Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you feel stretched to the limit

Stretched to the Limit
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

—1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Imagine a rubber band being stretched to the limit.

Think of stretching it until it will not stretch any more. When you do this, the band becomes tight and rigid because it has reached its capacity. It will not go any further, and it might possibly break under the strain of being pulled so tightly.

This was the image I had flash in my mind while talking with my daughter the other day. She was tired, discouraged and basically done with waiting. She is in God’s waiting room for many areas of her life and she is quite frankly, over the waiting. She was stretched out to the max and couldn’t hold it any longer.

The reason the rubber band analogy popped into my head was because I began to think how it is always the hardest right before the end, before the answer, before your name is called in the waiting room. It seems that waiting can be easy at the beginning (although it seems tough at the time) but becomes increasingly difficult the longer we wait.

When I was in my season of affliction for five years (suffering because both of my feet were broken), I thought one month of this hardship was unbearable to experience. But then six months of suffering turned into a year which rolled into five years. I waited and waited and waited to have healing. My injury was such that there really was no type of healing. It was that bad. But God. He chose to heal me. It just happened one evening without any fanfare, extra-long prayer time or anything extraordinary. Just a few quiet, gentle words from the Lord. He said, “You are healed. Walk in it.”

Before my healing, I was stretched to my limit. So many times, I told my family that I just couldn’t do it anymore. I did not know there would be an end, even though I believed God could heal me and would one day.

So, what does one do when one is at this place, at the end of the stretched band?

Let’s go to God’s Word (The Holy Bible) for the answers we need. As our anchor verse (above) states: We need to cast our cares on Jesus Christ, because He cares for us. For a visual example of this, let’s look at the process of fishing. Casting is what a fisherman does with his line. He throws it far from him. He aims the line toward a spot in the water where he thinks there are fish, then lets it go in that direction.

Similar to a fisherman casting his line, we are to cast our cares far from us—in the direction of Jesus. We are to aim towards Him and give Him all our anxieties. All. Not some. Not the ones we want to chew and stew on, but all of them. Why? Because He cares for us. Jesus does not care as the world does (changing how they treat us based on their mindset and mood). Jesus genuinely cares for us. His love for us is pure, unconditional and everlasting (Romans 8:31-39).

While in Tanzania, Africa, recently, my husband got very sick with fever, chills, shakes, lightheadedness, the works. He was ghastly pale and miserable. As a wife, it is so hard to see my man like this. We were at the tail end of our two-week ministry time there, with one more big day ahead of us. It was a Friday night. I was away in the kitchen and he was in another room. He texted me saying, “I need you.” When I rushed into the other room, I found him sweating profusely, in a chair, almost slumped over. This happened in a matter of minutes as I had just gone to the kitchen to prepare supper.

I began praying and ministering to John (my husband). I moved him to the bathroom area, got a bucket and began the vigil. I prayed out loud. I sang. I read Scripture. In about an hour, he felt well enough to crawl into bed, but I suggested a shower because he was drenched in sweat. He managed that, then collapsed into bed.

About midnight, this scene was repeated over again. We knew God was with us, as we could feel His loving care and attention. We never felt abandoned. We rested knowing He was giving us what we needed at the time. After the second round, John was able to sleep until morning. He was weak, but much improved.

That Saturday was the last full of ministry and he was to go on a boat to visit Gombe and possibly find outlying villages that can only be reached by boat. They were on Lake Tanganyika, putting in at Kigoma. Yes, there are still villages which have no outside contact—and these are along the coast of this massive, long lake. The missionary we were with had wanted to see if any village could be touched with the gospel and help. They never made it to Gombe, but they made it to three villages which were open to having teams come, having outsiders minister to them and their children. One village had an immediate need for their water supply. One of the Tanzanians on the boat was able to discover all that was needed was a spigot to have the whole village with a clean water source.

We rejoiced when they returned with this good news. John’s miserable night paled in comparison to the opportunity he had to be a part of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to three villages. God heard our prayers and all along had a plan to use this time to prepare John and me, for getting the gospel out, into new territories.

Does God remove our trials? Not always. But He uses them for His glory and our good. He has all our anxieties in His hand and He, in His goodness, works them for His splendor. And we get the privilege of being included in powerful work.

To Him be the glory.

Let’s Pray: Lord, You are Sovereign and You are in charge of my life. And for that to happen, I give You my life anew. Right now. And fully. Completely. I don’t want control because my ways are so limited and without understanding. But Your ways are full: of mercy, goodness, grace, glory for You. I trust Your sovereignty, even without my having to know the end, the middle and the beginning. Because You truly care for me with unending love. I am deeply thankful and in awe of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “For Your Glory” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard (Live at Passion City Church). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “I Will Go” by Steve Green. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “The Mission Field” by Blessid Union of Souls. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the States to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 26 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than 10 years, a Bible study writer for six years, and a devotional writer for more than four years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own journey of more than five years with broken feet. She hopes to to encourage others with her faith walk and real-life stories.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog

Devotionals for the Heart: How giving and receiving blessings creates joy

The Joy of Accepting Blessings
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”—James 1:17 (NIV)

I looked forward to attending a writer’s retreat where I would share writing ideas, fellowship with other writers, learn how to improve my writing craft as I sat in workshops, collaborate on devotions, meet with literary agents, and have other rich experiences. Every retreat I attended in the past was filled with laughter and a few tears. The relationships between these writers were strengthened by God.

However, my plans to attend the writer’s retreat changed when arthritic pain in my neck and back intensified. My heart ached when I decided not to attend. Through my decision to stay home, I soon learned the joy of accepting blessings. I sent emails and texts alerting my group of friends that I would not be attending our retreat. Immediately, the responses flooded my inbox: “Oh, Melissa, we’ll miss you. Are you sure you can’t attend?” “What can we do to help?” The compassion and love from the group warmed my heart. Each person covered me with precious prayers and blessings.

