Tag Archives: Faith

Overwhelming Concern by Joanna Shumaker
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The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, O Lord, is everlasting. Psalm 138:8

A powerful hurricane zoomed our way. It would hit by nightfall. The sheer strength of its force as it plundered islands along its path was enough to make us worry about the effects it would have on our little outpost. But this was only one of many hurricanes we had weathered. We had done it before and we could do it again. Still, the worry of what might happen or what might be lost in the process, weighed me down with concern.

I’ve felt hurricanes in my life as well. Like the swirling details of moving over 800 miles away from family and friends, selling and buying a house, finding a job, deciding on schools, and preparing my kids for a new change they really didn’t want. It seemed a daunting task. So many things piled up in my mind and caused stress, worry, and concern. I felt washed over by waves of worry and mountains of to-do lists.

Don’t Give Up – Joy Miller
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When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. Psalm 142:3

Part of me wanted desperately to be at the writers conference, but another part of me wanted to flee. Adrenaline set every nerve ending on fire. Fear of getting lost on campus or literally trembling in front of someone plagued me. How could I manage a week of meeting with editors and a full schedule of classes while struggling with panic attacks? I felt exhausted before the conference began. I begged God to equip me for the task ahead and I stepped forward in faith that He would help me.

God knows when our spirit grows faint. He sees where we are and is always faithful to minister to our need. He may do it through scriptures, a story of victory, or someone’s prayer of encouragement for us. At the times when God seems absent, things can look very dark and frightening. That’s when the truth of His Word saves us from despair. He is the lifter of our heads. He is our constant companion and comforter.

All of us battle something. It could be illness, job loss, or strife in our family. Whatever it may be, realize you don’t have to remain faint and discouraged. Cry out to God; tell Him about your heartaches and questions. Read the Word and plug into its power. Ask others to pray for you.

God provided for me at the conference. Each day I was given the strength and grace necessary to do what lay before me. Over and over through keynote speeches or personal conversations, I would discover others were dealing with hard, often similar problems. They understood my struggle and could empathize with my pain. They shared with me how God was helping them overcome their trials day by day.

Are you weary today? Will you reach out to God and let Him renew you? If so, you may discover the Lord is already at work using His power and the comfort of others to strengthen you. Please don’t give up. Give thanks, instead.

Joy Miller lives in Central Virginia. She is passionate about volunteering at her local crisis pregnancy center. One of her greatest pleasures comes from encouraging others, both at the center and through writing devotionals and sending notes to loved ones. Having worked at one time at a home improvement store, Joy now has her own interior decorating consulting business. Fun times are spent with friends, her precious niece and nephew, and her beloved golden retriever.
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People Changers – Carolyn K. Knefely
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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 NIV

In the early 1950s, Vacation Bible School (VBS) ladies welcomed my two brothers and me for three summers even though we were dirty, smelly, and uncivilized.

 Vacation Bible School teachers are impackful people. They touch lives long after a week of cookies, Kool-Aid, and felt-board gospel stories. Their kindness was something to behold. The snacks were real foods that we didn’t have to steal to fill our empty bellies for the day. But the Bible stories they told filled our souls for eternity.

These ladies never knew the life-long effect they had on me. Their willingness to teach in VBS introduced me to our Beloved, Jesus Christ. Their example of acceptance has been at the core of my being ever since. I continue to try and pass loving acceptance on to this day; some days with success and other days not.

Even though I didn’t know how to hold a fork or speak properly when I was seven years old, these women of faith showed me hospitality with a welcome hug and kind words. They were Christ’s servants setting me on a journey from a beggar to a teacher. Today, I teach fine dining etiquette and communication skills. Only God’s plan and fulfillment can make such extreme changes in a life.

This year when the role call for VBS volunteers is called, my hope and prayer is that many will be willing to serve. The ones answering the call will be today’s impackful people. They will be touching our future generations with food, acceptance, and the gospel story.

I may not have said “thank you” to the ladies at VBS who lifted my brothers and me up, but the Lord will not forget to say “well done good and faithful servant” to each one of them.

