Devotionals for the Heart: What to do when you're afraid of the dark

Monsters in the Dark
A devotional by Colleen Howard

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”—Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

When you were a child, were you ever afraid of monsters?

Do you remember being alone in your bedroom? The room is dark, and you’re starting to drift off when suddenly your eyes open wide, and you see a shadow on the wall.

You hold your breath, and just as you start to exhale, you hear a noise. By now, you’re building a blanket fortress for protection, and then, “Bam!” Fear grips your five-year-old heart. You let out a scream, and in an instant, light floods the room. It’s Mom and Dad to the rescue. They assure you the monsters are gone. While safe beneath the covers, you finally drift off to sleep.

Let’s face it: Many of us still have our monsters, but like us, they’ve grown up too. They’re not as easy to recognize as a shadow on the wall of a dimly lit room. But don’t fool yourself, these determined monsters are alive and invading in the corners of your mind. The CEO of Monsters Incorporated is none other than the enemy (Satan) himself, and these ugly, evil creatures are his favorite weapons.

Our grown-up monsters have a new look and new names: discouragement, grief, temptation, sorrow, anxiety, disappointment, addiction, and worthlessness. Like an invasive species, they worm their way through the cracks of your armor and attack your soul. Before you know it, you’re trapped. If stuck too long, you risk slipping into the abyss where you’ll find yourself surrounded by darkness, on a treadmill of futility, constantly moving but going nowhere.

It’s a scary, uncomfortable, lonely place to reside. I’ve been a visitor there and most likely you have too. But the good news is, we don’t have to change our address to Monster Avenue. We have a choice, and we have our Savior (Jesus Christ) who can’t wait to rescue us. I know what you’re thinking. These are easy things to say when your season of monster-sized trials has passed. But difficult challenges are part of life on this planet, and no one is immune.

Our brains are hardwired to look for patterns and will always take the path of least resistance. Your fears, feelings of disappointment, or worthlessness take up residence and become impossible to evict. However, you have the option to take a different path. Like the fight-or-flight response when faced with a threat, you can choose to make a run for it, battle by yourself, or cry out to God for protection. The journey will not be easy, but He will see you through it.

From deep within your soul, call out to Jesus. Give Him your fears and ask Him to destroy this vicious villain. No matter how scary the monsters are, God is a faithful parent. His lantern of truth obliterates the darkness. He will never let anyone snatch you from His grip. Reach out and take hold of the righteous right hand of God the Father. He will see you through the night.

Let’s Pray: Dear Jesus, we come before you with grateful hearts. You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. Your righteous, right hand upholds us when we are weary. You are the anchor of our souls and we place our hope in you. Help us to focus on You as we face our monsters today. Thanks be to God! In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Fear is a Liar” by Zach Williams. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a Jesus follower, wife, mom, mimi, educator and author. 

She lives with her husband in the beautiful Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are hot, and the winters are a little slice of heaven. Her two adult children and their families live nearby. She considers it a joy to spend time with her family members!

She is a lifelong educator and co-founder of an educational professional development business. After spending her professional life in education, Colleen retired as the STEM Specialist for a large public school district. As she approached the end of that season, God placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith-walk with Jesus Christ.

When asked what makes her faith walk real, Colleen replied, “It isn’t just one thing, but a million little things. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, it’s never just another day.” She says when you give your heart to Jesus, each new day is another opportunity to walk hand-in-hand with Him and begin to know the heart of God. As you become more aware of His presence, stop, take a breath, and watch what God will do.

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

She has been published online via these websites: Inkspirations, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide.

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Connect with Colleen:
Website: http://colleenchoward.com

Devotionals for the Heart: When God protects you from harm and danger

The Shield of Freedom
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him.”—Proverbs 2:7-8 (NLT)

I was a young sailor stationed aboard the USS Midway (CV-41), an aircraft carrier. The ship was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. The day when I came aboard, we left Yokosuka on an 8-month cruise that would take us to some exotic ports and to the cutting edge of an international crisis.

Our first liberty port was at Subic Bay in the Philippines. This was my first experience on a Western Pacific (WESTPAC) cruise. I had only been on the ship for eight days when we pulled in. There were about 3,500 people on the ship. I did not know many of them.

