Author: Paula

Advent Day 6–God is real!

Posted on by Paula

As a high school life group leader, a question that I am often asked is, “How do you know God is real?” One of my favorite examples to share is the time when God pulled me up from the pit of despair and revealed that I have purpose in him. I was a stay-at-home mom who had somehow reached rock bottom, feeling very inadequate and suffering very low self-esteem. To be totally honest, there were times when I truly believed that my family would be better off without me.

During that low, I saw an advertisement for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, which delivers shoe box gifts along with the Gospel to children living in desperate situations all over the world. A quiet voice urged me to get involved, and I spoke to my minister who allowed me to involve our congregation as well.

After a couple of years of driving our gifts 2 ½ hours to the nearest drop-off, I heard that same quiet voice asking me to do something bigger—to start a new drop-off point and collect shoe boxes from other churches in our area. This is something that I never would have thought to do on my own. I didn’t even know anyone outside our church who participated in this project. The task seemed impossible for a nobody with no contacts, but the voice wouldn’t leave me alone. Because I had never entertained the idea that God might speak to me, I prayed, “God, I don’t know if this is you, but these thoughts are not going away. I have no idea how to do this, but if this is really you, I will do what you ask.”

Over the next several months, I watched in amazement. It became obvious that God had been working on many other hearts; he just needed someone to get everyone together. God built a team, as over and over I’d choose a nearby town not knowing who to call, and he would quickly connect me with others who shared the passion for reaching these kids. Time and again, I’d visit a church to promote the project, and they excitedly agreed to come on board. It was amazing!

My life found deeper meaning the year of 2001 as I witnessed God orchestrate a drop-off where more than 4,300 shoe box gifts were collected in the first year. Through the promotion of the project, he blessed thousands of people in our area (most of which had never heard of the project) by giving them a way to make an eternal impact on more than 4300 lives that lived thousands of miles away. He also taught this simple-minded, socially awkward “nobody,” that he will equip me for whatever he asks me to do. When God called me to become involved in his work, I ignorantly thought that I was agreeing to “help God out.” I didn’t understand at the time that it was GOD helping out ME. He worked through me to do things that I never could have done on my own. He showed me that even though I thought I was worthless, I am worth something to Him. God is real!

Knowing that God is real gives us hope, and sharing our experiences with others can give them hope too. During Advent take time to tell others about how God has been real to you. Ask God to open your eyes to how he might bless someone and show them his love through you.

Advent Day 5–Always

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“’I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.’” (Revelation 1:8 NLT)

People are born every day, and people die every day. We make new friends, and old friends move away. We may have a one-time conversation with someone or we may continue a relationship with them throughout the years. We can never be sure of how much time we have with anyone, and there isn’t a single human being that we can always totally depend on.

However, there is One Person who has always been with us, who will never leave us, and who we can always depend on. The One who created us knows and understands us more intimately than we know and understand ourselves. He loves us unconditionally and in all things, he works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and unchanging. He is, he always was and he will always be, the Almighty One.

When you see the Christmas wreath, think about the circle that forms it. Just as there is no beginning or end to that circle, remember that there is no beginning or end to God’s love, power or existence. Remember that he is dependable and will always be there. Keep your focus on him and put your trust in our totally awesome God.

Advent Day 4–Only He Can Satisfy

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“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” ~Psalm 42:1

Have you ever had an empty feeling inside or felt like something was missing in your life? Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God, our Creator, has set eternity in our hearts, and Philippians 3:20 reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. God has given us good things on earth, but the only thing that can truly satisfy us deep down in our soul is him.  Colossians 3:1-2 tells us to set our hearts & minds on things above, not on earthly things.

It is very easy to get caught up in the things of this world, especially when we are getting ready for Christmas. There are so many traditions we keep and so many expectations of what “needs” to be taken care of in order to celebrate. We can become stressed when we feel we don’t have enough money to purchase the gifts we want or when we don’t have enough time to shop, clean, bake and take care of our holiday to-do list.

Giving gifts and getting our homes ready for Christmas aren’t necessarily bad things; in fact, it can be a beautiful reflection of God’s love for us. What isn’t good is when we become so consumed with the “worldly traditions” that we lose our focus on Jesus.  We must keep Jesus first in our lives and let all that we do be an overflow of the love that he pours into our lives and spills out to others. The true meaning of Christmas is found in Christ, and only Christ can satisfy the longing of our souls.

