He Knows Your Need Before You Ask

Posted on by Paula

My family really spoiled me for Mother’s Day this year by spending time with me, writing special notes, making one-of-a-kind creations, and shopping for gifts as well. Each of their offerings was special because they each took the time to think about what I would enjoy and what would make me feel special and loved. I have no doubt that they love me and know me well.

One of the gifts I received from my youngest son was a garden gnome. I have a few little gnomes hiding in spots around my home, and Noah thought I might like another. We were expecting company shortly after I opened the gift, so we decided we would find the perfect spot for the new addition when we weren’t so busy.

We spent a lovely afternoon with our extended family celebrating my mom, sister, sister-in-law and myself. We ate, talked, laughed and took pictures so we could remember our special time together.

I was walking to the house after the last of company left when I noticed something on the steps. One of my garden gnomes was shattered and lying on the top step. Unbeknownst to me, one of my young guests had accidentally dropped it and had cried a lot of tears about it.

I thought back to just a few hours before when my son had proudly presented me with the new gnome. We chuckled a little because it was like Noah knew I needed a new gnome to take the place of the one which was about to be broken.

Granted the gnome was not really a “need,” the situation reminded me of the way God pays attention to every detail of our lives and is ready to take care of things before we even ask.  A scripture popped into my head, “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8 NLT).

God knows us even better than we know ourselves. He knows the desires of our hearts as well as the needs we may not even be aware of. He knows which experiences will strengthen our faith as well as how those experiences will indirectly make an impact on the faith of others.

When I look back over my life, I can see just how wonderful God has been to me and how he has known exactly what I need. I can recall so many times in my life that God prepared me for a situation or provided for me, sometimes before I even knew the need was there. He has taken care of me physically, emotionally and spiritually and has blessed me in ways far greater than I could have even asked or imagined. He has made Romans 8:28-29 a reality in my life in that even the “bad things” in my life have been used to strengthen my faith and deepen my relationship with him.

Whatever you are going through today, take comfort in knowing that God sees you, hears you and knows what you need before you even ask. Continue to pray, remembering that we do rely on God for all of our needs, and trusting that he knows what is the very best. Have faith that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:28-29 NLT). And rather than worry about today or tomorrow, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT). He knows exactly what you need even before you ask.

Another Traveling Mistake

Posted on by Paula

I boarded the crowded shuttle to the airport. We were packed like a can of sardines, and there was no room for our luggage in the rack. I held my suitcase handle tightly by my side with one hand and held onto a bar with the other hand, struggling to keep the suitcase and myself from flying with the sudden starts and stops. When a group of passengers got off the shuttle at a stop down the road, the woman next to me who had also been holding on to her suitcase, pointed out a spot that had opened up for us to store our baggage.

I was really running late by the time we arrived at the building. So, I grabbed my red suitcase in a hurry and squeezed past other passengers so that I could catch my plane. I tried to stay calm when I reached the end of a really long check-in line.

My phone rang, but I didn’t answer the out of state phone number. Then I received a text message, “Our bags got switched up on the economy bus. I need it before our flight leaves.”

Oh. My. Goodness. I have made a lot of traveling mistakes, but this one took the cake. I thought about the flight when out of nervousness, I had sat in someone else’s seat on the plane. Then there was the time that I had headed the wrong direction to get home after a different flight. But how in the world could I have not realized I had grabbed the wrong suitcase! I had even tied two different scarfs on the handle this time for easy recognition!

I told the lady in front of me about my mistake and left my place in line to go exchange the “stolen” suitcase for my own. I was beating myself up along the way, wondering if I would catch my flight, wondering if THEY would catch THEIR flight, and wondering how angry the owner of the suitcase would be. I totally deserved to get an earful.

When I reached the owners of the suitcase, I apologized. The wife said more than once, “We need the things in our suitcase.” However, she wasn’t rude or nasty. I was thankful for the mercy she extended to me.

After the quick swap, I rushed back to the line which had grown longer. I started waiting all over again. I was there for less than a minute when the woman who had been in front of me hurried over and excitedly motioned for me to follow her. “Come with me,” she said. “I talked to the people behind me, and they said you can come back to your place in line.”

