To live free: shameless audacityI remember the first time my friend Kris said this phrase.
Shameless audacity.
He shared how he longed to come before God in the way that scripture showed that we could, in the way that God opened the door for us to come.
As I read Hebrews 4:16, I saw it! (more…)
Is your faith in God alone?Trials demand wisdom, wisdom demands prayer, and prayer demands faith. ~R. Ellsworth
Sometimes I just don’t have the answer. Am I alone in this? I don’t think so.
Not long ago I had an encounter with someone I care about. Something small turned large in a heartbeat. It made me angry. I wanted to hurt this person back. But I paused.
Just for a second.
Because reacting to feelings often lead me in a crazy direction, the opposite of where I really want to go.
What do I do?
A prayer. Whispered where no one could hear. And then I knew what to do. It was exactly the opposite of what I wanted to do, or would have done 10 seconds earlier. (more…)
Dear friend, when a family member hurts my heart
Do you have a question about faith, family, or feelings? Let’s talk. Let’s pray together. Send your email to tseller@daretobelieve.org and mark it “Dear Friend”. Today a mom and mother-in-law responds to Friday’s post, Holiday Blues.
Dear Suzie,
After reading your devotional on family and holidays, I am right where you are. We have a young grandbaby that we rarely get to spend time with. Her mother is jealous of any relationship my son may have with us and finds every excuse imaginable to stay away from us. She only wants to share her time with her parents.
We have spoken in love with both of them, they only say that they don’t have time and are busy they both work. I work, but we always time we have for them. I have prayed and asked God to help me accept this, but I am so very depressed that things are this way .
Can you please pray for our family? I have told my husband I either just want to leave or not even live. It is so hurtful the way she treats us. Our son allows her to be the leader of their house. My husband has tried to talk to him alone, but to no avail. I am so lonely for the love of my son and his family. Our son lives only 15 minutes away.
Will you lift us up in your prayers and if you have any advice, please send it my way. Hurting mom and grandma. (more…)
From trouble to perfect, really?
One way I love to study the Bible is to take a small portion of scripture and read it, then study it, then read it again and take it deeper. Because I often miss a life changing scripture as I try to take in large chunks of God’s word.
This morning was one of those times.
Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (James 1:2)
A familiar scripture. One that has proved faithful over the years. When I was sick with cancer. . . when I wrestled with sadness. . . when we were hit financially. . . when my son was injured by a drunk driver. . . my faith deepened as I trusted God moment by moment to live, and to trust no matter the outcome.
Those were hard times.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:3-4)
I was about to move on to verse 5 and 6 and further, but felt that gentle nudge stop me. So I read that verse again. And the word “perfect” stopped me.
Perfect, really? (more…)
Holiday Blues, or not?If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!
It’s interesting that this devotion fell on this week, because as I’m writing it, it’s Thanksgiving. My grown children are all with their other families. My grandbabies (one brand new granddaughter born on Monday!) are with their other grandparents.
And while I miss them, I realize this devo has become much more than words. It’s transforming. At least, it has been for me.
I shared that when we were first married, it was a struggle. I loved holidays, but soon they just became exhausting. We tried to be everywhere, and inevitably someone would be disappointed in us. Talk about a double bind! Eventually we shared our needs. And to our relatives’ credit, many of them loosened up.
And if they didn’t? Respectfully, we acknowledged that it was pretty awesome to be loved by so many people, but still slowed it down so that holidays were no longer a blur. (more…)
Baby news!I’m taking most of the week off from the Internet this week except to post a pic of a beautiful baby girl who entered our lives on Monday evening. Jane Erin Eller, my third grandbaby and second granddaughter made her grand entrance into the world and into Gramma’s heart.
So I’m hanging out with this precious gift and my other grandchildren and children. I hope you have an amazing week and I’ll be back on Monday!
I will share a couple of pics with you of Jane (my newest) and Elle, my 16 month old grandbaby.
Have an amazing Thanksgiving, and don’t forget to pause and give thanks for the things that mean most to you.
I appreciate you!
From Suzie, a girl whose heart is full, full, full!
See you then.
Suzie