God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life and then pay for our sins by dying on the cross so that we could be made right with Him. You see, God, our Creator, is holy & perfect, and sin separates us from Him. The penalty for sin is death. So, Christ, who was without sin, took the punishment for our own sin by dying on the cross. When we accept his gift of dying in our place and submit to his Lordship, we are promised eternal life. Even though our physical bodies will die, our souls will live with Him in heaven forever.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Our soul cannot be satisfied until it is right with God. As a deer depends on water for life, so we depend on Christ for life.

Advent Day 3–Who is God to You?

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Who is God to you? As you read through the Bible, you will find many different names for God. These names describe God’s character and nature as he revealed himself personally to individuals. When he revealed himself, the people came to know him in a real and personal way, and their relationship with him grew deeper.

Just a few of the names for God that are recorded in the Bible as he revealed himself to his people are Abba Father (Daddy), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord Will Provide), Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord is my Banner), my Hiding Place, my Refuge in times of trouble, the God Who Saves Me, the God Who Sees Me, a Forgiving God, Creator of heaven and earth, God my Maker, the Rock of our Salvation, our Redeemer, God of Peace, God of Truth, Most High, Holy One, Eternal God…. The list of his names and all that he is goes on and on! You have probably experienced him in some of those ways and know him personally by some of those names.

My favorite name for him is “I AM WHO I AM.” He exists! He is, he always was and he always will be. There is no one like him and no one who can compare to how Mighty, Perfect and Awesome he is. He is Holy, Faithful, Mighty, Sovereign, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Righteous, Merciful, Ever-Present, Omnipresent, Unchanging…. He is Truth, Wisdom, Light and Love.…. He depends on nothing and no one, yet absolutely everything depends on him. Whatever we need, we find in him.

I have experienced God in many ways. He is my Hiding Place, my Comfort, my Wisdom, my Confidence, my Strength, my Guidance, my Light, my Hope, my Peace, my Deliverer, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Life… HE IS MY EVERYTHING! He is always there when I need him and the Only One I can always truly depend on. He is the One who loved me even when there was nothing to love about me and he is the One who sent his One and Only Son to die so that I can live. He is God. He is all I need. He is enough.

Think today on all that God is and reflect on how he has been personal with you. Let all that he is draw you into worshiping the Great I AM and living a life that brings glory to him. I pray that each of us continues to know him more intimately not only through this Advent season but forever.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” ~Exodus 3:14

Advent Day 2–Prepare the Way!

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“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, ‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!’” ~Isaiah 40:3 NLT

Advent is a time when we are reminded of Jesus’ first coming and of God’s people awaiting the birth of the Messiah who would save them. It is also a time that we ourselves anticipate Jesus’ second coming when he will return to take us home.

There are more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament which were fulfilled through Jesus hundreds of years after they were written. In the passage above, the prophet Isaiah is speaking of John the Baptist who would prepare the people for Jesus by telling them to “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Hundreds of years later, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John recorded in their New Testament accounts that John the Baptist is the one Isaiah was speaking of.

Just as there are many Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled in the New Testament, there are also many passages in Scripture that tell us that Jesus will come again. Yes! Jesus is coming back, and we need to share his message with others as we eagerly await his return!

So, make this advent season a special time for you and your family. As so many holiday traditions compete for your time, remember that the true reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of the One who came to save us and to anticipate his return. Keep Jesus as your focus. Spend time praying, reading your Bible and allowing him to transform your life. Prepare your heart for his coming & share his message with others so they can be prepared too. The kingdom of heaven is near, & there is no better day than today to share the Good News of Jesus with someone who needs the hope and peace we have through him.

Advent Day 1–“Prophecy Candle” or “Candle of Hope”

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The Advent season begins today, and we remember the time when God’s people were awaiting the birth of the Messiah.  Along with remembering Israel’s expectation of Jesus’ first coming to bring us salvation, we also anticipate Jesus’ second coming when he will return to take us home.

Today we light the first candle which is called the “Prophecy Candle” or “Candle of Hope.” This candle reminds us of both the fulfilled prophecy of Jesus’ birth and the prophecy of his second coming, for which we continue to wait. The candle’s purple color represents Christ’s royalty as the King of Kings.

My prayer for each of you is that during the hustle and bustle of the season, you will keep your focus on Jesus. I pray that you will reflect on him, be aware of his presence, become overwhelmed by his love, grow closer to him and experience his peace and hope. As you excitedly prepare to celebrate his birth, I pray that you will also anxiously anticipate the day that he will return again to take us home.