I couldn’t believe it. First the family that I had caused trouble for extended mercy to me, and now these strangers that I didn’t even know extended grace to me. I totally didn’t deserve to be in front of all the people I passed up. It was my fault that I had to leave my place in line.

The mercy and grace that was extended to me that day reminds me of an even bigger act of mercy and grace that was extended to me. You see, God is pure and holy. He created each of us in his image, but we sinned by choosing to do things our way instead of his. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus.

I deserved the death penalty for my sin, but Jesus, who was totally innocent died in my place and gave me the gift of eternal life. This free gift of mercy and grace is offered to everyone no matter how bad they’ve messed up. We simply have to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. When we accept him as our Lord and Savior, we repent of our sin, turn from our ways to his and follow him. Through Jesus, we find forgiveness, salvation, hope and peace.

I was a little nervous to approach the person whose suitcase I had accidentally taken, but there is no reason for any of us to be nervous about approaching God when we mess up because Jesus, though he never sinned, was tempted in every way. He understands our struggle and is able to empathize. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). “…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).

My Heart Breaks

Posted on by Paula

Let me begin by saying that I have been hesitant to “put these words on paper” because I do not have a degree that gives me all of the answers for this battle. I do not profess to know all the answers, and I don’t want to offend anyone who is struggling. Yet when I try to write this week, this is the only thing that is truly on my heart. My mind can’t go anywhere else.

My heart is broken as I learned last week of another acquaintance that took their life. I know so many beautiful people who fight so hard each and every day to get through just one more day, one more night or one more moment. There are currently 19 individuals in my prayers because of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Their ages range from the early teens to the seventies. At least five of them have tried to take their lives, and four of the five have tried multiple times. All of them have had suicidal thoughts, and one of them confided in me that they had a plan.

My heart is broken because each of these people have such great potential. Each one has such an amazing personality. Each one possesses talents that promise a successful life. Each one is a beautiful, loveable creation of God, but they cannot see their beauty, potential or purpose through the darkness that has such a strong grip on their lives.

During my four years in high school, my classmates and I were shocked by the one person who tried to take their life. Today, in our local high schools, suicide attempts are common. My husband and I asked our high school group last week why they think there are so many people who struggle with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts today. Their top three answers were social media, bullying and drugs. Other people I care about have told me some of their depression comes not only from the issues the teens listed by also from hurt, abuse or low self-esteem. Some tell me that there is no explanation at all; they simply hurt to the point of feeling hopeless.

We must always be careful in our actions because we cannot always tell how fragile those around us are. We can never know how deeply someone is hurting or how hard they are fighting just to get through school, work, the grocery store or even a Sunday morning church service. They are all around us wherever we are and though some are easy to recognize, others are able to hide it well. We all have hurts, but for some of us, the darkness is just too overwhelming.

Those who don’t know me well may think that I have it all together and that I am always happy. That is not the truth. In fact, I too have struggled with depression in the past. My doctor even tried me on a low dose of medication for a while. Though I would never consider taking my life, there were times in my life that I wished I didn’t exist or that God would just remove me from this world.

I know most of this was caused by hurts in my life that overtook me. However, the worst bout I ever experienced, came out of the blue. I had just returned from an amazing mission trip where I saw God at work not just around me but doing incredible things in my own life as well. Then out of nowhere, I was swallowed up by darkness, sadness and hopelessness. I cried out to God because that is what I know.

The scariest part about that bout is that in my darkness, I felt like God was so far away. Though I couldn’t sense his presence at all, I continued to seek him. I read my Bible like crazy, I cried and I prayed. It was the darkest, scariest, coldest, loneliest place that I have ever been. The strange thing is that just as the depression fell over me for seemingly no reason at all, it also lifted just as mysteriously. The only thing that I can figure is that God let me experience that (thankfully short) season so that I could have a tiny bit of insight.

If you are a person who is currently suffering from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, please don’t lose hope. Your life is precious, though you may not be able to see that through the darkness. I know the battle gets tiresome, but you must keep fighting. I urge you to talk to someone and seek help. You may be convinced that no one cares about you, but I promise there are people who do.

