Mid-Week Message - Hope From Isaiah 40:31

"..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

What a wonderful verse!  So much hope!  Often quoted, it is clung to in times of difficulty.  And well it should be.  It turns our thoughts upward and reminds us that it is the Lord that will renew our strength.  We get so tired here.  Life is hard.  Some days it seems that around every corner is another hurtle that must be conquered and we wonder each time how we are going to make our way over it.  

I love that we are given the example of an eagle.  Majestic in appearance, eagles are admired for their beauty, grace and strength.  But did you ever wonder how the eagle would describe life?  As wild animals they must face the elements of nature every minute of their lives.  They must toil for each morsel of food, fight for territory, defend their nests and their young and defend themselves against predators, if and when they are encountered.  To me, this sounds like a hard life. 

There is so much more to these beautiful birds than what we see as spectators.   That the scriptures use them to give us hope is quite meaningful.  If I were to add my own paraphrase, this verse would go something like this, "..those who hope in the Creator God, will renew their strength and be able to carry on just like the eagle soars even when its day has been full of toil and woe; they will run and not grow weary because the Lord will continue to strengthen them through each and every painful step and they will walk in confidence, leaning on Him to keep them on their feet."  

What is wearing you down today?  I urge you to look up and to grab the hand of the Almighty.  Allow Him to use the examples in nature to reassure you that He is in control.  For, if He can be the wind beneath the wings of a weary eagle, then just think what He can and will do for us.  God bless you.  

Mid-Week Message - Too Much to Carry

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"  Matthew 11:28-29  (NLT)

When something heavy needed to be moved in our home when I was younger, I was the child that was called upon to help.  I had an older brother but he never quite seemed to be around when these things needed to be done.  I became quite good at moving television consoles, couches, dressers and anything else that was more than a one person job.  I learned how to move most things on my own even, if I needed to do so.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  

Heavy physical burdens are quite familiar to me.  I know what it feels like to be weighed down and to be so overwhelmed with weight that I have found it difficult to move at times.  One of my favorite things to do is to float in a pool.  The feeling of being weightless is sheer joy!  

The physical weights we carry are easy compared to the other burdens that life places upon us.  All of us encounter times of trouble that drive us to our knees.  In the last several years, two of my closest friends have had to endure the death of a child.  I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that has been for them.  As a mother myself, I can think of nothing worse.  Carrying that grief was crushing for them.  They made it through by crying out to the Lord and understanding that they were not alone to bear the sadness alone.  He was with them in the valley they had to traverse.  

Today's verse refers to a yoke, which is a crosspiece that is laid across the shoulders of two animals to lighten a load for each of them.  We are not meant to bear the burdens of life alone.  Galatians 6:2 tells us to, "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."  We are to come together to help each other.  When we do not have the strength to continue on our own, we need to be able to reach out to those around us. 

Psalm 55:22 tells us, "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the Godly to slip and fall."  We have been created by a loving and caring Creator.  He never desired for us to feel alone.  He wants to be actively involved in our lives.  He cares about everything we encounter.  When we are weighed down, He will be there to lighten the load, to walk with us and to support us.  He can bring healing to the deep wounds that the pain of this life brings.  And He reminds us that a time is coming when we will be free of that pain for eternity.

What are you carrying today that is weighing you down?  Illness?  Financial problems?  Wayward children?  Whatever it is, ask Him to help you through it.  He is faithful and true and will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He adores you and is delighted when you turn to Him. God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - I'm Tired, Lord (Reprint)

  "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.  Let me dwell in your tent forever!  Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!  Selah"  Psalm 61:1-4 (ESV)

I'm tired, Lord.  How many of us have begun a prayer with those words?  My guess would be that, at some point in time, most of us have.  It is simple and it is honest.  Let's face it, life isn't so much fun some days.  Just standing up from the bed or couch can feel like a marathon for those with physical maladies.  For those in the workplace, we all know that the stress can be grueling.  The day in and day out of going through the same motions can be exhausting.  No wonder we come home and flop down in front of the television.  It gives us a chance to get our minds on something else, if only temporarily.  At bedtime, we count the hours we can sleep before repeating the same routine again.  

I chose today's verse because it expresses our need for a place to run to and find shelter when life gets hard.  Of course, we know Jesus is always with us but it can be hard to remember that when we are struggling and feel alone.  We all need a secure place to feel protected and loved and there is no place better than in the arms of our Father.  

There is a song that I love to listen to when I feel that I just can't go on.  Sung by Josh Groban, "You Raise Me Up" helps me to picture Jesus' hands coming down from Heaven to scoop me up and hold me close.  His strength is all that gets me through each day of my life.  He is our source for strength, for hope, for safety and for rest.  In Him we find understanding and direction.  

Do you sing to the Lord?  There are so many wonderful hymns that many of us know by heart.  "Take My Hand, Precious Lord", "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "Leaning On the Everlasting Arms" are just a few but there are many others, including multiple contemporary songs that we can sing to Him while He is carrying us through difficulties.  Music is a gift that we can use to praise our Lord that will also buoy our hearts and remind us that there is Someone who knows everything we go through and loves us far beyond our physical, mental or emotional capabilities.  

When we feel so tired that we seriously wonder how much longer we can continue, when our souls are downcast and feeling abandoned, when we feel as though there is no help available, He is there.  His arms are always open and His shoulder is ready if you need to shed a few tears.  He has enough strength to help each and every one of us and have plenty left over.  There is never a time when He cannot see or hear what we are going through and His presence is always accessible.  