Scriptures to reflect on today:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” ~Micah 5:2

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” ~Isaiah 7:14

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ~Isaiah 9:6

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” ~1 Thessalonians 4:16

“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” ~Matthew 16:27

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” ~Matthew 24:30

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” ~John 14:3

“’Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” ~Acts 1:11

“’Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’  So shall it be! Amen.” ~Revelation 1:7

When Troubles Seem They Will Last “4EVER”

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The bright orange construction sign grabbed my attention as I approached. The bold lettering was easily read from afar, “ROAD CLOSED.” However, as I drew closer, I could see that someone had added, “4EVER.”

From the looks of the construction site, it appeared that there was still a lot of work to be done before the road could be driven on again. I imagined that the person who added “4EVER” to the sign must have been someone who had driven by time and again, wondering in their frustration when the construction would be complete and when their inconvenience would come to an end. To them, it certainly must have seemed like the road would be closed “4EVER.”

Isn’t that the way life seems sometimes? We can be happily navigating along when suddenly, we find ourselves in a difficult situation that lasts much longer than we had anticipated. As our waiting period grows longer and longer, we start to lose hope that things will ever get better. It seems like the struggle will last “4EVER.”

Are you going through something right now that seems it will never end? Take heart! Wise King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Life consists of times and seasons, and some of those seasons can last for a very long time. Whatever you are going through, remember that God is with you. Turn to him. Pray, search the scriptures, hold on to God’s promises and remember all the wonderful things that he has already done.

When the season continues to drag on, ask yourself a few questions, “Is there anything that God is asking me to do in this current situation? What can I learn from this incident? How can I use my experience to help others who may be struggling as well?”

Our life here on earth is short and though our trying seasons may seem like they will last “4EVER,” they really will come to an end. So while we are here on earth, we hold on to God through these tough times, we allow him to transform us through the experience to be more like Jesus, and we wait for the day when he will take us home where all of our difficulties, all of our suffering and all of our struggling will finally come to an end. Hold on to the hope that one day those who belong to him and have endured to the end will be living in his presence in a perfect place “4EVER.”

A Thankful Heart

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Today, I write with a thankful heart and am having trouble keeping my words few. Last week I spent a lot of time counting my blessings and reflecting on all I have to be thankful for. I kept a notebook and my favorite pink ink pen on my nightstand and started a list each morning when I woke up. I carried my list around with me and kept adding to it until I went to bed each night. As I thought about each thing that I saw, heard, smelled, touched and did, I realized that I have so much to be thankful for.

My heart grew more thankful with every new day. The list on just the third day was over a page and a half long before I even got out of bed. That is also the day that I totally depleted the ink from my pen and was thankful that I had another pink pen that could take over. At the beginning of the week my list started with, “I am thankful for…,” and by the end of the week, my list became a prayer of “Thank you God for….” It was through this simple little exercise, I have gained a thankful heart.

Some of the things that I am thankful for seem obvious. I am thankful for a family who loves me, for a home to live in, for a rewarding job, for a dependable vehicle and for an abundance of food in my pantry, refrigerator and deep freeze. I have a closet full of clothes to choose from each day and a washer and dryer right inside my house so that I never run out of clean things to wear. The list goes on and on and on, but as I wrote each item down, I realized that not everyone has a family who loves them, a home to live in, a job, a vehicle, food, clothing…. I am thankful. I am so very thankful.

Some of the things that I am thankful for are things I could easily take for granted. I am thankful that I can breathe despite being an asthmatic. I am thankful that I can see and that I have glasses to improve my vision that has gotten worse as I grow older. I could easily take for granted the clean water available to me any time I am thirsty or need to clean something. I don’t always give much thought to the fact that I have access to electricity so that I can turn on a light when it’s dark, have access to hot water to shower with, heat or cool my home so that I’m comfortable or charge my phone so that I can talk or video chat with my son who lives over 1000 miles away. There are so many things I could easily take for granted. Yet again, not everyone has been blessed with these things. I am thankful. I am so very, very thankful.

Some of the things I am thankful for are the experiences I have had and the learning that resulted from those moments. I am thankful that though my mind is starting to fail at times, I still have so many memories from my past. I was blessed by being born to loving parents and had a wonderful childhood. I am thankful not only for my parents but also for my husband, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, school teachers, Sunday school teachers and pastors, and for the many, many important things that those relationships have taught me. It may sound absurd, but I am especially thankful for the difficult times in my life; the personal and meaningful lessons I learned through those storms of life helped me grow. Those seasons have given me more strength, wisdom and purpose. My experiences, both good and bad, and the people who helped me along the way all brought me closer to God. And that thought leads me into my most important blessings of all, my spiritual blessings.