If you really can’t find anyone you know to confide in, call the 24-hour suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or click this link to chat with someone. I also urge you to talk to a doctor to see if you need medication and to let them know if you are on medication that doesn’t seem to be helping or seems to be making matters worse. Call or visit a church and ask to speak with someone on staff, even if you’ve never attended there. They don’t care whether or not you are a member, but they do care about you. Make an appointment with a counselor to see if there are some hurts deep down inside that you need to work through. Cry out to God and look for a glimpse of him to shine through the darkness. I truly believe that sometimes, it takes the help of a doctor and counselor to help, but please include God in your recovery as well. He is the One who offers the most satisfying peace of all. I know this because he is the Hope and Peace that gets me through the toughest of days.

Whether you are someone who is strong at the moment or someone who is struggling, please join me in prayer for all of the broken people around us. Pray that God would overwhelm them with his light so that there is no darkness. Pray for him to break them from any addictions and free them from any mental illness. Pray for them to reach out and get the help they need. Pray for them to find their identity, their confidence, their security and their purpose in Jesus. Pray for God to make their lives mighty testimonies that bring glory to him and will encourage others who are also fighting the darkness.

Can You See Hope?

Posted on by Paula

Can you see hope? Last Monday, 27 days after the first day of spring, I glanced out my window and saw really big snowflakes. The snow started coming down so hard that I could barely see flowers on the trees. And then I noticed something even crazier, an icicle in the middle of April! I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was there any hope?

Thankfully, the bright purple azaleas a few feet past the icicle snapped me back to my senses. Summer was surely on its way; winter would surely end.

I started this winter out strong, believing I could handle it. I purchased some cute winter outfits and armed myself with my pink coat, electric blanket, sidewalk salt and window de-icer.

I did pretty well for the first couple of months, but by the middle of February, I had to fight harder. I brought in the coconut scented lotion, indulged in tropical fruit, sat bright colored flowers in my window sill and melted wax cubes that smelled like an ocean breeze.

I fought with all I had, but the day came when I felt like I could take no more. I didn’t want to wear multiple layers of clothes. I didn’t want to go outside. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I didn’t want to do ANYTHING. Winter was lasting a really long time, and I started longing for the sunshine more than ever.

The day finally came when I could go outside without a heavy coat! However, the next day was bitter cold again. The back and forth cycle began. The sunshine burst through one day, but clouds drifted back the next. A dandelion popped up but was followed by frost. The daffodils bloomed, but then snow covered them up.

Sandals, boots, hope, despair…. That’s the battle that winter brings. I can get caught up dwelling on the cold and dreary weather or I can keep my thoughts on what lies ahead. I can fix my eyes on the icicles, or I can focus on the azaleas in the distance.

Isn’t that how life is? Things are going great, and then we hit difficult season. Life gets better, but then more trials develop. Life can become an emotional roller coaster as we transition through its seasons.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a burdensome season that just won’t go away. Problem after problem arises, and the load gets harder and harder to bear. We might even encounter a season that we know is only going to get worse until our life on earth is over.

In these seasons of distress and despair, we have a choice. We can either give in to hopelessness or we can search for hope and hold on to the end.

“How can you have hope when one thing keeps happening after the next?” or “How can you have hope if you know this pain will continue until you die?” you might ask. Let me tell you about the hope I possess. I have been through some extremely difficult seasons. In fact, my life right now is not trouble-free, and I am certain that I have seasons in my future that will be even more difficult than anything I have encountered to this day. Yet whatever lies ahead, I will continue to do what I have been doing thus far.

Instead of being swallowed up by despair and grief, I will put on the full armor of God so I can stand against the devil’s schemes. I will fight with the word of God and prayer. I will seek the Lord with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. For whatever I must walk through, I know that God will walk through it with me.

Whatever pain I endure whether physical, mental or emotional, I will remember that I am more than flesh and bones. I am a soul who has entrusted my life to the One who created my inmost being. I will hold on to the hope that no matter what trouble lies ahead, something far greater than I could ever imagine is off in the distance.