After that outpouring of love, I began to feel awkward about letting the group down. The plan was for a dear friend and me to share a room at the rental house. That would help with cost. Most of all, we love sharing time together. This special friend sent a message that she would refund the payment for my part of the room. I explained that she didn’t need to give any money back to me. My anxiety began to surface. I worried about accepting that check from my friend. I thought: “What if she needed that money?” “How could I accept her offer?”

But then, God began to speak to me in wonderful ways. He reminded me that sometimes we need to accept blessings from others. There is no need to feel awkward or embarrassed when someone offers to help. Yet, I am encouraged and inspired when I’m the person who is offering a blessing by helping someone in need. God reminded me through Scripture that every good and perfect gift is from Him. There are times when we can bless others with our words and actions. There are other times when we need to be blessed.

I accepted the check from my friend. That money was needed for an unexpected expense. God knew what was needed. My friend listened to God and blessed my husband and me. Accepting a blessing can bless the giver and the receiver. What a beautiful way to share God’s love and glory!

Today, I paused to think about different types of blessings. We bless people when we acknowledge them, look them in the eyes, and say hello. Listening and hearing what is being said can show God’s love to someone who needs to share about something happening in their life.

I also considered the Blessing Box that my husband and I fill at different times during the month. A team of volunteers from our church are assigned a week to fill the box with food and personal hygiene items. One of our team members recently shared that a man approached him while he was placing items into the box. The stranger thanked him for the food and toiletries.

I also remembered a time when my neighbor was exiting her vehicle this morning and sneezed loud enough to make us laugh. I said, “God bless you.” She responded with a smile and a “thank you”. She said that sneezing made her jump. A simple blessing over a sneeze allowed two neighbors to share a conversation.

I have learned the joy of accepting blessings, and it has encouraged my heart. Have you been blessed in a special way?

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for big and small blessings. Each one is provided by You. May we look for ways to bless others every day. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “So So Good” by Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Blessings Everywhere (Live from the Loft)” feat. Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Brighter Days” by Blessing Offor. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes humming with humor. 

With articles, devotions, and stories in print publications and online, Melissa shares her love for God and life. Some of the inspirations for her writing come from family life.

Melissa and her husband Alan have been married for over 46 years. Their son Mike, and daughter-in-love Christine have blessed the family with two precious children: Rowan and Eden. These precious souls bring laughter, love, and many funny experiences, which can often be found in Melissa’s writing. The family motto is: It’s Always a Story with the Hendersons.

Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), CWFL (Christian Writers for Life), and many other organizations.

Melissa’s books for children include Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator.

Melissa serves in Christian ministry as an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.

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Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissaghenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHendersonAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/mimionlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahendersonauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ahenderson312/

Devotionals for the Heart: Why we can always reach out to Jesus Christ

Hope in the Hem: Why Your Trembling Touch is Enough for Jesus Christ
A devotional by Patti Schultz, Ed.D.

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”—Mark 5:34 (NKJV)

There were days when simply remembering to breathe felt like victory.

Days when brushing my teeth required more strength than I thought I had. This was my reality through a decade of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and an adoption that fell through.

In those dark moments, I longed for stories of others who understood. What I discovered in that fragile space was something unexpected: God's presence woven into every uncertain step, every whispered prayer, every tear-stained morning. Like the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) who reached for the hem of Jesus Christ’s garment in desperate faith, I too began reaching out—not yet knowing how the story would end, but trusting that Jesus was near.

When we finally welcomed three miracle babies, I understood her story in a deeper way: healing isn't always immediate, but His presence is always available. I learned that sometimes the miracle isn't just in the outcome, but in the strength He provides for each impossible day.

Perhaps you're entering this new year carrying your own heavy burdens—waiting for answers that haven't come, holding onto prayers that feel unanswered. The story of the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment speaks directly to that ache. Her desperate faith offers us a lifeline when all seems lost.

In Mark 5:25-34, we see a woman who, in desperation, reached out and found healing when she touched the hem of Christ’s garment. Despite her long suffering, she believed Jesus possessed the power to cure her. Her act was a simple yet profound step of faith—a quiet gesture that changed her life.

This story highlights that faith, when paired with unwavering trust, can transform even the darkest circumstances. As we face new challenges this year, we too can reach out to Jesus, trusting in His power to heal. Her story encourages us to believe that no matter how long we’ve waited or how heavy our burdens, Jesus is always ready to meet us with compassion.

What I've learned through my journey is this: Jesus doesn't wait for us to have perfect faith or eloquent prayers. He responds to the desperate reach, the trembling touch, the quiet cry for help. Through prayer, tears, and whispered longings, I experienced His grace in ways I never expected. The transformation wasn't always dramatic—sometimes it looked like tiny fingers grasping mine, or the strength to face another day. But each moment became evident that His life-giving presence was real, intimately woven into the fabric of my everyday life.

So how do we reach out when our arms feel too heavy to lift? How do we touch the hem of His garment when despair threatens to paralyze us? Start small. Consider creating sacred spaces in your day—perhaps a morning prayer where you literally extend your hand upward, or an evening journal where you write down the “small victories” of grace you've witnessed. These simple practices became my lifeline during the darkest seasons, and they can become yours too.

Whatever burdens you carry into this new year, whatever losses still ache in your heart, know this: Hope is never truly out of reach. It waits for you in the hem of His garment, in the sacred moment when you reach out and whisper, “Jesus, I need You.” Then in His compassion, Jesus will meet you there, ready to make something beautiful from your brokenness.

Let’s Pray: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this new year—for fresh mercies and new beginnings. I come to You with a hopeful heart, trusting that You see every need and hear every cry. Help me to reach out in faith, just as the woman who was suffering for twelve years did, knowing that Your power is available to heal, restore, and renew. Calm my fears, strengthen my hope, and fill me with Your peace. May I always remember that no matter how long I’ve been waiting, You are the God of miracles. Meet us, Lord, in our unique needs—You who know each of us by name. Thank You for Your unwavering love. 