God has blessed me over my 49 ½ years in ways far greater than I could have ever asked or imagined, and he continues to wow and amaze me more and more all the time. Just the fact that I am part of God’s family is more than enough. My greatest blessing, what I am most thankful for each day, simply and truly is God. I am thankful that he is on my mind the moment I wake up each day. I am thankful that he loves me. I am thankful that he sent his Son, Jesus to die in my place and that Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life so that he could shed his blood to pay for my many, many sins that separated me from God. I am thankful that God chose me and that I heard his Spirit calling me. I am thankful for his forgiveness, his mercy and his grace that I do not deserve. I am thankful that God sent the Holy Spirit to live in me, to comfort me, to convict me, to bring me into his truth and to lead me in his will. I am thankful that God works in me, through me and around me. I am thankful that he is approachable. I am thankful that the veil in the temple was torn in two so that I have direct access to God through a Jesus Christ. I am thankful that the All Powerful, Almighty, All Knowing, Omnipresent, Sovereign God who created the universe desires a relationship with me. I am thankful that he who began the good work within me, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. I am thankful that through Jesus Christ, my Savior & Lord, that I have the promise of eternal life and that one day, I will be IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD in the most perfect place that my brain can only begin to imagine. Yes. I am thankful. I am so, so extremely, eternally thankful. Thank you, God for giving me a thankful heart, and that in you, I am given more than enough. I am blessed!

Making Preparations for Family

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With one son in college and another living over 1000 miles away, we don’t get to see each other often, but by the end of the week, all four of my children will be home for a visit. One of my sons will drive an hour; another will fly about 2 ½ hours. I am excited to have them all here, but I also have a lot of preparations to make before they arrive. I need to clean the house, shop for their favorite foods and put fresh sheets on the beds. I also need to stay on task in the office so that I won’t have to work late the week that they are home. I want to make sure I get all of the necessary preparations finished before they arrive so that we can enjoy as much time together as possible.

When I was making a to do list to ensure that I get everything done, the words of Jesus recorded in John 14:1-6 popped into my head,

’Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

As I was deciding what preparations I needed to make before my kids come home, I wondered to myself, “What preparations could Jesus be talking about making before he takes us home with him?” I had always thought about him sort of decorating my room just how I’d like it, but that didn’t exactly make sense to me when I thought about how he simply spoke the world into existence.

Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet, eaten his last supper with them, revealed to them that one of them would betray him and told them that he was going somewhere that they could not go. He even said that Peter would deny him.

Knowing that these things troubled the disciples, Jesus spoke words to comfort them. He assured them that his going away was for their good. You see, we are all sinners. Sin separates us from God, and the penalty for sin is death. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross and shed his blood to pay for our sin. This sacrifice is a gift to all who believe and put their trust in him. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through him.

By going to the cross, Jesus was preparing the way for us to spend eternity with him in heaven where God has plenty of room for his large family to dwell forever. The work is done. Jesus has gone to the cross to prepare the way for eternal life in heaven. Someday, those of us who believe and put our trust in him will be home.

Celebrating 30 Years of Love

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I was 19, and he was almost 23. We hadn’t even known each other a year. We met in the middle of January, were engaged in May and married at the beginning of November in 1987. We couldn’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. We were in love.

Life was an exciting adventure in the beginning. However, we quickly found out that there were a lot of things we didn’t know about each other. In fact, we discovered that we were pretty different and really didn’t have much in common. We even learned that the person who we married wasn’t perfect.

We didn’t truly understand when we first got married, what it really means to have Jesus at the center of our individual lives and at the center of our marriage. Because of this, we struggled and fought for a long time. The only reason that we have made it through 30 years of marriage is that we have stayed committed to God and to each other.

As we grew closer to God over the years, we also grew closer to each other. God taught us to love each other with the same love that Jesus loves us with, and that has made all the difference. The love of Jesus is a love that isn’t dependent on whether or not the recipient is lovable or worthy. It is a selfless love that comes from obedience to God’s commands. Some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples before dying on the cross were, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). We are to love with the love of Christ regardless of the other person’s behavior. Learning this truth has made a huge difference.

Over the past 30 years, we have experienced many happy times, but there have also been some times of differences & struggles. I am thankful not only for the good times but also for the bad because it was the difficult times that brought us closer together and taught us what true love is.

Today I am thankful for a husband who has stayed committed to me through my good, my bad & my ugly. I love Sam even more than I did 30 years ago when I thought my love for him was complete but didn’t truly understand the depth of love that is possible through Jesus. I am also thankful for a God, who taught us that “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

God has blessed us over the years in ways far greater than we could ever have asked or imagined. We have been blessed with good career and ministry opportunities and four of the most amazing children in the world. He has always blessed us with more than we need and far more than we deserve. Our greatest blessing of all is Jesus and his unconditional love.