Our division was having a party at Shakey’s Pizza restaurant that was located about two miles from the pier where we were docked. When it was time to go, one of my shipmates and I decided to walk through the small city of Olongapo.

We exited the gate of the base and crossed the bridge over the Olongapo River. I was living my dream. I was walking down the street of a tropical city far away from home. There were vendors with heavily loaded wagons or stalls every few feet. Each vendor was clamoring for attention and dollars. There were lots of beautiful women around as well.

As we walked along, two American men stepped in front of me and my shipmate. One of them, the tallest one, looked angry and agitated. In his right hand he held an opened, straight razor. He yelled my name and with vile profanity said, “I will cut your throat right here!” He swung the razor at me. I blocked him and held his arm. My shipmate engaged but did not strike the other man. I held my assailant’s hand in the air above me. He did not move, and I did not strike him. We stood there staring at each other for what felt like a long time.

I knew that I was looking into the eyes of evil. Strangely, I had no fear. After what seemed like a long time, the man blinked and relaxed. I took the razor from him with my left hand and threw it to the ground. I said to him, “I don’t know you. Why would you do that?” He replied, “I don’t know.” I asked, “Are we all right?” He apologized and we moved on.

A few blocks from that spot, my shipmate stopped me and said, “What was that about back there?” I said, “I have no idea. But what you saw was God’s protection.” We went on to the pizza party. Afterward, we took a taxi back to the base. I tell this story so that you can have confidence that God does protect us from evils seen and unseen. The times when evil does overwhelm us or others, even if the onslaught is fatal, it is not final.

We are assured in Proverbs 2:7-8 that God is a shield for the saved, right doers. Romans 8:39 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, go and live your life boldly today. God’s got you covered. He has already and does continually smile on you!

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank you for giving us your grace, divine top cover, strength, discernment and salvation. As we go into the day and days to come, may we be blessed with confidence and security. Guide our steps and guard us and our families. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “God Has Smiled On Me” by Elaine Norwood. Listen here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Anderson is the Director Emeritus of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for the North American Division. In this role, he was the friend, advocate and gatekeeper for the profession of chaplaincy among Adventist pastors. 

His new mission is to specialize in personal and personnel development coaching.
He journeys with and guides clients, personal and corporate, as they define their goals and grow into their full potential.

His pastoral career began in the Allegheny East Conference where he was ordained.

Subsequently, he served in the Potomac Conference at the Sligo and Seabrook churches. His professional dream was to be a chaplain in the United States Navy. He got to live that dream and achieved the rank of Commander before retiring from Naval service in 2015 with 26 years of service.

Chaplain Anderson has earned four graduate degrees: He earned his Master of Divinity Degree was earned at the seminary at Andrews University. He earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Sacred Theology from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.

Chaplain Anderson and his wife Debra have been married for 41 years. They have two healthy, saved and well-adjusted adult children who picked good spouses and delivered four grandchildren.

Adventures through traveling, reading, praying, preaching, teaching and writing are the avenues of ministry and self-care that define his now and his destiny.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address: psanderson75@gmail.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Our Guide

When God is Your Guide
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.”

–Exodus 13:21 (NASB)

I’m old enough to remember road trips taken with the help of a giant Rand McNally map, conveniently located in the large pocket on the back of the passenger’s seat. Every once in a while, Dad would have one of us kids grab the map, maneuver it over the seatback to Mom without hitting anyone in the head and have her figure out where we needed to turn or stop or simply ensure we were still on the right path.

I was not born with a great sense of direction and I’m not a particularly good navigator, even when I’m using a map. The emergence of navigation software has been a lifeline to me. I easily admit that I use it sometimes when I drive, even in a town I’ve lived in for more than thirty years. I need to know how to get where I want to go and I like that I don’t have to do all the work to think about the best way to get there.

One of the Bible’s most important stories is the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Sometimes we have a laugh at the expense of those Israelites in the desert, don’t we? I’ve seen cartoons with punchlines about how it was Moses’s wife who must have wanted to ask for directions and he refused, or the Israelites using an app that kept telling them to “re-route.” Those are funny, but the truth is there are a lot of lessons for all of us to learn in the wandering.

