Devotionals for the Heart: Changes

He’s the same yesterday, today and forever!
A devotional by Susan Lindstrom

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” 

–Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

Changes…

They’re inevitable.

Seasons, births, deaths, employment, plans…

Changes have occurred all over my state of Wisconsin this summer from severe thunderstorms and more than we needed rain. Rivers swelled and spilled over, flooding homes, closing roads, bridges and hillsides washed away. The end of August brought over 16 tornadoes that ravaged the land altering the landscape of our beautiful state!

My yard is waterlogged and our pipes are full again, but we fared better than many as we only had one big old tree split in half and fall out in the middle of the yard. So thankful it wasn’t near our house! It changed the layout of our lawn but it’s okay, it will be a great spot for the burning pit we’ve wanted for years.

Friends of ours didn’t fare so well, they were traveling hundreds of miles from home and parked in a friend’s driveway then a tree fell smashing their car. That changed their plans for sure.

The coming of Labor Day signals change; the coming of glorious fall, time to start Christmas shopping (I like to get it done early), back to school, off to college or like our family, to school for the first time and yes there were tears in both moms and kiddos.

The biggest change in our lives though is the recent loss of my mother-in-law, a loving member of our family. It’s just been a month so it’s still heartache fresh. Especially for my husband as he experienced his first birthday ever without his sweet mama singing happy birthday to him.

It’s one of the more difficult changes.

I think we often fear change because we don’t feel in control. But what if we trusted in Our Loving Heavenly Father and allowed the change to grow us, trusting that He’s in control of the change?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

We can take great comfort in knowing that God is the one constant, the only thing in our lives that never, ever changes as Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

I say Amen to that!

I saw this on Facebook last year, it was posted from an old newspaper clipping so I don’t know who to give credit, but I like how it talks of change…

GOD SAID NO!

I asked God to take away my bad habit,
He said no.
It’s not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
He said no.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
He said no.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations, it isn’t granted, it’s learned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
He said no.
I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain,
He said no.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
He said no.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I may enjoy life,
He said no.
I give you life that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me,
God said Ahhhh, finally you get the idea.

“Three things will last forever — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.”

—1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

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Author Bio:

Susan Lindstrom is NOT an award-winning writer yet unless you count that ‘best story’ award in third grade but stay tuned to see what God has planned!

Writing has always been a passion but raising a family, running her sewing and design business, involvement in Women’s Ministry and teaching Sunday School kept her plenty busy.

Now a retired empty-nester, she trusts in God’s amazing timing and has jumped in to embrace this new adventure of writing.

Her first book, Emmie Jane and the Yellow Fuzz, is for children and is now available for purchase on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. It's the first in a series of real-life adventures focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit.

Susan grew up on both the East and West coasts and now calls the beautiful state of Wisconsin home. She is a wife, mom, and grandma to 10 children.

She enjoys a wide variety of music, loves live performance and believes that laughter is the best medicine.

When she is not indoors writing, reading or pretending to clean the house, she’s outdoors enjoying the beauty of God’s Creation.

Susan is a proud member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

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Connect with Susan:
Website - www.susanlindstrombooks.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/susanlindstrombooks/

Devotional by Mary Manners: Under Construction

My dear friend Mary Manners returns to the blog today to share her heart with you! She's written a wonderful devotional called "Under Construction." It inspired me and I hope it serves as a source of inspiration for you too! :)

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Under Construction
A devotional written by Mary Manners

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” ~ Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

My husband and I recently decided to turn our back yard to an oasis with the addition of an in-ground pool. As the backhoes moved in to break ground, scooping the earth into mounds of sun baked dirt that rival Mount Everest, I realized that the pool-building process has a lot in common with the road I’m walking…life.

My life’s journey has been an adventure. As I approach the close of my fifty-first year, I realize how precious each moment has become. My daughter entered college three years ago and we’re in a period of countless transitions. The child I once drove to basketball practice and choir rehearsal now chauffeurs me. I have learned, depending on the day (sometimes even the hour), that I know nothing…and everything.

My husband has retired (well…partially) and that has tremendously altered our daily routine. He’s become the chief cook and bottle washer while I trek off to my day job as an assistant principal at our local intermediate school. I hope to join him in partial retirement (I will always be a full-time writer at heart) within the next few years.

Recently, a college friend of mine sent a photo that was snapped our sophomore year (1982). Looking at the photo, I thought my daughter was staring back at me. Was I ever that young, thin and…unwrinkled? My daughter took one glance at the picture and gasped, “Mama, is that really you?” as if I could have never—possibly—been that smiling young woman in the snapshot. And, after a good laugh, I thought about the passage of time and how happy and truly blessed I am to continue down the path that remains…under construction.

So, when your life journey takes you through a period of transition that seems scary and unsure, remember that God is ever-faithful and never-changing. He is right there at your side, today and always.