In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Healer” by Kari Jobe (covered by ASL & CC by Rock Church Deaf Ministry). Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Just One Touch” by Kim Walker Smith. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Meet Me There” by Lydia Laird. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Patti Schultz’s inspiring journey weaves a tapestry of compassion, resilience, and divine hope. 

Formerly a public school principal, professor, teacher, and interpreter for the deaf, she now dedicates her life to a heartfelt ministry rooted in her personal experiences.

As a mother to three miracle boys here on Earth and a member of a heavenly soccer team, Patti’s story is one of unwavering faith and profound love. Her decade-long battle with infertility and recurrent loss fuels her deep compassion for grieving mothers, guiding them toward healing through the comforting embrace of Jesus Christ’s garment. 

Patti’s gentle wisdom offers a safe haven for women navigating pain, reminding them they are never alone. Through her ministry, she seeks to envelop grieving mothers in divine comfort, encouraging hope, renewal, and the reassurance that God's love is always near, wrapping them in His compassionate hem as they walk the path to healing.

Living in northern Michigan, she cherishes precious moments with family and community, drawing strength from faith and connection.

~*~
Connect with Patti:
Website: pattischultz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.pattischultz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Patti.Schultz
Email: dr.patti.schultz@gmail.com

Interview with Jaime Jamgochian about her new book on surrender

Sacred Surrender (book) author interview with Jaime Jamgochian

Alexis: Congratulations on writing your first book! Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God, is about trusting God can make the hard times holy. How did God do this for you?

Jaime: When we suffer in some way (sickness, loss, relational stress) we can come to know a side of Jesus Christ few get to. He suffered for us and when we walk through a season like this it shows us that the hard times can be Holy. Years ago, I saw the nearness of God when He invited me into a Holy season of understanding through Lyme Disease. I learned this valuable lesson.

Alexis: Describe one of your darkest days. How did your relationship with Jesus Christ help you survive that dark time?

Jaime: One of my darkest days was when I was so light and noise sensitive all I felt I could do was sit in a dark room for some relief. It was in that moment when I felt alone, lost, and confused by the season that I was experiencing. I sensed the Lord invite me to recite scriptures from the Bible that I knew by heart. This brought so much comfort to me and drew me closer to Him.

Alexis: You said that you don’t believe in coincidences. Instead, you believe in divine appointments. What do you mean? Share an example of this from your life story.

Jaime: I believe God orchestrates everything. He is the Author of Life, and the Bible says He directs our steps. My very first record deal came through a divine appointment with a family that wanted to start a Christian music label (Centricity Music). I met them at the church where I was leading worship at and interning. When you were in the Bible school/internship program they place you with a host home. It was a total God set up and divine appointment to be placed there which lead into a serious kingdom relationship.

Alexis: You’ve learned that just because you surrender your life to God, it doesn’t mean you won’t still suffer and experience hard trials in life. How did God teach you that life lesson? Explain how it impacted your perspective.

Jaime: The Bible tells us we will all walk through trials in life, but Jesus promises to be right there with us. I have seen this in my life several different ways and times. One time I felt overlooked in ministry and did not understand why I was not invited into a certain area. Now I can look back and see that it was God’s divine protection and Him making me strong in other areas where there were giftings that needed to blossom in my life. It showed me that His ways are always higher than ours and all we need to do is trust Him with all our hearts.

Alexis: How did you come to realize that God’s dreams are bigger than our own dreams for our life? Share how you pray about your heart’s desires after that realization.

Jaime: I started praying a simple but life-changing prayer as a young believer: “Lord, I want to dream the dreams that YOU have for my life.” The Bible makes it clear that our hearts can be deceitful above all else, so I wanted to make sure I was not pushing for something that He did not have for me. I laid down all my music giftings and dreams for a season to see if it was really Him. He brought it all back in ways only He could. This is a form of surrender and trust that can yield much good fruit in your life.

Alexis: You believe that happiness is fleeting, but joy remains. What does that mean for you? Explain what that can mean for the people who read your book too.

Jaime: Happiness comes and goes. A good, fresh Italian pizza with real ingredients makes me happy. But it is fleeting—here today and gone tomorrow. We can search for happiness in so many places but will always keep chasing for more of it. However, joy is a fruit of The Holy Spirit. It is something that will remain in and through every season. It has nothing to do with your circumstances and everything to do with your walk with the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our greatest strength. So lean into that which is eternal instead of just trying to seek out happiness.

Alexis: In your book, you encourage your readers to not give up before their story gets good because God is still writing it. What does that look like in your own life?

Jaime: There have been many times that I wanted to throw the towel in and quit, especially professional speaking. I am so glad I stayed faithful to God and did not give up too soon because many doors would not have opened. Keep trusting and waiting on His perfect timing.

Alexis: You’ve advised against falling into the trap of comparison but instead, learning to know your identity as a follower of Jesus Christ. How does that help a person?

Jaime: It is so easy to compare. I have learned that trusting God requires us to stay in our own lane—the one that He has for each one of us. It will look different than anyone else’s. Comparison is rooted in jealousy and that is not something we want to walk in. Focusing on what God is doing in your life will help you guard against the temptation to compare your story with others.

Alexis: You’re a single woman in her 40s. What do you have to say to encourage women who feel like they’ve missed out on true love, marriage and creating a family because they are over forty? Explain how God’s timetable is always on time.
 
Jaime: I talk about this a lot in the book (so make sure to grab a copy!). I would say that we are all on the timetable God has for our lives. If He placed that desire in your heart then I do not believe our good Heavenly Father would just leave it there unfulfilled. Start living in the all the other places your life is thriving. Use the waiting season as preparation. Do all the things you might not have the time for when you are a mom or a wife. Live each season to the fullest and trust that God has not forgotten you.

Alexis: Thank you for the interview, Jaime! How can we support you?