Someday, when my heart stops beating and I take my last breath, my God will take me home with him, where there will be no more mourning or crying or pain. I will be made perfectly whole and will spend eternity with a loving, holy, perfect God in a perfect place.

So, my question to you is this, “Can you see hope? Can you see past the struggles that you are facing and the difficult days that lie ahead?” This hope I speak of is found in only one place. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to Father except through him. Our sin has separated us from God, but Jesus paid the price for all of our sins. Do you know Jesus, and have you entrusted your life to him?  God wants each of us to accept this gift of forgiveness and return to him. Ask God to forgive you for going your way instead of his. He will wash you clean with the blood of Jesus, fill you with the Holy Spirit and transform you to be more like him. Lay down your life today and start living for him. He will fill you with peace and hope that lasts for an eternity.

He Always Knows What I Need

Posted on by Paula

My friend, Shelly, texted me, “Are you up to going to the concert?” She had invited me to attend as her guest several weeks before. I love Casting Crowns and had been to 2 or 3 of their concerts, but I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to go. I hadn’t been feeling well physically, my mind was on overload and my heart was burdened over other people’s suffering. I was overwhelmed because of being really busy both at work and home. I was really longing for a day to just stay at home and go nowhere.

To make matters worse, I felt bad for snapping at my family that afternoon. My husband simply asked me what I thought we’d have for dinner that night, but because I was so worn down from too much working and not enough resting (still no excuse), I snapped. I started listing off all of the things that I needed to take care of, how I couldn’t do it all and how exhausted I was…again. I felt terrible. He & my family didn’t deserve the angry rant that proceeded out of my mouth.

So, no. I really didn’t feel like going to worship with my friend. On top of wanting to stay at home and rest, I figured I’d see a lot of people I knew from our church and community. I didn’t want anyone to see me in the mood I was in, and I wasn’t sure if I could “put on the face” to hide how I felt inside. Yet deep down, I knew I needed to go. So, I went.

We entered the doors to the building and before we even reached the auditorium, I talked to or waved back to at least a dozen people I knew. Inside the auditorium, I passed another dozen on the way to my seat. They were in front of me, behind me and down my row. I tried not to think of them. I tried not to wonder if they could see through me. I sat still for the first time in a long time and tried to hold it together while longing for God to reach down and fix my attitude and brokenness.

The concert soon began. Through the words that were sung, I was reminded of God’s truth, love, faithfulness and awesomeness. Shifting my focus from myself to God, I was drawn into worship. It was me and God in a crowded room.

Although the Casting Crowns concert was a wonderful experience, the opening band, “I Am They,” was even more uplifting to me. I listened as they each shared their testimony. The band talked about their pasts with broken homes, divorces, drug addictions and pornography and how their lives were changed when they encountered Christ. They each had their struggle, yet God delivered them all, and there they stood on the stage right in front of me.

As a pastoral care associate and high school youth leader, I had walked in that night carrying a burden for lives that shared similar struggles. I had been listening to, loving on and praying for so many people caught in vicious cycles of struggle, addiction and depression. I had shared God’s love and pointed them to hope in him, but I was getting a bit discouraged as I watched some who were fading away yet again.

Listening to each story, I saw not only the band members’ faces, but the faces of the people I was burdened for. To hear them share how God had totally transformed their lives when they had been so lost, my hope inside that was dwindling grew stronger again. If God could heal that divorced woman, free that heroin addict and break the chains for that man caught in pornography, there was still hope for the ones I know who seemed to be drifting once more. “Keep listening, keep loving, keep praying, keep the hope,” a quiet voice inside encouraged.

The most meaningful part of the evening was when “I Am They” said that they had arrived early to pray over each of the chairs. When they told us that, I pretty much lost it. When someone takes the time to pray over the chairs, it is because their heart longs for the person who will sit there to be touched by God in the way they need his touch. I remembered the times that I had been the one to pray over the chairs, but this time, someone had actually prayed over the chairs for me! I hoped that no one could see as I wiped my tears.