Carolyn K. Knefely is an inspirational speaker, a certified etiquette consultant, and professional development trainer. As a people polisher and co-director of Christian Communicators, she educates, validates, and launches women in their speaking ministries through conferences, retreats, and workshops. Her passions and experiences include equipping students in how to successfully transition from high school to college with ease; taking college students from backpack to briefcase with polish, poise and professional leadership skills; and showing women and teens how to use a teacup as an outreach tool through simple hospitality. Her speaking engagements are entertaining, interactive, and loaded with fun. Carolyn and her husband live in South Carolina to be near their daughter and her family.
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There’s More Where that Came From – Liz Collard
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To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Deuteronomy 10:14 NIV

It’s often way easier to tell someone else how to do it than it is to do it yourself. For years, my husband handled the bill paying and managed the money for our household. Through many times of financial stress, my advice to him was always the same: tithe anyway, even when you don’t think we can afford it, and trust God to provide. Easy for me to say. I wasn’t the one watching the balance in the checkbook go down while the stack of unpaid bills got higher.

I recently re-entered the workforce after several years at home. Before I got my first paycheck, I committed to give the full tithe on my pay, no matter what. Boy, was I surprised at how hard it can be. It takes a lot of faith to write out that check or give that online donation – especially when you aren’t making much to begin with. There are so many things to pay. I gained a whole new understanding of my husband’s struggle.

One night I sat at our dining room table preparing to pay bills. I added up all the income I’d earned that month as an office temp and through freelance work. I was pleased to see it was more than I thought. That meant I needed to give more. Before I submitted my tithe, I went back and forth between my desire to be faithful and my fear of not having what I needed.

Then it came to me. There’s more where that came from.

The money I received from those jobs came from God. In fact, everything I have came from him. He has promised to provide all I need and I’ve watched him do it my whole life, sometimes in miraculous ways. I don’t need to fear not having enough. If I run out, he’ll supply me with more. Since everything belongs to him, there’s always more where that came from.

Do you ever struggle with giving your tithes and offerings? If you do, just remember that the One who is your provider never runs out of anything. Go ahead and give – generously. He’ll always give you more.

Liz Collard is a writer and Christ-follower who lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband Bob. They are continually blessed by their three adult children, Matthew, Jeremy, and Mckenzie. Liz is the author of the Building a Godly Marriage series and her heart’s desire is to see families serving and glorifying God together. Contact her at liz.collard@hotmail.com.

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Walking With Christ – Barbara Duram
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Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

My diagnosis had finally been confirmed. It had taken five months as my family and my church prayed for me. The diagnosis was changed from a dormant type of lymphoma to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chemotherapy seemed to be the most effective treatment. The prognosis was good but chemo scared me to death. I’d heard all the bad stuff chemo caused… sickness, nausea, fatigue, and loss of hair. It sounded so bad but all I knew to do was pray. So I did.

The first treatment was scheduled and I saw my doctor first. He reassured me whatever side effects I faced he could counteract with medication. Still, fear grew faster than the cancer. Eventually I realized God had brought me this far and He wouldn’t leave me just when things got tough.

Hooked to IV’s in the infusion chair, the medicines that would cure my cancer dripped slowly into my veins. It took all day but I got through just fine. “Piece of cake,” I said. “I can do this.”

My treatments were scheduled twenty-one days apart. There would be one week of fatigue, then two weeks when I would feel better. The first two treatments were easy, but the third one left me tired and nauseated. It seemed as though the three weeks of recovery would never end and neither did my prayers. And they paid off because I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my family.

This whole incident reminds me of the poem, “Footsteps in the Sand,” where God walks beside me during my life but when it gets tough, He carries me. I know God is carrying me right now. I am halfway through my treatments and with each one, it gets a little harder. But I know God will never leave me. He will be with me, whether He is walking beside me or carrying me.

Have you ever felt afraid or alone going through a trial? Let God walk along with you. You are His child and He loves you so much. When things get tough, He’ll pick you right up and carry you through it.

Barbara Duram is a retired Human Resources Assistant, grandmother, served in various women’s fellowship positions at church including circle chairman and retreat chairman. Read Barbara’s devotions.

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Faith and Miracles – Kenneth M. Briggs
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And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV

My cousin asked me to sing at her wedding a year in advance. Now it was two days before the ceremony and I had no voice. It was probably just a passing virus, but I had no time for regular remedies or to allow it to run its course. I needed a miraculous answer to prayer—and I needed it now. Did I have enough faith to believe God for a miracle?

Why do we treat faith like it’s a magic formula? We act as though God is obligated to give us exactly what we want as long as we follow the correct steps; as long as we adhere to the formula. We don’t realize our faith is built on our relationship to a loving Father, not by following a creed or code. He uses covenants not contracts. Contracts spell out exactly what each party is to provide and what each should expect. Covenants contain what the parties want to accomplish together. They are based on a relationship in which each party wants the best for the other.

