Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants us to focus on the good in life

How to focus your mind on good things
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”—Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Do you have a habit of veering toward the negative? Do you struggle with worry and stress? I know I do!

During those times when I seem to forget the incredible and immeasurable love that God has for me, I seek the help of God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and the Holy Spirit to fill my mind with positivity and to recognize the beauty and good things that surround me. I ask myself if my way of thinking is bathed in what is true, what is pure, or what is lovely then God reminds me of Philippians 4. The full chapter is an amazing example of God’s Word as a blueprint for how to live.

First, the Apostle Paul who wrote this Scripture, tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) and lets us know that we should not be anxious about anything. He then gives us the recipe to alleviate our stress and our struggles through prayer and thankfulness. When we follow his advice, the result we receive is the “peace of God” that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). But he doesn’t stop there. He teaches us to be proactive, showing us how to combat those anxious thoughts and the “woe is me” mindset by practicing the advice in Philippians 4:8.

I was reminded of this verse recently as I drove by the hospital where my son spent his last two weeks on this earth. I did my usual look up to the seventh floor, but in place of my normal sense of deep sadness and flashbacks of the horrific pain he endured, I had a feeling of gratitude. I initially thought it was a weird way of thinking until the Holy Spirit reminded me of the verse on my heart (Philippians 4:8). I realized how blessed I was to have spent those days there with him in the ICU—holding his hand, praying over him and listening to his favorite Christian music. I was reminded that he is now pain free and we will be reunited in Heaven one day then spend eternity together.

While missing my son is painful, my life could be more pleasant if I remembered to follow the “peace that transcends all understanding” with a practice of meditating on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. It’s not always easy but it’s important to remember that everything we need is in God’s Word, even when life is hard.

What if we made a list of the good in our lives and trained ourselves to shift our mindset on a daily or moment by moment basis? During busy days, it’s easy to get worked up about the many things I have to juggle. But when I walk out my front door and I am met with a burst of beautiful light purple flowers, I purposely focus on the flowers and am immediately reminded of God’s amazing creation.

Where can you focus when there is too much stress or sadness in your day? What can you look at or recall that will take you away from those difficult moments and thoughts and bring you to a place of joy and peace?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for your love and for your Word. We praise You for guiding us through this life on Earth. Please remind us to always focus on what is true, noble, and right. We worship You and are grateful for You leading to things that are pure, lovely and admirable. Help us to focus on what is excellent and praiseworthy. Let Your Word lead us to live in a way that honors to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Whatever is True (Don’t Ever Stop)” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Focus on What is Good” by Beyond Rubies. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Think About These Things” by Six Seven Family. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “What A Beautiful Name” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “For the Good” by Riley Clemmons. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “How Can You Not” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #8: “Blessings” by Laura Story. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #9: “Perfect Peace” by Laura Story. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Why Jesus Christ wants us to focus on Him

Fixing our eyes on the One who gave His life for us
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Hebrews 12:2 is one of two verses that I recite to myself most mornings before I get out of bed every day. I chose the verse as one to keep me grounded and focused on the one who saved me instead of the trials and sadness that sometimes drag me into a pity party and make me feel far from God.

Do I think Jesus Christ was happy about the race He willingly marked for himself to suffer and die on a cross? Jesus who lived a perfect, sinless life, was surrounded by two criminals and jeered at by countless people watching His crucifixion. To top it off, He was worn and in pain from being tortured and nailed to the cross.

But He did it because of the joy it would give him knowing that we would spend eternity with Him in glory. How can we live a life worthy of His sacrifice?

It is not easy or possible but praise God that we don’t have to. After all, we are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As Christians, we take part in the lifelong sanctification process and are called to follow the path Jesus “pioneered” for us by focusing on Jesus and reflecting on what He did for us and how He lived while He was on Earth. Jesus not only died for us to save us from our sins; He gave us an advocate (the Holy Spirit) to live inside us and guide us while we are still living in this fallen world. Jesus gave us everything we need. I am grateful.

If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to get sidetracked and let the things of the world become a source of discouragement. We should try not to let our mind stray to negativity or sadness. Instead, we should strive to move forward, trusting God’s perfect will for us with the help of His Word (The Holy Bible), through community with other believers, and by using our experiences to help others. Sometimes we just need to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

But how do we fix our eyes on Jesus when there are so many distractions and so much pain that we hear about every day via the news and other sources?