I love to listen, to pray, to speak words of truth, to love and to minister by helping people find hope in Jesus. But I had walked into that building that night with a tired body, a worn out mind and a troubled soul. To hear that someone had prayed over my chair was like a hug from God. I needed that. To be ministered to by someone who didn’t even know me was a reminder to me that God is watching and listening, ready to reach down at just the right moment.

I love Casting Crowns, but I wouldn’t have been at that concert that night if my friend hadn’t offered me a ticket. I almost didn’t go, but I felt the need. I walked in worn down and walked out rejuvenated. God met me there in the crowd at a sold-out concert that I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend. It was a gift from my friend and a gift from my Daddy at just the right time. He always knows what I need.

A Vulnerable Position

Posted on by Paula

Today I find myself in a vulnerable position again as I announce my newest venture. As I mentioned in last Monday’s blog post, there are a few things that I really love to do. I love to create, to write, to doodle, to paint and to encourage. And though, I’m not the greatest at any of those things, I believe that God wired me to use those passions that burn deep inside my heart by letting them ooze out my fingertips and my mouth. Whatever I’m doing and however I’m spending my time, I’m always looking for ways that I can use those passions for the glory of God.

I am a creative thinker, and sometimes I visualize a design or picture when I am reading my Bible in the mornings. As I meditate on the words, I grab my markers or colored pencils and draw it out.

For at least two years now, I have been posting some of my “doodles” to social media. I don’t always have time to doodle things out during my quiet time before work, but spending time reflecting on God’s word and then doodling it out is a great way to clear my head and rest a while at His feet. So, I decided to treat myself to a little extra time with this activity on my “day off.” As a result, Friday morning, “Doodles with God” was born, and I started posting the creations nearly every week.

My reason to post my designs was to share God’s word with colorful doodles and encourage my Facebook friends.  A few of my friends said that I should make cards to sell. I loved the idea because I have always enjoyed making cards for family, but I didn’t know if my cards were good enough to sell. Then one of my sons suggested I should open an Etsy store and also see if any little shops around town would allow me to sell cards. Again, I was flattered and dreamed a little bit about making cards for more people, but I quickly tucked the dream away.

On January 20, out of the blue, my friend, Debby sent me a message asking if I would consider reproducing some of my doodles and framing them for her to sell in her boutique. I asked her if someone had put a bug in her ear. “No,” she replied, “only God if anyone. It hit me out of the blue as I was seeing one of your doodles run through the news feed again. And of course, I have learned to act when those thoughts run across my mind.”

Before I could even back out, Debby was requesting frames on Facebook and telling me to get ten ready for the grand opening of her 2nd boutique. I excitedly texted my son who once again reminded me that I needed to get an Etsy shop going.

On February 16, I delivered eight framed doodles to Debby’s Nzuri Boutique Ltd. in Greenville, and I made my first sale. I didn’t cash the check because I wasn’t sure if anyone would purchase any of the prints from my friend. When I offered to return the check if the if the pieces didn’t sell, she said she was fine and that she liked the word being seen in her store. That made me happy because finding ways to spread God’s word is one of my greatest desires.

Meanwhile, my son and husband continued to encourage me to open an Etsy shop. Finally, early in the morning on April 7, “Every Season Creations” went live with six of my favorite designs for sale. Today, I nervously make the public announcement and try to spread the word so that people will visit my shop.

So, here I go. I present each doodle as a humble offering created with love for Jesus and a desire to point others to Him. I hope to add more designs to my shop in the near future and even have some other great items I hope to find time to produce soon.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a scary and vulnerable moment for me as I wonder what people will think of my work. However, Debby’s words help me remember what I am trying to do. Just as she likes the word being seen in her shop, I want to get God’s word out there to be seen by as many people as possible. I would love for my designs to be used not only to encourage people to know that God is near and that he is faithful, trustworthy and loving, but also to inspire others to meditate on his word and find ways to spread it through the passions that he puts on their own hearts.

Seemingly Small Offerings

Posted on by Paula

Well, today is that day again. For over a year now, I have published a blog post every Monday. However, as I type away this evening, I have in front of me 6 half-written drafts and less than 5 hours of Monday left to accomplish the task.