One thing we need to remember is to keep our eyes on Jesus. The Israelites were given a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them in their travels. We may not have such physically visible guides in our lives today, but we have the Holy Spirit inside us to keep us on track. If we are conscious of listening to His promptings, take time for Bible study and worship, and intentionally pray for guidance, we will know which way to go.

Secondly, we always need to be on the lookout for milestones and divine interruptions. God knew exactly what He was doing when He led His people to Rephidim and there was no water (Exodus 17:1-7). By sending them to this place, when He might have led them somewhere else, He showed them His provision through the water He caused to pour from the rock. In that same chapter, the Israelites went to battle against the Amalekites. Through Moses and Joshua’s resolve and reliance on God, the Israelites won the battle and God proved in a visible way how He would fight for them and take care of them as they moved into the Promised Land.

In the New Testament, we see the same sort of interruptions. In John 4, Jesus and His disciples, who could have traveled from Judea to Galilee another way, decided to go through Samaria. That was no accident. How else would we have known about that beautiful moment when Jesus talks to a Samaritan woman and reveals Himself as the Messiah? What would that woman or the disciples have missed if Jesus had taken them on a more straightforward route instead?

We need to remember that instead of a map, we have a Guide (God) who doesn’t need a map to direct us to our ultimate destination (Heaven). We have a loving God who knows exactly where we need to go and when. He will set up roadblocks when we need them, and make straight paths when we need those, too. Maybe, when we think we’re wandering, Jesus is simply maneuvering us right where we need to be.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, my Guide, please help me to keep my eyes focused on You. Help me not be afraid or anxious when I don’t know where You’re taking me. Keep me close to You so that I won’t wander off the path you have set before me. You are good and have good things in store for me. I praise You for all You are. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Note from Alexis: Glynis Becker’s devotional message today reminds me of “Thy Word” (song) by Amy Grant. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting.

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Connect with Glynis:
Website: www.glynisbecker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Little Lamb Book Spotlight on "Good Night, Fireflies"

Interview with Janet L. Christensen about her book 

“Good Night, Fireflies”:

Congratulations on writing this book “Good Night, Fireflies” for publication! 

Let’s talk about it …

Alexis: Why did you write this book with a focus on fireflies?

Janet: When my youngest son was little, he used to be afraid of the dark. I remember one trip away from home that we forgot to pack his nightlight. We were all ready for bed, and I had to get dressed again and go out and purchase a nightlight before we could go to sleep. So, writing a book that spoke to kiddos about their fears had always been important to me. The fireflies? That was all God.

Alexis: How did you receive the inspiration for this story?

Janet: I run pretty fast and furious most days. Between working full-time, raising a family, helping out with different ministry projects, and writing, my mind is constantly working through one project or another. I bet you, and a lot of your readers, can relate. Getting my mind to quiet so that I can just listen to God is sometimes a challenge. Well, God found a way around that. He always does. How did He catch my mind completely quiet and ready to listen? He woke me up at 3 o’clock one morning. I found myself wide awake with the most beautiful story about fireflies dancing in my head. Then, of course, I was too excited to go back to sleep.

Alexis: The hero of your story is a boy named Landon. Tell me about him. What does he look and sound like? What are his hobbies? What does Landon want to be when he grows up?

Janet: Landon is sweet little boy, with a big heart and a glint of adventure in his eyes. He is fearless in all things by day, but when the lights go out, his fears of monsters chase him. He likes dinosaurs and superheroes and playing with his cat. And he loves spending time with his daddy. What does he want to be when he grows up? That is a good question. We haven’t really talked about that one. But I think Landon would be a great entomologist. He came up with some great observations on those fireflies.

Alexis: Why does Landon want to do anything but sleep?

Janet: Landon is afraid of the shadow monsters that hide in his room after the lights go out. He will do anything to delay going to bed, even brush his teeth twice! Landon knows that as soon as his daddy turns off the lights and walks out of the room, the monsters will once again sneak out of their daytime hiding places to scare him.

Alexis: How does Landon’s daddy use faith in God to ease his fears about bedtime?

Janet: When Landon can’t quite picture how God can be with him since he can’t see Him, Landon’s daddy takes him outside into the summer night to catch fireflies. When they finally catch one, Landon’s daddy asks him if the firefly disappears when its light goes out. When Landon discovers that the firefly is still there, even when its light goes out, his daddy tells him that God is just like that firefly. Even though we can’t see Him, He is always with us and is there to help us when we are afraid.