Jaime: Thanks so much! Please just pray for God’s will to be done in my life.

~*~
Author Bio:

Jaime Jamgochian is a Dove-nominated singer, songwriter, worship leader, and popular speaker for women’s events. 

Waiting seems to be a perpetual theme for the 25-year music veteran. Yet, threads of persistence, determination, and perseverance are also woven throughout Jamgochian’s remarkable story as she’s navigated not just the highs and lows of a challenging, ever-changing music industry, but also the peaks and valleys of life over the past two-plus decades with Lyme disease. Her valuable experience and hard-won perspective all culminate in her latest project, Sacred Surrender, an album she never expected to make. And now, Jamie is writing about how to live in Sacred Surrender in those in-between times in life.

Jamgochian, a classically trained pianist and vocalist who studied at Berklee College of Music, first honed her craft playing jazz in bars and on cruise ships. The first in her family to become a Christian, Jamgochian was saved at 21. She eventually helped her family find the Lord and began using her musical gifts to serve the local church. Still in the infancy of her faith, the Boston native signed a recording contract with Centricity Music that launched her career in Christian music and secured her a No. 1 song with “Hear My Worship.”

Through it all, she’s never wavered in her faith. With a new album coming out and the writing of her first book by the same name, Sacred Surrender, she wants to see people encounter the love of God and experience hope.

~*~

Blurb for Sacred Surrender (book): 

Can your impatience become gratitude and your darkest fear lead to deeper faith? 

Jaime Jamgochian knows what it means to live in uncertainty. A Dove Award–nominated singer-songwriter, she has leaned on her faith to navigate daunting personal health struggles and an ever-changing music industry. Now she shares her story of learning to ground her life in gratitude, joyful worship, and a trust in God’s timing rather than her own.

In Jaime’s music and writing, she encourages women of faith to persevere and: 

• Find prayerful ways to make even the hard times holy
• Experience joy in worship and intentional gratitude
• Trust that God’s plan and timetable are in place

Are you experiencing uncertainty and disappointment as you wait for answers in your life? 

Jaime helps readers turn worry into worship and live a more light-filled season of waiting, knowing that God is working within us at all times.

~*~

Buy Jaime's book:

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

Target 

Walmart

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Connect with Jaime:
Website: https://www.jaimejam.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimejamgochian/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimejamgochian
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimejamgochianmusic
Apple Music: Jaime Jamgochian - Apple Music

Book Spotlight on "The Hem of His Garment" and a post by the author

Will Pain Make You Bitter or Better?

A guest post by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Pain. It’s inevitable. We live in a pain-averse society, and we prefer living a pain-free life. But the truth is, we all experience pain of some kind. Jesus warned us we would have trouble, pain, and suffering. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). 

Pain is certain in this life, but the challenge is how will we respond to it? Will we allow it to make us bitter or better?

We’re all familiar with physical pain—the sprained ankle, broken arm, sunburn, or toothache. But no discussion about pain would be complete if we didn’t also acknowledge other forms of pain: emotional pain, relationship pain, financial pain, spiritual pain, secondary pain caused by the words or actions of others that make us feel worse when enduring the other types of pain, as well as grief and loss.

My husband and I are no strangers to pain. Between the two of us, we’ve had cancer several times. We’ve gone through financial hardship. I endured clinical depression and anxiety earlier in our marriage. We’ve both been bruised by relationship pain, and wondering why relationships were severed with no opportunity to seek forgiveness or reconciliation for something we didn’t even do. And now, living a life of chronic physical pain, just like Jacob wrestled with God and Job asked God questions, I have also wrestled and asked God some hard questions in my suffering. Questions like: God, I’m serving you—why didn’t you prevent this from happening? Or God, do you care that I hurt? Or God, I know you can heal—why aren’t you? I’ve learned that God is big enough to handle my questions…and my pain…and teach me lessons through it.

I never have a pain-free day anymore, although pain is usually less in the morning and ramps up frequently to intolerable levels by evening. There have been many long nights and tear-stained pillows where I’ve cried out to God and asked Him to take my pain away. There have been times when I’ve wanted to ask God “Why?” and yet, in my spirit I sensed Him saying, “Why not you?” God didn’t inflict the pain, but he’s using it. He didn’t cause the trials, but he’s using them. So, the question is, do we want to be used by God, or do we want to be comfortable? I knew God could take it away if he wanted to, but I sensed Him saying, “I’m entrusting this to you. Steward it well.”

God isn’t just the God of heavenly thrones, churches, Bible studies, prayer meetings, and revivals. He’s also the God of chemotherapy chairs, overdrawn bank accounts, prodigal children, empty chairs at holiday dinners, bathroom floors, broken hearts, and tear-stained pillows. He’s a God who stoops and bends his ear to listen to our heartfelt cries. He’s the God who promises to go before, walk alongside, and come behind when no one else will.

My entire purpose for being on social media is to encourage others and point them to the hope we have in Jesus. But I’m also honest, authentic, and vulnerable about life’s challenges. Social media becomes so sanitized with perfectly posed pictures, that comparison and jealousy over others’ staged lives makes us feel worse about our own. So, I vulnerably share the real-life pain, and people resonate with real. My publisher came to me, having noticed that people respond to the authentic trials of life, and asked me if I would consider writing a book on pain.

In all honesty, my first thought was, “No!” Because I’m an experiential writer, and I have to go through what I write about. I had to walk through the valley of depression to write the books Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the Hope Prevails Bible Study. I had to walk through anxiety to write Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises. I had to learn to transform my mind and take every thought captive in order to write Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right. And I knew that writing a book on pain would entail me experiencing more pain. And unlike those earlier books where I wrote from the other side of depression and anxiety, because every day is filled with pain for me, I would have to write this book in the crucible of pain. But it only took God a few seconds working in my heart for me to decide I want to be obedient more than I want to be comfortable. So, I agreed to write The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms.