Paul reminded the Romans that God works all things together for good, not that all things are good. Sometimes what God sends our way is harsh and doesn’t appear to come from a Father who loves us. Sometimes what He does makes no sense to us at all. But God does not have to specifically promise He will do this or that in order for us to trust Him. Certainly He wants us to ask Him for the things we need, but He provides them because He loves and cares for us, not because we follow the letter of a spiritual contract. We can trust Him—not just His actions. We can know that everything He allows is only and always for our ultimate good.

God cared for me and for my cousin, providing exactly what was needed. My voice returned just in time and just long enough for me to sing.

Whatever crisis we face today, we can have faith that He knows and He cares. That’s the faith that brings about miracles.

Kenneth M. Briggs is a freelance writer, speaker, and all around square peg with a passion for truth, a vivid imagination, and a propensity for daydreaming. He has written devotional, inspirational, and technical articles, but prefers Sci-Fi and other fiction genres. He’s a member of ACFW, participates in the Scribes critique group, and is an alumnus of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Autumn in the Mountains Novelist Retreat. A private pilot and motorcycle enthusiast, Kenneth has a great time soaring the skies or cruising country roads when given the opportunity. He currently resides in North Mississippi where he participates in the church choir and volunteers his time twice a month speaking and singing at a local retirement community. Visit his blog site at www.kbspeaks.com.

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An Afternoon with My Dad – Sandra M. Hart
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The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” 1 Kings 19:11 (NIV)

He would have loved this peaceful garden. If I could have one more afternoon with him, what would we talk about?

As I crossed the covered bridge into the prayer garden, the serenity immediately welcomed me. I drank in the beauty of the blooming flowers in the midst of the Mountain Laurel. The brook sang as it skipped over smooth stones.

How I wished I could share this moment with my dad! Four years ago, he had joined my mother in Heaven, a mere five months after her death.

On second thought, I wouldn’t bring him to this mountain. I would take him to a clear stream near his childhood home in the Smoky Mountains. Maybe we’d hike along those paths he once loved.

I’ve often wished for his wise council in the past year. His words had a way of pointing me in the right direction. He helped me consider the costs. Even so, if I could spend an afternoon with him, I wouldn’t ask questions. I’d simply listen to whatever he wanted to say. I’m sure we’d stop talking to enjoy the gentle rush of the stream as the birds serenaded us.

Even though my dad couldn’t meet me here, God did.

God joins us wherever we are – serene gardens, neighborhood sidewalks, and quiet times on our knees. He offers wisdom from His Word and from His Heart, freely given to His loved ones – each one of us. Like a parent with a toddler, He gently guides faltering steps. In our times of prayer, He helps us count the cost of our decisions. His instruction is always just what we need.

God will be with us not only for an afternoon in the garden, but for all our days.

Sandra M. Hart writes for the A Hart for History link on DevoKids.com, where she serves as Assistant Editor. She has written for The Secret Place, Voice, Afictionado, and Common Ground. She is a contributor for Faith & Finance: In God We Trust, and writes historical romance novels.

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Life isn’t Fair – She Said
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Life isn't Fair

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16 NIV

Listen to He Will See You Through – She Said

“What a rip!” My son wasted no time in forming judgment. “That’s not fair. Not fair at all.” And he was right.

We sat stunned as a national news story hit our local television newscast. Sixteen-year-old, Wes Leonard, of Fennville, Michigan died on the court after shooting the winning lay-up for his high school basketball team and sending them to the play-offs.

One moment there were cheers of joy and in an instant, silence…dead silence. The teen who’d rushed down the court, giving his all, now lay dead from an enlarged heart.

“How sad.” I said. “The kid was a hero and he never got the opportunity to bask in the moment. Why does life seem so unfair?”

After the Magi heeded their warning not to revisit Herod so they made the trek home via a different route. They had no idea the repercussion their decision would make. Their obedience led Herod into a rage that ultimately resulted in the death of hundreds of baby boys. Unsure which baby was the Christ, Herod condemned them all to death.

I’ve yet to fully understand why life is so unfair. It’s easy to blame God for the bad things that happen but is He really to blame? Dale Tackett, teacher and author of The Truth Project, says it best. “It’s a cosmic battle being fought on a daily basis.”

For every spiritual win scored, Satan strikes back and those who strive to do what is right and good, become collateral damage in the war. Perhaps this is why God never promised walking in the light would be easy. It’s not that the God of the Universe expects our obedience then punishes us for doing it…it’s that Lucifer lies in wait.

We may not understand the collateral damage of a spiritual or cosmic war, nor do we grasp the greater good of the will of God. Often all we see is the sadness left in the wake of obedience, success and honesty.