Feasting on God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and fellowshipping with other believers is important, as is praying without ceasing. Thinking about the lives of Bible heroes and the trials they endured can also lead to gratitude and wonder thanks to the power of God. Reading through the great faith chapter (Hebrews 11) in the Bible and remembering the lives of incredible men and women who obeyed God through trials and tasks that most of us could never imagine, is very inspiring—especially when we read that some of those people we read about in the Bible never saw the promised outcome on this side of Heaven.

I’ve often tried to figure out who amazes me more: Abraham who ventured into unknown territory then brought his son Isaac to be sacrificed, or Noah who appeared as a fool building a gigantic ark because God told him to in preparation of the flood God would send. Noah built the ark despite everyone thinking he was crazy because rain never poured out from the sky. And there are so many more true stories in the Bible about heroes of the faith who obeyed God without question.

Hebrews 12:1 begins with “therefore” which refers to the great faith chapter as a reminder of how well the heroes of Hebrews 11 trusted God even through intense adversity and how we should remember that faith and trust God as we navigate both hardship and good times.

I may not always like the race marked out for me, but I love the idea of running that race with perseverance and with gratefulness always remembering how Jesus, my Savior, died so that I could live.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for your sacrifice on the cross and the pain you bore to save me. I praise You for filling me with the Holy Spirit and ask that I be reminded to seek Him in every decision. I pray that throughout my life I would grow in my faith and that I would live my life sharing You with those who do not know You. Help me to fix my eyes on You every moment of my day. Help me to show love to others like You showed love to me. Teach me how to live a life that shows a reflection of You in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Hillsong Worship. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I Will Follow Christ” by Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans & Bob Carlisle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Fix My Eyes” by for King and Country. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Every Moment” by Forever Jones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” by Charity Gayle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “Knowing You, Jesus” by Graham Kendrick. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #8: “Mercy Tree” by Lacey Sturm. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Heart for humankind and a love that lasts

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness and love for humankind
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”— Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

I treasure reminders that show the great power of God’s faithfulness and love.

Being a Christian does not make us exempt from hardship nor does it leave us always giddy with joy. Life can be tough. It can be hard to navigate the ups and downs of the day-to-day unless we recognize that God is in control and He is madly in love with us. This gives us the strength to persevere.

I also love looking back at God’s goodness in my life over the years both before and after I accepted Him into my life. It shows how He loved me unconditionally and protected me long before I knew Him. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized how everything fits together like a puzzle? How many stories can you tell about God’s faithfulness—both the big things and the small?

My husband and I retired relatively early from our careers. We planned a move from New York to Florida knowing that we might have to continue working in some form. But with the cost-of-living skyrocketing after we finalized the decision and moved, I started to wonder if it was a mistake. If I stayed at my job another three years, hitting the 20-year mark, my pension would have been much higher.

I can see now that God knew what he was doing. We moved to Florida, a couple hours away from my son and soon to be grandchildren. Little did we know that those five years would be a precious gift. We had four beautiful years together before my son got sick and we were blessed to be able to take care of him and help with the babies. I realize that we would have lost those five years if we had remained in New York. What a blessing from God!

I could go on and on with stories about how God protected me in situations that could have ended badly.

As a Christian, it’s easy to go through life just going to church, occasionally reading the Bible and fellowshipping with other Christians, but without an intimate relationship with our Savior (Jesus Christ) that includes silent time alone with Him, lots of prayer and hiding His Word in my heart through scripture memorization…I would be shortchanging God and myself.

But how do we get through those difficult days when we are so scattered that we don’t direct our attention first and foremost on Christ?

I am grateful God gives us all the tools we need to live this life here on earth. The problem is that sometimes we do not use them. I look forward to the day that I commit to sit and be still before God every day, emptying my brain for a short period and just focusing on how much I am loved.

One activity that has been key for my walk is having an arsenal of go-to Bible verses memorized to get me grounded and focused on my Lord and Savior. I started the practice years ago but got away from it until this past January when I asked members of my small group if they wanted to join me in choosing a verse every 15th and last day of the month. We individually pick verses that are tailored to our needs to be go to reminders that help us in our walk. Most days before I get out of bed I recite some of those verses. It is always the best way to start my day.

