Peace Be Still

I love this picture of my husband standing in the water at Still Pond, located off the Sassafras River and the Chesapeake Bay.  We had taken an excursion and anchored overnight at this beautiful spot and enjoyed being able to stand in the water.

It’s a very interesting place with a lovely breeze by day and stillness by night!  Much stillness, and pretty stuffy sleeping below in the cabin on a hot summer night, unless you have a generator and run your AC!

After our trip, we had posted this picture on Facebook to see what caption our friends might give it, and we got a variety of ideas.  Our favorite, however, was Peace Be Still!

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What’s It Like Being a Single Mom?

What’s it like to be a single mom?  It’s hard.  Its grueling.  But it’s rewarding.

God is there for you. 

I was a single mom for 15 years, raising three children ages 8, 6 and 5, when their dad went home to be with the Lord.  Oh, it was challenging for sure!!

When I first was told that he was gone I just thought, Lord, what am I going to do without him; how are we going to survive?  I told my children, “Daddy went to be with Jesus today.”  And we cried.

But we remembered him; we remembered all the wonderful things about him.  And I tried to keep him alive in their hearts by bringing him up in conversation, by abiding by rules that he had set for them – like always wearing shoes when they rode their bikes. 

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He Knows My Name

What’s in a name? The Bible says that God knows our name. Do you find that comforting? I sure do!

When I was growing up with an unusual name, I found that people had trouble spelling it and pronouncing it. I used to dread the first day of school, wondering just how this new teacher would butcher the pronunciation of my name.

One time in particular really stands out to me. It was 6th grade. I already had a complex about my name because almost everyone got it wrong, and this teacher was no different. He kept calling me Janine. I have a cousin named Janine and have no problem with her having that name, but don’t call me Janine! That’s not my name!!

As a young girl, I got so tired of being called Janine, among other things. It was so very rare that anyone would say Janan the correct way. Juh-Nan. I absolutely despised being called Jan too!  Mostly I was called Jan-in (like the a in ran) and sometimes Jan-Ann.  Also NOT my name!!

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You Just Made My Day!

I stopped into Wawa this morning to get a latte’ and when checking out I told the lady behind the counter that I always enjoy seeing her smiling face, to which she responded, “Oh, thank you! You just made my day!”

Wow Lord, thanks! That in turn made my day!

Go out there my friends and make someone’s day. All it takes is a kind word.

Show the love of Jesus to someone you rub shoulders with today. It will make your day too!

Believe it…You are Loved

The boys snickered as I sat there in class with my dress falling over my knees. Why, Mom, why do you make me dress like this when everyone else wears their dresses shorter than mine? Why must I be the subject of ridicule by all the boys in my class?

Shyness developed in me at a very young age. Rejection and pain were covered up by solitude, retreating into myself, and pulling away.  Shame called my name!

Then in high school, I would roll up the waistband of my dress until the hem would be just to my fingertips when I put down my arm, and off I’d go into my day.  I was not going to be ridiculed about the length of my dress any more!!  Have you ever done anything like that when you were growing up?  I’m sure I’m not the only one!

But God!!!

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Are you Starving?

How often when we are hungry do we say, “I’m starving!?” I know I’ve said it. I know I’ve heard my husband say it, and I’ve heard others say it too. But, the Lord reminded me that there are people in the world who truly ARE starving. People who don’t have enough to eat, who don’t know where their next meal will come from, or even when they will have something to eat again. We’ve all seen pictures of the starving children with the extended bellies, dying from lack of nourishment. Breaks our hearts to see them, doesn’t it?

But we can still be starving even when our bellies are filled. We can be starving for love that God alone can give. Have you read His word today my friend? Have you gotten your fill of truth for your life today? Have you met with Him in prayer? Be still before your Heavenly Father and bring your requests to Him. He promises to meet ALL your needs.

                                                                                                                                                  

Psalm 107:9 : for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

John 6:35 : Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 4:14 : but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Revelation 7:16 : Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.

Be Still and Know

“God says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

So much to do, so many things to accomplish. Lord, where do I begin?

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Really Lord? Be STILL??

How can I be still when my mind is going in 16 different directions at once??  Well, maybe not 16…but a lot of directions for sure!

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It’s In There!

Remember the Prego tagline, “It’s in there?”

Listening to Pastor George Pearsons from Eagle Mountain International Church this morning, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to write this when he made the statement, “It’s in there!”

Do you realize how many good things God wants you to accomplish?  Do you know for certain that everything you need to know for life and godliness is found in His word, the Bible?  Yes, my friend!!  It’s In There!! Continue reading