Readers are saying it’s my best book yet. But I would suggest to you that that is because I was completely and totally dependent on the Holy Spirit giving me insights to share. Throughout the book, the common thread is the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and to a lesser degree but still prominent is the story of Job. This was intentional because both of them experienced every single kind of pain I talk about in the book. They teach us how to hold onto our faith when we know God can heal but for whatever reason hasn’t yet. And they teach us about the gifts and benefits inherent in our suffering.

Perhaps in our longing for healing of our pain, God is beckoning us to exercise our faith, to come to him and touch the hem of his garment. Perhaps he has something more waiting for us than we could ever ask or imagine. But it’s our choice whether to let pain make us bitter or better; whether we will run away from God in our pain, or lean into Him for strength.

In her weakened, frail condition, the woman with the issue of blood pushed through the crowd determined to touch Jesus’s hem. She could get no lower, nor any further from making eye contact with the Great Physician. The defining moment in this woman’s life occurred when, lacking in her own strength, she reached out for Jesus’s hem in faith, and his strength went out from him, into her, healing her of the pain that plagued her for over a decade. Perhaps instead of viewing our dependence on God in a negative light, we can see it as the avenue he uses to draw us to himself.

If you are experiencing pain today, let me encourage you that God sees you. He cares about you. He weeps with you. And he not only doesn’t waste our pain, but he uses it. Will you trust Him with your pain and continue to reach out in faith to touch the hem of his garment?

~*~
Author Bio:

Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a hope concierge! 

Whether as a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, host of the award-winning podcast Your Hope Filled Perspective, or the author of several award-winning books including Hope Prevails and Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, her passion is to share hope and encouragement with others. Her newest release is The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms.

 She loves all things teal, spending time with friends and family, taking long walks, or sitting by quiet shores, and it’s a bonus when any of those are accompanied by sea salt caramel chocolate! You can find her and her hope-filled resources at https://drmichellebengtson.com/.

~*~
Blurb for The Hem of His Garment (book): 

Hope for When the Pain Won't Quit

Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, or unexpected and unwanted change. Often it is temporary. But what do you do when it isn't? When the pain just won't go away, when healing does not come, when the grief and hurt settle in?

Drawing on her own experience of chronic pain and her years as a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson provides a countercultural perspective on pain. 

Offering hope without any false promises or empty platitudes, Dr. Bengtson unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the lies you've believed about your pain, and reorients your perception based on the truth of God's Word. Each chapter ends with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer.

Your pain may not change, but your experience of it can.

~*~
Buy The Hem of His Garment (book) on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

~*~
Connect with Dr. Michelle:

Website: https://www.DrMichelleBengtson.com

Blog: https://drmichellebengtson.com/category/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMichelleBengtson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrMBengtson (@DrMBengtson)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrMichelleBengtson/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmichellebengtson/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Drbhopeprevails/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleBengtson

Podcast: https://apple.co/2madPRo or https://bit.ly/3ef2fvs

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w64SHF

~*~
If you are a resident in the USA then you may enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the link to Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c463/?

PureFlix Show Review: A Thousand Tomorrows

My Review of Episode 2 from Karen Kingsbury’s series,

A Thousand Tomorrows:

Today, I have another Pure Flix show review for you and a giveaway contest at the end of this post! In case you didn’t know, Pure Flix is like the faith-based version of Netflix. It works the same way, but the difference is in the fact that the content on Pure Flix points you to Jesus Christ and shows you how much The Creator of the Universe loves you!

Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.

Pure Flix VIP Ambassador program asked me to review Episode 2 of A Thousand Tomorrows. This show is based on a book from #1 New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury. They say, “Only God knows how many tomorrows we have left. In the dangerous and competitive rodeo world, how will Cody and Ali make the most of their time together?”

This was the focus for Episode 2: As Ali’s health declines, her determination to keep competing catches Cody’s eye. What will her stubbornness to pursue her dreams cost?

Now for my review: 

Episode 2 of A Thousand Tomorrows

“I don’t want to be normal. I want to be different. I chose this.” –Ali Daniels

I’d say this quote is the driving force for Ali’s story. She’s bold, brave, determined and dying. Ali is also the one woman who Cody wants that everyone is saying he cannot have. 

Cody is the hero of this story. From the start, you will see why he is angry at his dad to the point where he refuses to follow in his footsteps by playing high school football. Instead, he grows up to be a bull rider who uses his anger as the driving force that helps him win every time.

Carl Joseph is Cody’s younger brother who has a disability. He is the reason why Cody’s dad walked out on his family and Cody has never forgiven his dad for making that decision. Cody is close to his brother and very protective of him.

Ali, the heroine of this story, is privately battling an life-threatening illness. Her health starts to decline in this episode and her parents try to intervene. But she’s bent on riding horses in the rodeo and making it to the major competition in a few months. Ali caught the eye of Cody but she’s not like the girls he usually dates. Ali is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and wants to do relationships God’s way, so she invites him to Cowboy Church.

Meanwhile, Ali’s Mom wants more for Ali than just the rodeo circuit. She tries to convince her daughter to take a break to enjoy a normal life in all the good and healthy ways. One of Cody’s best friends (Trey) is pursuing Ali and this causes a rift in their friendship. Also in this episode, Cody’s father, Mike, keeps trying to get in touch with him but Cody resists.

This is a well-crafted storyline. After watching it, I wanted to continue on to the next episode to see what happens next! The actors do a great job of staying in character and making their roles believable. The rodeo circuit scenes are true to real-life. It made me wonder if the actors used stunt doubles for those scenes. I sympathized with Ali’s sickness. I disagreed with Cody’s anger but could understand why it so hard for him to forgive his dad. I was on Ali’s Mom’s side because I want Ali to be healthy and happy and not be so focused on her dream that it causes her death. I definitely will watch the rest of the episodes in this series on PureFlix soon!