Alexis: What role does your real-life faith in God play in your storytelling?

Janet: I think it plays a huge role. I really believe that He wants to use my storytelling talent to encourage others in their own personal faith journey. I enjoy writing for all ages, but the fun part of writing for kids, is the challenge of taking the abstract concepts of faith, love, and hope, and making them visual and relatable for young ones. I am blessed and humbled that He has allowed me to pen the beautiful stories He has given me for this purpose.

Alexis: What do you want readers to receive from reading this book?

Janet: I want readers to know that God is with them through all of the challenges they are facing. We are living in a turbulent time right now. It bothers me, even with my strong faith, to watch what is happening in the world. But God is still on His throne and no matter what happens down here, He will never leave us. He loves each and every one of us too much for that.

Alexis: If you could step into this story as Landon’s mommy, what would you do to comfort him?

Janet: I am not sure I would have done anything differently from Daddy. He hit it out of the proverbial park on this one. I would have hugged Landon, of course, and reiterated Daddy’s message. Then I would have probably baked him some cookies the next day, and we could have talked about it over cookies and milk. I would love to hear Landon retell what happened the night before in his own words.

Alexis: Do you (the author) like fireflies? Why or why not?

Janet: I absolutely love fireflies! Where I grew up, we didn’t have fireflies. But when I was a young girl, we would visit my dad’s cousin every summer on the way back east to see my grandparents. I remember giggling as my sisters, cousins and I tried to catch these elusive glowing bugs. It is a memory that brings a smile to my face every single time.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Janet! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Janet: I wrote Good Night, Fireflies six years ago, but God’s perfect timing released it right before all the chaos of this year. He knew this was the perfect time to share this story of overcoming fear with the world. While I was fretting and stewing over failed publishers and other publication challenges and setbacks, He had it all worked out. All that to say, even though the times we are living in feel so out of control, God is here with us every step of the way. And He will work it out for His glory in His perfect time.

Alexis: Thanks so much for inviting me to visit with you for a bit.

Janet: It has been a pleasure! May God bless you and your readers, today and always.

~*~
Author Bio:

Janet L. Christensen is an award-winning writer, speaker and encourager who loves to captivate audiences with inspiring stories. 

Whether it is with the stories she writes or with the stories she tells with the help of one of her puppet friends, Janet is sure to deliver an entertaining message of hope and love.

Janet was born and raised in rural South Dakota and after spending some time living and adventuring in Idaho and Wyoming, she and her family have returned to the place of their roots. 

When she is not writing, she enjoys living the life of a pastor’s wife and leading children’s or women’s ministry projects. 

She is the proud mother of two teenage sons and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Sully.

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About the Book:

What do God and fireflies have in common?

Landon will do just about anything to avoid bedtime. He can't sleep when the shadows turn ordinary things in his room into spookies and creepies! His fears are put to rest one memorable evening when his daddy teaches him an important lesson about God's everlasting, ever-present love: just like the fireflies, God doesn't disappear when the lights go out.

Through the power of prayer, Landon learns that he can call on God whenever he's scared and find comfort in the love of his Father. Children will find lasting comfort in relating this familiar image to our ever-present and loving Father.

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Connect with Janet:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetlchristensen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janet_l_christensen_author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/j_l_christensen

Devotionals for the Heart: Plants and the Master of Deception

The Hose, The Frog, And The Fern
A devotional by Heather Martin

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

–Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

I love plants!

My husband and I have planted some new things around our yard this summer like some beautiful hydrangeas, waxed leaf ligustrum trees, strawberries, herbs and tomatoes. 

Recently, we decided to hang gigantic Boston ferns from our covered porches.

The most needy of our new plants have proven to be the ferns! They require lots of water, almost every day or else you can quickly notice the leaves will begin to brown and shed. Every day, we do the work to climb in between the bushes that line the side of our house to turn on the hose and bring it up to the porch to water the ferns.

I am always on guard when I step between the bushes, being careful not to unexpectedly tread upon a snake or another creature! As I squeezed through the bushes this time was no different. I reached my hand in to turn on the water, and as I did, I came face to face with a frightened small green frog that was happily hiding behind the gutter that hangs right in front of the water spout.