We each have numbered days. Do not waste them. Be a hero like Wes Leonard by doing your best in everything you do. Earthly rewards are awesome but eternal rewards by far outweigh the temporal. Life isn’t fair, but heaven is.

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Who? – Ann Tatlock
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And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29

The little girl looked up at me with a puzzled expression. “Who?” she asked again.

“Jesus,” I repeated. “You know, we celebrate Christmas because it’s his birthday. Haven’t you heard about Jesus?”

My daughter’s playmate shook her head. I don’t know who was more mystified: six-year-old Sara, who thought Christmas really was about Santa Claus, or me, who couldn’t believe Sara had never heard the name of Jesus. Only later when I learned her parents were atheists would I understand.

My heart goes out to those who’ve never heard the name of the Savior. How do they live without Him? I wonder. Lately, though, the Lord has been turning that question back on me.

Life’s worries had been piling up. There was never enough money to pay the bills. My extended family was dealing with health and relationship issues. On top of that, I was the parent of a teenager! I was tired and discouraged and in some ways brokenhearted. The days were becoming a joyless exercise in endurance.

And then, unmistakably, Jesus nudged my spirit, asking, “Who do you say that I am?”

“What, Lord?” I asked.

“Who do you say that I am?”

“Well, you’re the Christ, of course. The son of the living God. My savior, my redeemer, my purpose, and my only hope.”

“They why aren’t you living like it? You’re just as burdened as the people who’ve never heard my name.”

He was right, of course. I frequently wonder how people can live without Jesus, and yet my worries too often keep me from living with him. I know he’s my savior, but is he my ever-present help in time of need? Do I trust him enough to turn my problems over to him, saying, “I can’t handle them, but I know you can?”

On the day of my confession, my worries lifted like a fever breaking and an inexplicable peace came over me. That’s not to say that I don’t still have my worries and doubts, but slowly I’m learning God is who he says he is, and I can rest in knowing that all he does is for our good and for his glory.

By the way, some years later Sara’s parents became believers. Isn’t that just like God?

Prayer: Jesus, you say you are the way, the truth and the life, Savior, Redeemer, Lord of all. Today I affirm that you are who you say you are. Amen.

Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association “Book of the Year” in fiction for both All the Way Home and I’ll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her “one of Christian fiction’s better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories.” Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina. Visit www.anntatlock.com.

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A Holiday Blessing – Edie Melson
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Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . . Hebrews 10:22

Our son’s first deployment was the first time our family was apart during Christmas. I found myself dreading the holidays and postponing decorating the house. This was way out of character for me. I’d always delighted in filling the house with multiple trees, twinkling lights, and all the trimmings of Christmas. But somehow it didn’t seem right to celebrate so abundantly when my son was halfway around the world in the middle of a war.

I was also feeling guilty about our other two sons. I didn’t want them to think they were any less important to me than their older brother. The closer Christmas got, the more conflicted I became. It seemed there was no right answer.

Fortunately my husband is a wise and caring man. Even though I hadn’t mentioned my dilemma, he was well aware of what was going on in my mind. He and the other two boys took matters in hand and organized a decorating day. Normally, I have to browbeat everyone into helping me drag the decorations out of the attic. This year they took the initiative and soon the house bustled with activity.

We didn’t put up as many trees that year, but we started a new tradition. It was the year our boys discovered decorating wasn’t a chore, but a time of bonding. We pulled together that year, taking time to relive old memories and anticipate new ones—and we’ve done it every year since.

I learned that God sometimes allows trials so we’ll hold each other close and appreciate what we have. And I’m thankful for all of my sons—for the memories and for the joyful times ahead!

Edie is a freelance writer and editor with over 16 years experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles in 2010. She also has a popular writing blog www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com and is a frequent contributor to many others. As a sought after writing instructor, her heart to help others define and reach their dreams has connected her with writers all over the country. In keeping up with the leading edge of all things digital, Edie has become known as one of the go-to experts on Twitter, Facebook, and social media for writers wanting to learn how to plug in. Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home, is one of Edie’s latest projects. This devotional book for those with family members in the military made its debut in the fall of 2011 with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Edie is a member of numerous professional writing organizations, including The Christian Pen, The Christian Writer’s View I and ACFW, where she serves as Editor for the Southeast Zone Newsletter and staff reviewer for Afictionado Magazine. She’s also an assistant proofer/editor for the Voices E-zine, a publication of My Book Therapy and a part of the My Book Therapy Special Teams Blog. Married 30 years to husband, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

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