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors. It’s an honor to watch this series on PureFlix about her book of the same title (A Thousand Tomorrows). I’d recommend this series to anyone who needs to be taught the blessing of faith, family and forgiveness.

Themes of this movie included:

· Sacrifice

· Supporting your spouse

· Making hard decisions

· Making each day count and living each day to the fullest

· Death, grief, loss

· Chronic illness and being a caregiver

· There is freedom in faith

A Thousand Tomorrows is a faith-based series based on the book of the same title by Karen Kingsbury that will introduce you to Pure Flix, prompt you to join and watch it. Once you’re a member of Pure Flix, you’ll find more content to view that will encourage your heart. So don’t delay, join today!

Watch the movie trailer for A Thousand Tomorrows:
https://www.pureflix.com/movie/a-thousand-tomorrows

Before you go, enter this contest for your chance to WIN a FREE 3-month Pure Flix subscription! Note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. The giveaway starts today and ends on Feb. 28. If you're participating in the giveaway for A Thousand Tomorrows, please note that we cannot accept winners that have won a Pure Flix subscription in the last six months.

Here is the Giveaway Contest link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f8dcb68c439/?

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. #AThousandTomorrowsMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

A devotional about hope in the midst of our troubled times

Hope for Our Troubled World
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” –Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 15, CNN reported around 1:07 a.m. (EST) that there are 142,000 Coronavirus cases globally. People are getting sick from the virus and dying. The numbers of cases and deaths seem to increase on a daily basis. Fear is sweeping over the people of this world.

On their company website, CNN reported the following in a box titled “What You Need to Know” about emergency measures globally: "The US has declared a national emergency. France is closing all restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and clubs. People in Spain are restricted from leaving their homes. And the Philippines capital is about to go under partial lockdown."

Clearly, our world is in trouble and people have real reasons to be fearful. But the Bible says that this is just the beginning! However, God doesn’t want us to be fearful. The Bible says in Matthew 24:6 (NKJV), “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

Now here’s the Good News: God has promised to be with us until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20) and He means that literally!

Let’s take a moment to see what that means … The Creator of the Universe who made this Earth and your heart tells us to NOT let our hearts be troubled! In John 14:1 (KJV), Jesus Christ (God’s Son) says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Let’s read the full context of that Scripture in John 14:1-6 (NIV). This is where Jesus comforts his disciples. He said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is The Way to our home in Heaven. He is our hope in troubled times. He is our Savior. Our Healer. Our Redeemer, and He wants to be your Best Friend. Let that sink in, the Savior of the world wants to be your very Best Friend! Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Jesus is the only friend capable of not only calming your fears, but saving your soul (John 3:16-17).

With Jesus in the picture, you always have hope! And the good news is that Jesus is always in the picture! Unfortunately, we as humans (even those of us who believe in God and are sold out for Jesus Christ) can sometimes forget these beautiful, Bible based truths and comforting promises of God as we become overwhelmed by the troubles of this world.

Early in the morning of Sunday, March 15, my soul was troubled. I was wide awake with worry after watching the news and emotional eating just after midnight. But, then God struck me with a Bible verse then He followed up with a song. Let’s read the verse first. The psalmist says in Psalm 42:5 (NIV), “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Put your hope in God. I could almost feel God whisper those words to me.

Then the song “Find Rest” by Francesca Battistelli entered my mind and I went to YouTube and played it immediately. As the song lyrics washed over me, it helped me to renew my mind (Romans 12:2) and focus on what really matters (my relationship with Jesus Christ because only He can save me)!

Let’s examine my paraphrase of the song: The opening lyrics point to Biblical truth in saying that God never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4). He’s never off the clock. Nothing that happens to us on Earth from the shedding of our tears to our expressions of what we fear, is a surprise to Him. God never runs out of resources to rush to our aid. All He wants us to do is to trust Him. He wants our weary souls to find rest in Him. He wants us to put our hope in Him. God is strong. God is faithful. God’s love for you and me is real.

As we say in church, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! Unlike mankind, God cannot lie. Everything that He says in His Word (The Holy Bible) is true! The Bible says in Numbers 23:19 (ESV), “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

Now the age old saying when we are living in troubled times and experience tragedy or trauma is, “How could a good God allow this?”

There are many answers that we may not receive until we arrive in Heaven, the Bible says in Deuteronomy 29:29, and even then we may not know everything. But we can be okay with not knowing everything because what we do know is that God is good, God loves us unconditionally and He has our best interest at heart. We can trust Him to take care of us. Even when you don’t feel like God is there for you, He is. Don’t be fooled into thinking that He’s abandoned you. The Bible says that He will NEVER abandon you (Hebrews 13:5).

If you are living and breathing on this planet Earth then that is proof therein itself that God loves you and is there for you! Pastor Bianca Olthoff says, “If you are NOT dead, then God is NOT done!” Every day is another chance to accept Jesus Christ into your heart, believe in Him, love Him, obey Him, trust Him and follow Him all the way to Heaven!

Yes, we are living in troubled times. No, we don’t know what tomorrow holds but as the saying goes, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.” God holds tomorrow! Can I get a “Hallelujah, Amen?”

You are in my heart and prayers. May God continue to watch over, bless and protect you. I pray that you will trust Him to deliver you and know that He will always be there for you. God will show up right on time in your situation. If you believe in the Bible and what it says then you have hope knowing that in the end, God wins! And if you stay on His team, you will win too and receive the most beautiful gift for free!

The free gift from God is better than a winner’s trophy or cash prize, it is eternal life spent in His Presence and that life starts in Heaven. It will be a life free from sickness and sorrow. A place that does not include death and is free of pain and destruction. It will be the start of a beautiful, real story that never ends. But first, we must press forward and never give up or grow weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9)! We must live for Him (God) and not worry about or become fearful of anything. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV), “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Hold on to hope, God’s hope. Put your trust in God.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring

Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Lessons learned while in the Emergency Room

God is with us
A devotional by Christa MacDonald

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 
– Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

There is little in this world that tests both faith and patience like the emergency room. I would know. I’ve spent an awful lot of time in them recently with loved ones in health crises.