We do not have to carry life's burdens alone.  Lay them at the foot of the cross and ask our risen Savior to assist you through your day.  May you find rest and peace in whatever struggle you have before you.  God bless! 

Mid-Week Message - An Unexpected Lesson

 "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Our house has a deck in the back that has four steps that lead to the yard.  When our dogs need to go out they have to go down those steps.  Our thirteen year old miniature poodle, Custer, has arthritis in his hips and back legs and has a difficult time during cold weather.  When my husband is home, he will carry him down and back up.  But when he isn't here then it becomes my responsibility to help Custer.  Last week I put him on a leash and walked him out through the garage.  This week is warmer and he has been walking better and has wanted to go in the yard.  Yesterday he was fine.  He went up and down the steps on his own with no problem.  Today, however, he went down but was afraid to come back up.  After watching him stand at the bottom and bark and cry for help, I went through the garage where we have another set of steps that has railings on both sides.  This is important because I also have arthritis and need support on both sides in order to be able to handle steps.  

When I managed to get to the steps where Custer was, at first he moved away from me.  I guess he was unsure of how I was going to help him.  When he finally came over, all it took was for me to place my hand on him and he went right up.  All he needed was to know someone was there in order to find the confidence to do what he needed to do.  This took place twice today.  He needed help getting up the steps and I needed the assurance I could go down and up and not fall.  

We all encounter times when we need courage to be able to do what is before us.  Just as I placed my hand on Custer to give him the courage to go up the steps, so the Lord assists us when we are fearful of going forward.  Last year I learned deep lessons about trusting God.  While dealing with my husband's illness and all the uncertainties, leaning on Him was the only way I was able to make it through each day.  My continual prayer was, "Lord, please don't loosen your grip on us."  I praise Him for honoring that prayer and getting us through the most trying year of our lives and our marriage.  

As I was going up those steps this morning I realized something.  At all times, especially when we are struggling, our Father has His hand on our backs to remind us of His presence and to allow us to draw our courage from Him.  Each step we take is taken through the power He provides.  The ability to put one foot in front of the other is a gift that comes directly from the Creator.  He is also the supporting rails that we hold onto so that we don't fall.  By placing our hands in His, we gain the assurance that we don't ever have to rely solely upon our own strength. We grow tired.  We ache and think we can't continue.  But by accessing the power of the Almighty, what is seemingly impossible becomes possible.  

Little Custer had no idea that I would see the Lord through his weakness today.  Neither did I. I am constantly amazed at how He reveals Himself through everyday occurrences.  All it takes to learn divine lessons is to have our minds and eyes open.  Ours is not a God who is far away and disinterested.  Rather, He is always present, always available and always ready for us to turn to Him.  My hope is that we all remember the all-encompassing love He provides and allow Him to be all He wants to be in our lives.  May this be a week of eye-opening revelations.  God bless.   

Mid-Week Message - The Wind Beneath Our Wings

"..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

What a wonderful verse!  So much hope!  Often quoted, it is clung to in times of difficulty.  And well it should be.  It turns our thoughts upward and reminds us that it is the Lord that will renew our strength.  We get so tired here.  Life is hard.  Some days it seems that around every corner is another hurtle that must be conquered and we wonder each time how we are going to make our way over it.  

I love that we are given the example of an eagle.  Majestic in appearance, eagles are admired for their beauty, grace and strength.  But did you ever wonder how the eagle would describe life?  As wild animals they must face the elements of nature every minute of their lives.  They must toil for each morsel of food, fight for territory, defend their nests and their young and defend themselves against predators if and when they are encountered.  To me, this sounds like a hard life. 

There is so much more to these beautiful birds than what we see as spectators.   That the scriptures use them to give us hope is quite meaningful.  If I were to add my own paraphrase, this verse would go something like this, "..those who hope in the Creator God, will renew their strength and be able to carry on just like the eagle soars even when its day has been full of toil and woe; they will run and not grow weary because the Lord will continue to strengthen them through each and every painful step and they will walk in confidence, leaning on Him to keep them on their feet."  

What is wearing you down today?  I urge you to look up and to grab the hand of the Almighty.  Allow Him to use the examples in nature to reassure you that He is in control.  For, if He can be the wind beneath the wings of a weary eagle, then just think what He can and will do for us.  God bless you.  

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength

With everything that is going on in the world, I can easily understand why people say they are sad, depressed or just plain tired. Disharmony, fighting, bickering and hatred for one another has caused more and more people to seek counseling. It saddens me to hear people say, "If I can only get through this, I will be happy." Soon they find themselves depressed yet again.

As Christians, we have the strength and joy to live in harmony, peace, understanding and, most importantly, love. We should celebrate rather than fight. We should be cheerful rather than dejected. We should be joyful rather than sullen. Once we start being that example to others, the world will begin to change.

Next time you laugh, look around you. You will see people's faces change. People become friendlier and open. Smiles instead of frowns. Happiness is truly contagious. We all want to be happy and we all want to share that happiness.

In my life, I share my blessings with those around me. I find it easier to share joy rather than to be a miser and hold on to it. The Lord's mercy and grace surrounds each and every day and we need to proclaim it to all around us that we have that strength through His Joy.

And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!" Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)