That’s it. Plain and simple. You are beautiful because you are of value, worthwhile, full of great worth, to Someone.

Not only are you of great worth, but that same Someone proved it to the world by dying on the cross.
For you.
For me.

Maybe you don’t believe that; it’s okay.

The historical evidence does show that a man named Jesus died on a cross, and history confirms what I read in the Bible.

So maybe you don’t believe He died for you, but maybe you can believe the historical perspective that He did die. That’s a start.

And from there, can I ask, ever so humbly, would it hurt to believe He died for you? Would you stand to lose anything by believing He died for you?

Something for you to ponder, maybe.

Jesus died - for nothing that He did, but for everything that we would do - for all the wrong that we would add to this world.

He died for us before He even created us.

Read that again, if you would… He died for us before He even created us.

In fact, even though we sin, He still loves us. This is such a well-known verse, but sometimes those are the easiest to cling to as they stick in our minds and hearts -

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

I’m going to admit a little bit of selfishness, of my humanness here - I wouldn’t die for too many people in my life. Anyone else feeling the same way?

However, if I were to give up my life for someone, I would have the security of knowing that I would be in heaven with God.

Why? Because I was wanted; I was bought with a price; I was chosen.

Say those words - out loud:
I was WANTED.
I was BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
I was CHOSEN.

I AM BEAUTIFUL.

Friends, who you are, and what you do can make you attractive, pleasing to look at, pleasant to be around.

But you are already a work of art, crafted by the Master who not only creates, but also restores and renews our lives to transform us more and more to His image.

No matter where you are today, you are already beautiful. Leading a life submitted to Jesus’ authority will polish off the rough edges, and help you to shine more as the beautiful work of art He created you to be.

He wants you - so much so that He died to give you the opportunity to remain His prized possession, His beautiful masterpiece.

Whatever you are wearing today - you are beautiful!

Maybe you’re a mom in sloppy old clothes, cleaning the house - you are beautiful!
Maybe you’re a teenager traveling through rough waters, wondering how “us old people” might possibly have a clue about fashion or about your life - you are beautiful!
Maybe you’re doing the whole parenting thing on your own and you haven’t slept and are still in pajamas - you are beautiful!
Maybe you are wearing clothes that are unfamiliar to me because you come from a different culture and live in a different region of the world - you are beautiful!
Perhaps you are praying for clothes that fit because finances are a mess - you are beautiful!
Or possibly your wardrobe is full to overflowing with all the best - you are beautiful!
Maybe you’ve traded your clothes for an outfit from the place you currently have to be because of the wrong you’ve done - you are beautiful!

It’s not our looks, it’s not our status, it’s not who we are or what we’ve done.

It’s ONLY Jesus. It’s ALL grace.

Whatever you look like today, you are LOVED, you are WANTED, you are CHOSEN, and you are BEAUTIFUL!

Father, I pray that you would take these words that you’ve given me in my quiet time today, and place them so gently into the heart of someone who needs them, just as I did. May we remember that our words and actions can add to the beauty you’ve already created in our lives and because of our lives.
In Jesus’ name , Amen.

And in case you are ready to make the choice to believe in Jesus - even just to try to believe - would you lean in close and pray this prayer with me?

Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that you have created me, and that you know all my shortcomings and all my wrongs, and that you love me anyway. Would you fill my heart with your Spirit, be the Lord of my life, and guide me in your steps? Please forgive my sin, please make me whole. Help me to know and understand you, and to love you more each day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer - those words in italics - would you let me know? Leave a comment here, or email me ([email protected]) or find me on Facebook and let me know.

Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever life has for you today, YOU are beautiful!

Because it’s not who you are, what you wear, the place you live, or the things you do that make you beautiful.

What makes you beautiful? The fact that Someone - Jesus - already created you, already paid the price for you, and already made a way for you to be in Heaven for eternity.

Amen!

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