It's a blessing to have friends to help out when your own load is a little too heavy. And it's an extra-special blessing when those friends are firmly planted in God's Word and able to share His timeless wisdom and life-giving encouragement. Barefoot Hippie Girl is one of those friends, and I'm honored to share her words with you once again. ******************************************** Last week, on Facebook, I kind of bragged that I had most of my own posts written already for the upcoming week. And Elizabeth asked me if I wanted to write a post for her. It took me all of about 2 seconds to say yes. Then I wondered just what I was going to write about. But, I prayed about it, and [...Read More]
Comfort from Psalm 63
April 22, 2013 By 2 Comments
If you need extra encouragement today, spend some time in Psalm 63. Meditate on it. Pray it back to God. Let it be your heart's cry to your Savior. Cling to Him. And find comfort in the shadow of His wings. Read Psalm 63 Share with me! What's your favorite Psalm of comfort? Want more comfort? Read God's Word with me this week: Tuesday: Judges 1-3, Psalm 69:1-18 Wednesday: Judges 4-6, Psalm 69:19-36 Thursday: Judges 7-9, Psalm 70 Friday: Judges 10-12, Psalm 71 Saturday: Judges 13-15, Proverbs 18 Sunday: reflection or catch-up day Monday: Judges 16-18, Proverbs 19:1-14 [...Read More]
Your Very Own Shepherd
February 4, 2013 By 4 Comments
I've always loved Psalm 23. There's so much comfort packed into 6 little verses. It's beautiful and reassuring, but it also reminds us where our focus should be. It puts this life into perspective. The LORD is your shepherd. The one who spoke our universe into existence, the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who is holy and awesome and mighty and powerful -- HE is YOUR very own shepherd! He leads you, and guides you, and cares tenderly for you. Isaiah 40:11 tells us that "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." Isn't that a tender picture? And it's [...Read More]
The Rock in My Soul
October 15, 2012 By 10 Comments
My soul is weary. My heart is aching for friends who are struggling through difficult things right now. Loved ones are hurting, physically and emotionally. Friends are in seasons of uncertainty, of dim haziness. And so I pray. I pray for their hurt, their frustration, their need for clarity and direction. I pray that the Spirit would give courage and comfort. I pray for grace -- for God's grace is more than enough for every one of us, every moment. I pray for strength -- for God's strength is shown most perfect in our weakest moments. I pray that my friends would be made more aware of blessings. That their hearts would be filled with gratitude -- for life, for salvation, for the [...Read More]
Preparing for Eternity
August 27, 2012 By 8 Comments
It always surprises me how what you read in one section of God's Word affects what you see in a different section. For instance, right now I'm reading through Psalms and 2 Corinthians. And as I absorb the comfort and refreshment of the Psalms, I find similar encouragement in Paul's epistle. And they just tie so perfectly together, even though they were written centuries apart. For example - Psalm 119 and 2 Corinthians 4. In Psalm 119:9-16 (the second section), David writes about seeking after God. And seeking hard, seeking purposefully after Him. Notice the action words he uses: Guard Seek Store up Declare Delight Meditate Fix upon Not forget These are all definite [...Read More]
Where is God in all this? – and a LinkUp
June 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Horrific unconstrained wildfire in Colorado. Land and homes ruined beyond repair. Scary decisions regarding healthcare. Uncertainty in our country's future. In light of the past week's national headlines, you might be wondering where is God in all this? He is still here. Still with us. Still guiding us. And yes, still protecting us. Things could be so much worse. There is so much evil in this world, sin is so prevalant - can't you see the restraint of His Spirit in our country, even amidst the most unsettling of events? Man is so utterly depraved, evil could be so much more rampant than it is. Psalm 145 gives us a great reminder for times like these [8-9]: The Lord is gracious [...Read More]
Six Comforting Truths from Isaiah 40
February 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I just completed my daily reading for TTB12... and now I have Handel's Messiah going through my head. And a whole host of other hymns and songs that were written from the contents of this chapter. It starts off proclaiming comfort to God's people, specifically to His chosen nation of Israel. After centuries of captivity and persecution, they will someday have lasting peace and freedom, when God Himself shall reign in their midst (see Revelation 21). But that comfort is for us Gentile believers as well! What can we find comfort in? First, that God's glory will someday be revealed in its entirety to all of mankind, from all times and all races and all belief systems. We won't see just the [...Read More]
Soothing the Soul
September 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Music hath charms to soothe a savage beast. It's so true. I don't know about you, but the inner part of my nature can be as savage as a wild animal at times. Emotional upheaval, spiritual dehydration, mental ferociousness. My heart and soul can become unrestrained and vicious at times, seeking to destroy others or nearly destroying myself in their vehemence. [...Read More]
We Are Not Alone
August 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I don't know what you're going through right now. I don't know what difficulties you're wading through, what trials are flooding over your head and threatening to pull your feet out from under you. I don't know the flame of testing you are being led through. But this I know: you are not alone. This I know, for this is what our Heavenly Father promises us in His Word. We are never alone. He is always with us; He will never forsake us or leave us to falter in our own frail weakness. He will never stop leading us; it is only that we stop following. We stop looking for His direction and try to find our own way. We try to walk on the shifting sands of trouble, only to sink to our knees. We [...Read More]
What Are You Standing On?
June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Where do you find hope in this weary sin-filled world? What glimmer of comfort is your heart turned towards? What are you trusting in for relief?My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.When life is stormy and there's no sun on the horizon, what do you run to? When your very world is shaken, and the ground you've walked on is no longer stable, what do you cling to?His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood.When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.Where do you find your calm in the midst of fierce winds and angry waves? Who shelters you [...Read More]