I haven’t felt well for a few days now, and tonight I’m drained, weak and really tired. I can barely stay awake, and I really just want to curl up under my pink electric blanket and fall asleep in my striped flannel pajamas and floppy-ear bunny socks.

On top of the physical struggles, a battle is raging in my mind over the fact that I’ve been blogging for over a year and my audience seems to be dwindling lately rather than growing. That’s not exactly a confidence booster. In fact, it would be quite easy to throw in the towel and convince myself that no one would even notice if I never blogged again.

Please don’t misunderstand my intent. I’m not seeking anyone’s sympathetic words or praises in sharing these thoughts with you. Rather I hope to encourage you by sharing with you why I continue to peck away at my keyboard tonight when quite honestly, I have no promise this rambling will produce any fruit at all.

You see, there are a few things that I really love to do. I love to create, to write, to doodle, to paint and to encourage.  I believe that God wired me to use those passions that burn in my heart and ooze out my fingertips and my mouth. However, I am not the greatest at any of those things. That’s just the truth of the matter.

But…. here’s a really cool thing that I have realized. God doesn’t raise everyone up to be a Billy Graham, Mark Hall, Beth Moore or Lysa Terkheurst… Not everyone who writes a blog is going to draw a huge following. Not everyone who writes a book will end up on the best-seller list. Most people who doodle and paint will never have their work on display in a gallery or even sell a single print. And though there are many, many wonderful musicians, most of them will never be heard on the radio.

There are many amazingly gifted people who will never be famous for their wonderful talents and never be remembered after their life on earth is finished, but that doesn’t mean that their efforts are of no value. Whoever we are and whatever we do, we must take those gifts and passions that God created us with and put them to use for his glory. We simply present our sometimes seemingly small offerings to God, and we leave the rest up to him.

We may not reach millions, or thousands or even hundreds of people. But, if out of the sincerity of our hearts and our love for our incredible Lord and Savior, we do what we believe God put on our hearts to do, God just might work through us to show someone his love, his goodness, his peace or his hope. He might use the words we write, the encouragement we speak, the masterpiece we paint, the song we sing or the grace we extend to let someone know he is near and that he loves them.

We may not always know when God uses our offering to him to touch a life. There will most likely be times when we put forth our best to bring glory to God, but we do not see any fruit at all. However, we must remember that we do what we do, not for us, but for him. We are simply broken jars of clay yearning for his light to shine through so that others can see the Glorious Living God and be drawn not to us, but to him.

Remembering in the Quiet

Posted on by Paula

I got up before the sunrise today and have been sitting in the dark and thinking. I have no idea how I even got through last week. There were so many things that needed taken care of, but by the end of the week, it was all one long blur. The busyness is now over, and so I sit in the dark and enjoy the quiet. I breathe peacefully, while the dog lies on my feet ensuring that I remain still for a while. As I get ready to begin a new week and anticipate a much lighter load, I think about Jesus and what this week held for him long ago…

Jesus knew it was his last week, yet he continued to put the needs of others above his own. He spoke the truth in love. He reminded the people of the difference between lip service that comes from knowing what God wants and true obedience that comes from knowing the Father and loving the Son. He humbled himself; the Master washed his disciples’ feet. He didn’t exclude the one who he knew would betray him. He prepared his closest followers for what was to come and spoke comforting words to let them know that it would be okay. Yet it was going to be difficult…

He knew what was coming that Thursday. He fell with his face to the ground and prayed to the Father three times asking if it was possible to take away the cup of suffering that he had been asked to drink. And though his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground, his earnest prayers of anguish ended with, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

He was full of love, grace and compassion. He was a man of honor and truth. He healed the sick and gave sight to the blind. He was a friend to sinners, the poor and those who others shunned. There wasn’t a mean or selfish bone in his body. He spent his life serving those around him and doing the will of his Father. He never committed a single sin. He didn’t deserve this cup, but he knew that we were separated from God by our sin. He understood that the only way to get rid of our sin was by shedding the blood of a sinless man. There was no other way. He was willing to take the blame, willing to suffer, willing to die. He accepted the cup.