Frightened, I jumped back as quickly as I could, leaving the hosepipe to do a spraying-water–everywhere-dance! I kept reasoning with myself that I was brave enough to go back in there and turn it off. As I peeked back in behind that gutter where the little frog was, he looked as scared as me and as if he were thinking, “Please don’t see me, please don’t see me.” Anyway, I petitioned my husband to come to the rescue and turn off the hose for me.

Sometimes, things aren’t really what they seem at first glance. Especially in nature! Every day, we probably come into contact with animals and insects that are made to camouflage and so we never see just how close we are to them. Thank goodness it was only a frog, but this little frog got me to thinking about how sneaky Satan is.

Satan is always trying to disguise himself, to camouflage himself into our lives in hopes that we don’t recognize him. He would love for us to believe that he doesn’t even exist!

Just like that little green frog, Satan blends into our lives through our every day activities such as social media, music, TV shows, recreation, food, etc. and he says, “Please don’t see me, please don’t see me.” He is the master of deception and seeks to take over our lives in even subtle ways. It is his aim to permeate every area single area of our lives, through every single sense. And everyone is free game for him.

But there is hope for us because with God’s help, we cannot be deceived!

Here is a short list of ways in which you can identify where Satan might be camouflaging himself in your life:

#1: Shine a light.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” –Psalm 119:105 (NIV). Spend some time reading God's Word (The Holy Bible) every day.

#2: Guard yourself.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” –1 Peter 5:8 (NIV). Pay attention and be aware of people, situations or things that make you feel far from God.

#3: Pray.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” –Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV). Just like I had to call for my husband to rescue me, we can call on God anytime because He is waiting to help us.

So as you go through your day, know that Satan is looking to blend into your surroundings to cause fear, self-doubt, and to cause you to fall. But be encouraged and ask for God’s protection, it will surround you on every side.

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! 

She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelors Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University.

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy-nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have four children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5. In 2016 Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

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Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Devotionals for the Heart: Learning how to live by faith in God

Living by Faith 
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

~Heb. 11:1 (KJV)

I think we all struggle in areas of faith. How do we get it? How much do we need? Will I stand in faith during the hard times? God’s Word says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." ~Romans 10:17 (KJV)

How much faith do we need to move the mountains in our way? Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief: verily, I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” ~Matthew 17:20 (KJV)

So now we know that we all have a measure of faith. From my own perspective, I have learned in order for me to have faith in the hard times I have to stay "built up" before they come. I strive to stay in God’s Word and prayed up so when the crisis arrives I won’t be caught unprepared. We should always be ready for the unexpected. God is faithful, and we can trust Him no matter what comes our way.

Another criterion for water-walking faith is not to live in sin. The Bible says, "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." ~1 John 1:7 (KJV)

As long as you walk in what light you have, there is cleansing from all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. However, if you persist in living in wrongdoing, you are going to get into trouble sooner or later. However, God extends His grace to us so that when we confess our sins, He is just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). The sin issue is a biggie. We all sin. I often feel like Paul by doing the things I shouldn’t and not doing the things I should. The older I get the more aware I am of my shortcomings but when I confess my wrongdoing God is faithful and reminds me He’s not done with me yet.

In the eighties, my husband and I were preparing for a life-changing trip to Israel. Where we lived at the time there were many home invasions going on. Being away for ten days caused some concern, but I trusted God to protect what belonged to us. We had no family in the area but a wonderful older couple who lived next door. My husband was expecting a package to arrive while we were away so I asked our neighbor if they would look out for it. They were happy to do so. Needless to say, our trip was and still is the most amazing trip of our lifetime. Our return home brought us a total surprise and definitely renewed our faith in God’s promises to us as believers.

I walked over to our neighbors not only to pick up our mail and package but to give them the gift we’d picked out for them. My neighbor told me what a wonderful alarm system we had. She eagerly related that when she opened the storm door to pick up the delivered package, the alarm went off. I had a huge smile on the inside of me because that was God’s alarm system. I couldn’t wait to tell her that we didn’t have an alarm system. We had prayed that God would protect our home and bless His name, He did. That was a wonderful testimony and an opening to witness to our precious neighbor.