We’ve arrived in a rush, panicked, and after vitals are taken and decisions made we wait. Nurses come and go with various treatments and tests and we wait. I’m not a particularly impatient person, but I’m used to being in charge, and when sickness comes, it’s the boss. A kind of tension develops between the fervency of my prayer and the stretches of time with no updates.

It’s in these moments that I think about Psalm 46:10a (ESV), “Be still and know that I am God.” The song floats through my mind as well. Being still is not something I excel at. I’m a doer. When trouble starts, I make a plan to end it.

But in life there’s so much I can’t plan my way around, so much that is outside my control. Sometimes I have to sit in it and deal with the trouble as it is. It’s easy to be angry at God in these moments, to doubt that He’s even paying attention to what I’m going through. That’s when I remember this verse from Joshua.

God is with me wherever I go, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Even in the emergency room when things seem pretty bleak, He’s there.

When my daughter was a toddler she’d often run ahead of me, giggling with happiness at her newfound freedom. She’d look around and think she was alone, but I was there. I was with her, watching, making sure she didn’t get lost. I think that’s how God is with us – we can’t see Him or feel Him, but He’s with us in our troubles.

God has not promised us an easy life, free of difficulty. Far from it.

The New Testament is full of warning that we’ll face persecution and trials. But we won’t be alone. We can draw strength from our saving faith in Jesus Christ to be “strong and courageous.” If we try to draw from ourselves, we’re lost. The reserve of strength inside us is limited. I’ve hit my limit more times than I can count. It’s a terrible feeling to know that you’re at the very end of whatever emotional and physical strength that you have. It’s a lonely feeling as well.

Instead of relying on ourselves, we need to remember that God is with us. He is our strength, and, in reality, He is where any strength that we might seem to have comes from. We don’t need to despair or fear.

God is walking with us, sitting in the emergency room with us, the boardroom, the courtroom, the classroom. God is with us so we can be strong with His strength and courageous to live the life that He has given us.

So don’t be frightened, don’t be dismayed. Wherever we go, God goes with us.

~*~
Author Bio:

Christa MacDonald is a 2017 ACFW Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction.

A native New Englander, she was inspired by her travels through the north woods of Maine to write The Broken Trail, which would become the first in the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.

Christa's writing focuses on the real-life challenges of the modern world, love’s sometimes crooked path, and the redemptive power of Grace.

When not working or writing Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty.

She and her husband live with their three kids, two cats, and one dog along the coast of New England. Connect with Christa at www.christamacdonald.com.

Thankful Thursdays: My thoughts on the power of prayer

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for the power of prayer!

Earlier today, I prayed for a woman in the parking lot of the grocery store. She asked me for money and shared her story of hardship. I told her that I didn't have money to give but I could pray for her. So then and there, I placed a hand on her shoulder, we both bowed our heads and I prayed. I asked God to send her people who could help her and to help her and her family through this tough time.

Hours later, I've already forgotten her name but I know that God knows her name and He heard my prayers for her and He'll answer those prayers according to His will because God loves ALL of His children so I am certain He will send help.

This Thursday, I'm doing something different with my routine "Thankful Thursdays" post. I'm going to share a video of a sermon by Dr. Tony Evans. The sermon is titled, "Prayer That Works." After you watch his message, I ask that you please pray for him and his wife Lois. She is battling a rare form of cancer. You can learn more about her situation by reading this article (click here).

I believe in the power of prayer and I believe that God always answers every prayer that we pray to Him. God's Word (The Holy Bible) advises us in Hebrews 4:16 (KJV), "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Read more Bible verses about the power of prayer by clicking here.

As promised, you can watch the sermon by Dr. Tony Evans by pressing the play button on the video below. 

Be encouraged, friends! God loves you!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of "God is Love" blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Joy

Joy Inexpressible
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) and 1 Peter 1:8 (NASB)

Joy and happiness seem like they are synonymous, and in many ways they are, but there’s a reason God put joy in the Fruits of the Spirit rather than happiness. In the New Testament, joy is translated as “cheerfulness, calm delight.” In today’s culture, that is very different than “happy.”

How do we have joy? As we looked at last month, the Fruits of the Spirit aren’t just randomly ordered. God’s love must be the first thing we accept, allow it to change us and grow us to be more like Him. Joy is the next one on the list because it is an outflow of His love for us. Our acceptance of that love brings a cheerfulness and calm delight that we cannot manufacture on our own…at least, not for long.

As I write this, I’m sitting at my mother’s bedside hoping for her next breath, but longing for her suffering to be over and for her to enter Jesus’s rest. I’m not happy. I AM joyful. Why? Because happy tends to have to do with circumstances. Not always, but a lot of the time our emotions fluctuate due to circumstances around us. Joy is a constant if we will allow it. I’m not happy, but I am filled with the joy, the calm delight that my mom will soon know no pain. Joy only comes from the One constant we have…Christ.

We are at a wonderful hospice house. There are several families with whom God has given us a chance to interact. One such family watched their loved one go tonight. They were another believing family and know that their loved one is now resting in Jesus. Through the last few days, we’ve all shared food and some laughter during a difficult time. We have all had the calm delight and assurance of Christ’s love for us, as well as our family members who are going on before us.

God wants our hearts to be focused on the joy HE brings rather than things around us that are so temporary. The enemy wants to steal that joy with all the things or situations in front of us. Our hearts, set on the Father, will remain in perfect peace. That calm delight of God’s peace, especially during tough times, will be a beacon to those who are hurting in this dark world. They will want to know that joy for themselves. They’ll begin to seek out someone who allows the joy of the Lord to be their strength. Seeing how the joy doesn’t diminish with a hard trial will be so different than what they see from others that they can’t help but notice.