A large crowd arrived that night with clubs and swords. For thirty pieces of silver, he was betrayed with a kiss, and his closest friends deserted him. He was handed over for questioning, accused of blasphemy, spit on, beaten and ridiculed. He was completely innocent, but he didn’t defend Himself.

Then came Friday. Over and over, the whips beat upon his back until it became a mass of torn, bleeding tissue. He was stripped and dressed in a scarlet robe. A crown of thorns was twisted and placed on his head. They put a staff in his hand, knelt in front of him and mocked him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They spit on him, took the staff and beat him on the head over and over. Then they put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be crucified.

As he hung on the cross, the people continued to mock him. “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God! He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

After hours of suffering, he cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried out again, and then he gave up his spirit.

The kind, compassionate, loving, giving, completely innocent man died. The crowd deserved to die. I deserve to die; you deserve to die, but he is the one who took the punishment.

He was buried in a tomb. A stone was rolled in front of the opening, and guards were posted to ensure that no one took the body. It seemed like hope was gone, but that wasn’t the end of the story….

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” (Matthew 28:1-6).

Yesterday was “Palm Sunday,” and so this week we observe “Passion Week.” This is a time when we reflect on Christ’s passion for us and his passion to obey the Father, as He suffered and willingly gave his life to take away our sins. Jesus knew that the time was near and that the upcoming week would not be easy. Though he was praised as he rode into town on a donkey on Sunday, the praise would quickly turn to ridicule, torment and pain which would finally end with death on a cross. So we remember this week the things he said and did with only one week left before he would lay his innocent life down to die for us.

As we remember his passion for us, may we passionately worship him & proclaim the Good News of his death & resurrection to others. Jesus Christ died for our sin and has is risen! Do you believe?

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Just as Jesus laid down his life for you, won’t you lay down your life for him? Turn away from your sin, turn to him and accept his gift of eternal life. Then share the Good News with others. Who do you know that needs to know the peace and hope that comes through him?

Beautiful Feet

Posted on by Paula

I’ve never really liked my feet. It’s extremely difficult to find shoes that fit properly because my feet are short and wide with squared off toes. The bottoms of my pinkie toes are squished into a point, and their nails don’t grow right. I also don’t spend much time taking care of my feet. So, my heels are usually cracked, and my toe nails usually look atrocious.

I’m ready for summer and flipflop weather, but at the same time, I’m not excited for my feet to be exposed for everyone’s viewing. In fact, as I prepare to take a photo for this blog, I wonder if I should take the time to trim and paint my nails to hide how bad they look.

At the beginning of staff meeting last week, our Campus Minister asked us to bring our phones into the auditorium. He had placed a mat with an Easter invitation on the floor. He told us each to take a photo of our feet on the mat and then post it to social media with #ChristsChurch #HopeForAll. Although I participated, I was a little disappointed that I hadn’t worn fancier shoes that day. At least my feet weren’t bare.

I watched all of the photos of our staff’s feet circulating around social media and thought about all the different shoes and the personalities that went along. A couple of days later, I noticed a post by someone outside of staff. Katie had come in for band practice and taken a photo of her feet on the mat. That’s when I was hit by the sweetness of the photo and what it meant. The words of Isaiah echoed in my mind,

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” ~Isaiah 52:7

I thought about each of the posts I had seen and all of the different feet. Each set of feet belongs to a person who has walked a unique journey. Each person could tell you about happy adventures their feet had taken them on, but each person could share stories about the trials and struggles along the way as well.

Whatever path each of us have taken, the one thing in common with all of those feet is that the people they belong to have chosen to follow Jesus and to proclaim his truth and love as they go. Every believer has a story to tell about the way Jesus has made a difference in their life.

It doesn’t matter if our feet look worn and neglected or if they are regularly pampered with pedicures. It doesn’t matter if we wear sparkly heels, leather boots or battered sneakers. What matters is if those feet are willing to go and to take the good news to share with others.

My heart is warmed each time I see a post with feet planted on the Easter invitation mat or a post of a hand holding an Easter invitation they will pass along. Each post reveals a person who has been impacted by Jesus in such a way that they can’t help but share his goodness with others.