I can’t tell you how many times God has done the miraculous in our lives. I remember reading somewhere that God is as faithful as we believe Him for. I strive to walk by faith. There are many areas where my faith is weak, but I work through the trust issues. I can honestly say He will be there when you call on His name. WE CAN TRUST HIM.

I hope this is an encourager for you today. Our world is so stressed and there are so many hurting people, especially our youth. I can’t urge you enough to trust God with your loved ones and family. He is as close as your next breath. Things might appear hopeless and a situation impossible, but I can honestly say He has not forgotten you. So, remember you have a measure of faith, and you can build it up by believing YOU are who GOD says you are. If we stumble and fall and make a mess of everything God ‘s not going to be mad at you, instead He’ll be mad about you. He loves you more than you can imagine.

~*~

Author Bio:

Nanci writes Inspy Amish romance. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two fur kids, Romeo and Juliet, rescue cats. She is working on her debut novel, Plain Justice.

She retired earlier than planned from nursing to care for her mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her mom passed last year at the age of ninety-nine and Nanci has delved more into her writing.

She is active in an intercessory prayer ministry in her church, belongs to The Woman’s Club, a service-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the welfare and enrichment of the community and volunteers two days a week at the Mary Washington Museum.

Currently, she's enrolled in Rhema Bible College’s correspondence Bible studies. She belongs to ACFW and RWA. When she’s not working, reading or writing she’s hiking with her husband at Shenandoah National Park.

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Devotionals for the Heart: God's care

Under His Wings
A devotional by Ginger Solomon

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.”~Psalm 91:4-8 (NLT)

This chapter in Psalms has long been one of my favorites. I fully understood these verses for the first time a few years ago. When we moved to Alabama, we bought land in order to raise chickens and maybe a few other things as the years progressed. And we did. We had chickens for probably ten years before I got tired of dealing with them.

In that time, we only had ONE hen who took it upon herself to lay eggs and brood (sit on the eggs so they’ll hatch) outside of our nesting boxes. I generally didn’t allow my hens to brood, because other hens would lay their eggs in the same box, and I couldn’t tell which were which. And as soon as you start messing with the eggs, the brooding hen would leave.

Anyway, she had three eggs, only one of which survived. She was a good momma, and whenever I would come around to check on her and the chick, she’d pull that baby under her wing and squawk at me.

Eventually, I ushered them back in with the other chickens. She was very protective of her baby, leading it around and teaching it things a baby chick needs to know. If another hen or the rooster came near, her feathers would plump, and she’d make warning noises. I think they were meant to scare off the offenders, but also to call her baby back to her side, because invariably the baby would hustle toward her.

This Psalm remains one of my favorites. Many times, I’ve been in a spot where I was scared or at the end of myself. I called out to God, sometimes on my face and sometimes just sitting in a chair because I couldn’t work up enough energy to even fall to my knees. He always responded. One time when my kids were still pretty small and needed a lot, I remember being in my room, listening to a Nichole Nordeman song (Holy) and crying out to God. I was on my knees with my face on the floor. It was naptime and I was tired. So very tired. And God met me there. I felt a PHYSICAL hug. Even now the experience brings tears to my eyes. It gave me the strength to get up off the floor and continue being the mom He had called me to be.

I truly think that at that moment in my life, God tucked me under His wing and provided a little protection from the fiery darts aimed at me. Because let’s be honest, having littles (I think at that time I was a homeschooling mom with seven kids, 13 and under) feels like someone is throwing fiery darts our direction. The house is never clean. The clothes are never all washed. Dinner is rarely on time. Someone always needs something. Life is busy. (Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t give up that time in my life for anything. I learned so much.)

But it is a season. And all too soon it’s over. My baby is 13 now, and several of my kids have moved away. My house is quieter. It no longer echoes with the pitter-patter of young feet. (Now I hear a few stomps from the size 10+ shoes.) The chorus of laughter from many young mouths is now a distant memory.

These days, God’s wings protect me from different things, but I hope to never “grow” so much that I think I’m too big to need his shelter. And if I do venture forth, I want to always listen to His warning of danger.

What’s your favorite verse and why?

~*~
Author Bio:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). 

She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.