Here are some of those memory verses:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”—Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”—Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

“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)

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”—1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for looking after us even when your love is not at the forefront of our minds. Thank You for being faithful in all seasons, during sickness, financial stress and times of sorrow. Help us dear Lord to remember that you are with us, that Your Word is powerful and that you have a beautiful plan for us. Help us to prioritize spending time with You and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit that you have graciously given to us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Known” by Tauren Wells. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Make Room” by Meredith Andrews (feat. Sarah Reeves & Chris McClarney). Listen to it here.


~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How God taught me to always be thankful

How God taught me to always be thankful
A devotional by Regina Marcazzo-Skarka

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

When I stood on the reception line waiting to greet attendees after my 31-year-old son’s celebration of life, I was grateful for the love I felt from family and friends who traveled from near and far, and for the kind words spoken about my son.

I knew he was a warrior for Jesus Christ and that through his love for Christ and the Godly life he modeled, this world was a better place. But the magnitude of the number of lives that were changed because of his example was mind-blowing.

After two celebrations of life, I learned that my precious boy ministered to so many different people. What was more amazing was how those who learned more about his life at the services felt the desire to change their own lives and seek Christ.

An over 80-year-old relative came up to me crying saying that she wanted to be like my son. A younger relative said it was time to rethink his life and my son’s former classmate came up sobbing and said he wanted to follow Jesus. Those words did not take away the pain of losing him, but they did demonstrate the awesome works of our God.

I chose 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as the anchor text for my devotional today because the verse relates to so many areas of life, even the hardest ones such as losing a treasured child. I could see the value of all three commands during the many months of endured hardship while he was sick.

“Rejoice always” is a command and a reminder of how we are to live at all times— no matter what is going on in our lives. Praying continually does not mean that we should sit bowing in prayer day and night, but it does refer to having an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day—and if you are anything like me, I talk to God many moments throughout the night.

I am thankful for the way God used my son to change others, to point them to Him. I am thankful that God trusted my husband and I as his parents. I strive to carry on my son’s legacy of sharing Christ with others, not with words, but with my life. I am thankful for countless blessings throughout my son’s two bouts with cancer: one when he was 18 and the other at 30. During the illnesses and in the time in between there were so many miracles and so much good living.

Will sadness and longing to see him linger? Will anger and questions asking God “Why?” continue to swirl in my mind? Of course! But one thing I am sure of is that my God is faithful and He works all for the good of those who love him.

Why do I rejoice always? It’s simple: I am a child of God and His word tells me to rejoice. Why do I pray continually? Because I need to converse with God all the time. Why should I be thankful in all circumstances? It’s also a command and it is important to note that it is “in” all circumstances, not “for” all circumstances.

When I recite the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, I realize how difficult and easy it is to say the words “rejoice” and “be thankful in all circumstances.”

In the deep sadness that I continue to feel and the longing to hug my son and tell him how much I love him I am reminded that his ministry did not end the day he took his last breath here on earth. The life he lived for Jesus remains in the minds of those who are still here, spurring them on and reminding them to make every minute count on this earth whether they are healthy or not, going through a dark time or joyfully dancing in the light. I know that is my plan.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for your love and for your perfect plan. Help us to recognize that You are in control of all things and though we may not understand the why, we can surely trust You. Help us to rejoice always, pray continually and to be thankful in all circumstances. Help us to point others to you with our lives. We love you. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Even If” by Mercy Me. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Regina Marcazzo-Skarka is a writer, a journalist, and a lover of Jesus Christ, her family, church, mission trips, travel and foreign languages. 

Having traveled to over 25 countries, her exploring the world has only just begun. She has also been part of numerous mission trips both domestic and international. She loves getting to know people, their languages and their culture. A life dream of hers is to speak five languages. So far, she speaks English, French, Italian and some Spanish. Her goal is to improve her Spanish speaking skills and to learn a language with a different alphabet, perhaps Arabic.

Regina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Romance Languages from City University of New York, Hunter College; a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University; and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Foreign Language from SUNY Stony Brook. Regina has studied in France. Regina has also studied, lived and worked in Italy.

She taught high school French and Italian for 17 years before retiring from teaching. Prior to teaching, she worked as a journalist, both freelance and as a staff writer for local Long Island, New York weeklies. She also spent two years as a United Nations employee in the Department of Public Information. She currently writes full-time for a weekly newspaper in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Regina is currently working on proposals for two books that she is writing.

She is blessed with an awesome husband of 34 years and two children, their spouses and three treasured grandchildren.

~*~
Connect with Regina:
Website: https://reginamarcazzoskarka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipeoutworry/
Email: ginamarcazzo@gmail.com