God is pure and holy. He created each of us in his image, but we have all sinned by choosing to do things our own way instead of his. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son to die on a cross and pay the penalty for our sin. This free gift of grace is offered to everyone no matter what they have done. We simply have to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and accept him as our Lord and Savior. In doing so, we repent of our sin, turning from our ways to his and following him. Through Jesus, we find forgiveness, salvation, hope and peace, and that is good news worth sharing.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’” ~Romans 10:14-15

Celebrating Week 52

Posted on by Paula

I have enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. Growing up before the internet, I wrote hundreds of letters to pen pals, cousins who moved from country to country and friends I met at church camp. I was that kid in school who eagerly anticipated the next writing assignment. I dreamed of writing books full of poetry, stories and helpful ideas; I just didn’t know how to make those dreams a reality. So, when I entered the adult world, I decided to focus on other passions like becoming a wife, mother, cosmetologist, Sunday school teacher and volunteer. I even ended up on staff at a church somehow.

Although I have found great satisfaction in life no matter which one of those hats I happened to be wearing, I have always found ways to incorporate writing. As an adult, I have written letters to friends who moved away. I have made sentimental cards for my children and family. I have written lessons for my Sunday school students and even created a family devotional book in a 3-ring binder for them. As a volunteer, God has given me words to stir the hearts of others. I have even found ways to write in all the different roles I’ve had since being on church staff. Whatever my main job is, I always find a way to include my passion to write!

Another avenue I have found to feed my crave for writing is social media. I created a Facebook account nine years ago for the sole purpose of viewing some pictures a friend wanted me to see. I slowly eased into adding my own pictures and silly little posts. Then after a while, I began posting longer thoughts that came to me. I had found another outlet for my passion, and my friends encouraged me to continue. Some of them even suggested that I should write a book or start a blog.

I am not a confident person, but I do love to write. So, last year, I spent hours of googling information, watching YouTube videos and praying. Then one year ago today, I started a new adventure. On March 12, 2017 I became the proud owner of my own domain name and signed a contract with a web hosting company in hopes of building my own website and starting a blog. I didn’t understand a lot of the terminology and had no idea what I was doing. To be quite honest, I still don’t understand much about it. Yet somehow, things are up and running.

My website still needs a lot of improvement but has been working well enough to get my words out there into the cyber world. Today, I celebrate my 52nd consecutive week of publishing blog posts. There were weeks that I had no idea what to write and weeks when I was too tired to think, but I have consistently posted on every Monday except for one week in November. I waited until Tuesday that week so that I could post on the day my husband and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary. In addition to the Monday posts, I was even able to post daily through Advent.

Today I publish my 75th blog post. Over the past 52 weeks, I have written 49,000 words that have received views from 16 different countries. While a total of 3,216 views and 1837 visitors really isn’t a huge amount, it is pleasing to this woman who was scared that no one would be interested in what she had to say. My stats are fairly small, but I am content to know that each and every week, someone out there has read the words that I have faithfully posted.

This brings me to why I write. Besides the fact that I really enjoy letting my thoughts flow through my fingertips, I write because I want to encourage others. I want others to know that there is light in the darkness, that there is always hope and that there is a God who has been with me through my whole journey. My greatest pleasures as a writer, are the moments when God chooses to use me as his vessel to write the words that someone else needs to hear. Isn’t that what he created us for?

Whatever we do, it’s not about us. It’s about the One who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs, giving us passions, gifts and talents to use for his glory. We find our purpose when we take what God has given us and allow him to work through us to show others how awesome he is, how much he loves them and how much they need him.

I published that first post, “A Season of Gray Hairs and Discipline,” back on March 20, 2017 with the attitude that even if no one read the words, I would have spent time writing with God and allowing him to transform me through our time together. I write each week for God and the hope of inspiring others to spend more time working on their relationship with him as well.

Thank you to those of you who take the time to read “Through Every Season” and those who have subscribed to receive my posts. Thank you to those who have encouraged me and challenged me and given me the nudges I needed. Thanks for the feedback and for sharing the posts that speak to you. I don’t like to bring attention to myself but always hope to find ways to bring attention the One who is worthy. It’s all for him.