My Prayer: Daddy, we see too many things with our human eyes and miss so much You want to show us about Your joy. The joy of the Lord IS our strength, yet we ignore it for the earthly comforts of happiness. Show us Your better way. Give us Your eyes to see the joy You provide and how it will overwhelm even the darkest times in our lives, if we allow You to shine through. Make us instruments of Your joy to show the light to those who desperately need it. In Jesus Christ’s Name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

~*~
Connect with Allison:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonmwilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amwilson

Devotionals for the Heart: Lessons learned on love for God and animals

On ruling well and loving Fido: Honoring God through National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

If I’m sick, the rest of my family will steer clear and let me sleep, but not my cat. She’ll sit on my pillow and gently knead my head, purring loudly as though she alone can drive the illness away. Instead of me caring for her, dumping food in her dish and scratching her kitty-chin while she gives me sweet-eyes, the tables turn and she’s Mama Cat, tending to her neediest kitten.

My mom’s cat was her superhero when she battled aggressive cancer decades ago and chemotherapy knocked her flat in bed. Today a survivor, she still talks about how Rusty was right there every day, never leaving her side.

It’s not just cats. Dogs and even hamsters and bunnies have this uncanny sixth sense like they know on a wholly different level than we humans do when their loved one is ill and exactly what they need to get well. My cat even looks at me differently when I’m sick like she sees right through me and straight to the illness beneath my skin like she’s some fierce guardian angel there to battle on my behalf with The Evil Flu or The Dreaded Sinus Infection.

It’s both stinking cute and incredibly comforting.

The love we have for animals—and our animal friends have for us—is a beautiful thing and, I’d argue, a biblical call. As Christians, we know Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and we are commanded to love God above all and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-49).

But who’s to say God doesn’t want us to love our animal neighbors just as we do fellow humans? While humans are made in God’s image for His glory, the rest of creation is also made for God’s glory and pleasure, including animals of the forest, fish of the sea, and our beloved pets. In the Book of Genesis, God created animals, fish, and birds. He saw it was good, then created man and woman to care for them.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’” (Genesis 1:26, NIV).

But “rule” doesn’t mean control with brutality. Rulers don’t get to say “my way or the highway.” Good rulers, godly rulers, are to lead with love and kindness with an end-goal of modeling our ultimate ruler, God. Just because animals are not created in God’s image doesn’t mean they are not important to God, and I believe we are obligated to nurture, respect, honor, and care for them with the same sort of loving care our Father God gives to us.

This week (the first full week in November) is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. It kicked off yesterday, Nov. 4. Animal shelters are places where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals are kept and, often, rehabilitated. Some also help sick or wounded pets and wildlife. While not all shelters are equal, I’ve never seen a shelter or encountered a shelter worker that doesn’t love and care passionately for animals.

In honor of our furry (or scaled, or winged) “neighbors,” I urge you to take a moment today to think about how you can love them in a way that honors God’s love for us, as well as think about how you might be able to love and honor animal shelters, who are tasked to care for these creatures. If you are able, consider adopting an animal from your local animal shelter, or donate or volunteer your time.

After all, God is love. Let’s follow suit.

~*~
Author bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism.

Learn more about her fiction and read her blog at http://jessicabrodie.com/shiningthelight.

Devotionals for the Heart: Dios (God), graffiti and Puerto Rico

God in the graffiti: A Puerto Rico love story
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Take a walk down Calle Palmas to the ocean in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, just past Avenida Victor Rojas, and you’ll find a wide, well-tended sidewalk that borders the city and the sea. It’s a popular spot, with joggers squeezing in a workout and couples strolling hand-in-hand, each pausing here and there to look north at the powerful, crashing waves and the jagged ancient volcanic rocks that comprise the coastline. Beyond the sidewalk, it’s a vista of untamed, natural, God-created beauty, wild and tempestuous at once.

It is there that I walk one rainy afternoon during my recent mission trip in the nearby mountains, struck by the glory of our Creator and the way humanity has made its mark alongside.

And as I walk, I see one word written over and over on the concrete planters that intersperse narrow benches along the sidewalk.

Dios.

God.

In electric blue and crimson spray paint, someone has written His name amid all this splendor, proclaiming God for all the world to see.

Arecibo, and all of Puerto Rico, was hit by a double-whammy of hurricanes last fall—first Hurricane Irma Sept. 6-7, then Hurricane Maria Sept. 20—that devastated the island.

As I write this, half a year after the storms, a full sixth of Puerto Rico’s population still remains without electricity. Many left homes to move to the United States mainland because they simply couldn’t survive on the island any longer. Others whose treatment depends on electricity, such as dialysis or insulin or oxygen, have died.

Was the “Dios” writer crying out to God for help and mercy after the storm?

Was he or she joyfully proclaiming the name of the One, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of the Universe—a shout of adoration for all to see?

Was the writer simply acknowledging God’s singular importance, honoring our greatest commandment to love and lift up the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul?

Dios. God. Whatever language you choose to use, whether it comes from your lips or sings in your heart, His name can move mountains and bring comfort. It can stop the devil in his tracks and keep temptation at bay. It can beg and praise and question and surrender all at once, say a million things in a single utterance, even when our intent might be limited to one. (He’s too big for just one, no?)

Psalm 96:2-4 (NIV) urges, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.”

The prophet Jeremiah declares, “No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power” (Jeremiah 10:6, NIV).

Sometimes spreading the Gospel is sharing our testimony. Sometimes it’s bringing someone to church. Sometimes it’s loving people in His honor.

And sometimes, it’s spray-painting His name on concrete planters on the northern coast of Puerto Rico to remind passersby that no matter what else the day, the week or this temporary human life can bring, at the end it’s all about God.

What better way to love Him than to acknowledge that?

~*~
Author Bio: 

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, editor, blogger, and writing coach. 

She is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate (AdvocateSC.org), the oldest newspaper in Methodism. 

Learn more about her fiction and read her blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.