Month: December 2022

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Knowledge is a powerful thing! Knowing what is going to happen before it happens is a wish of many people. If it weren’t, psychics would fade away and no one would publish horoscopes anymore. Before you ask, I am not a fan of either of them. However, what if I could tell you a part of your future? What if I could give you a small glance? No, I am not a psychic, but I have read the Bible!

John 16:33 tells us something we all should remember. We will have trouble. It is inevitable. Nothing can stop it from coming. The issue is will you see it for what it is? Will you be able to stop in the middle of your pain and anger and realize this is an attack? It isn’t the circumstance or the people around you who are actually causing all the issues. It is straight from the evil around you. That is where the anger, pain, sorrow, and all the other emotions are coming.

So, what do you do? You stop and face the actual trouble. Then you take heart because you know how to get through it. You have the secret to success. You have the peace of God that will see you through it all. You have Jesus who came and overcame the world. Then you look Satan straight in the eyes and remind him, he has no power over you anymore!

Lord, I don’t need a crystal ball. I know what is coming and who is causing it. More importantly, because of you, I know how to defeat it! ~amen

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Psalms 42:11

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Depression is real. The blues are real. Just having a yucky day is real. We all know just how helpful it is when someone says things like ‘“Just snap out of it.” I know people mean well, but when has that advice worked? Well, bare with me today because I know at first glance Psalms 42:11 looks a little like that advice. However, there is one big difference. This advice is not coming from an outside source. It is coming from within yourself.

Yes, it is self-talk. It is not meant to help you just snap out of it. The Psalmist is taking a deep dive into the soul. Ask yourself, why are you downcast? What has you so upset? You may not have an answer. It doesn’t matter. The fact that you are asking yourself is a step in the right direction to eventually pulling out of it.

The next step is to just hope in God. No, this doesn’t mean put on a happy face and forgetting about your troubles. It means fall into God’s arms. Be depressed there if you need to. Let Him hold you, rock you, and just be with you. Find that rest and peace that will envelop you, if you just let go.

The last step is the easiest and yet it feels so hard and is often forgotten. Praise Him. Yep in the midst of the dark, just start praying and saying, “Thank You.” Then say it again and again until you mean it and feel it. Follow the Psalmist and the blues will turn into blue skies again. Just give yourself some grace and time to carefully and slowly let God pull you out of it.

Lord, when I face depression, thank You for not telling me to just snap out of it. ~amen

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Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” ~Edith Sitwell

A friend of mine recently posted the above quote on Instagram. Her post reminded me how those few days between Christmas and New Year are some of the most peaceful days of the year for a lot of people. The presents have been unwrapped and the packaging has been recycled or thrown away. The leftovers are stored in the fridge and all at the dishes are done. Even the kids are quiet because they are engrossed in their new things and excited to share all about them with their friends. You might even find a moment to breathe yourself.

What if I could tell you that you can find this peace whenever you need or want it? You just have to remember to take it all to Jesus, good, bad, or ugly. He had big shoulders and can carry the load for you. Even in the darkest of storms, He is there to help you find that breath. Here is here to help You hear that stillness of winter as the snowflakes hit the ground and you can hear anything else around. He is here to help you find home!

Lord, thank You for walking beside me when I am weary and burdened. Thank You for Your peaceful rest. ~Amen

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Isaiah 9:6

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.

Christmas is over once again. Oh, some may still have a few celebrations to attend, but the actual day has passed, back to the reality of life. What if we could hold on to that magical moment Christmas brings all year long? You know that moment when as my mother-in-law puts it, “All the work, all the shopping, wrapping, card writing, cookie making is now over. Gifts are opened, kids are busy enjoying their new treasures, food has been eaten and now put away. It was as wonderful as always, the laughter, the expressions of delight over gifts, the games played, so much love shared.” Why can’t we experience that all year long? We can!

We know the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Whatever is going on around in the world, we can hold on to the magic inside of ours. We can find that hope, joy, peace, and love deep within us. We can choose to walk in those gifts and not let our circumstances rule us. Yes, hard times will still hit us. Yes, negativities like sadness and anger will still flood our lives. The good news is we don’t have to let them drown us. God provided us with a gift that truly keeps on giving, never breaks, batteries never die out, and can be shared all year long. So, it is time to hold onto that Christmas spirit all year long.

Lord, thank You for the everlasting lasting gifts we receive every single day. ~amen

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John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh. The Word was always there. John 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. n him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Now, however, The Word had a Body!

He had a face with eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell and a tongue to taste what we do every day. He had hands to touch and feet to carry Him just like we do every day. He had a heart to feel the love and pain that was all around Him. He had a brain to think, dream, and yes even feel fear and get overwhelmed with. Don’t believe me read how He felt in the garden before His death!

Our God, put on a body filled with our weaknesses to better understand us. When you call out to Him with your troubles, He gets you. He has walked in your shoes, and wore your mantle. He understands life as you see it through your eyes. The Word became flesh!

Lord, thank You for becoming flesh just like me. ~amen

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1 Timothy 6:6, 9

But godliness with contentment is great gain. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

I want the works

I want the whole works

Presents and prizes

And sweets and surprises

Of all shapes and sizes

And now

Don’t care how, I want it now

Don’t care how, I want it now

If you are a fan of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, you will probably recognize these lyrics sung by Violet, the spoiled brat who always gets what she wants, almost. The problem with wanting things all the time is all the time you want more.

God is not telling us in 1 Timothy that we should never have wishes, hopes, or dreams. He is reminding us to find true joy, we need to learn to be happy where we are today with what we have. The only way to do that is not put our full concentration on all those things we don’t have. Keep those wishes and dreams in check. Today for every wish that pops into your head, say three things you are grateful for and watch your life fill with joy. Then you will live like the Oompa loompa doompety do.

Oompa loompa doompety da

If you’re not spoiled then you will go far

You will live in happiness too

Like the Oompa Loompa Doompety do

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Matthew 5:14

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Where is your town built? How is your lighting system? If a stranger walked with you today would they know you are a Christian? If paparazzi were sneaking around you what would they see and report?

Look, none of us are perfect all of the time. If we were, we wouldn’t need grace. But can someone actually tell that you are different than the world around you? Are you that person people reach out to when they need a prayer request? Yes, even those that don’t believe. Have you ever experienced people hesitate or apologize for saying certain things around you because they know you are a Christian?

Listen, your light should not be blinding people. That just won’t do. Seriously, have you ever tried to see something with a light shining in your eyes really bright? You can’t find that next step! No, instead your light should be guiding people by shining on that next step.

Don’t worry it isn’t too late to do some work on your town. Call the ultimate contractor. God will help you renovate with His awesome crew. Jesus is the ultimate power company. He will get those lights burning bright, and the Holy Spirit has all the tools you need to build on the highest of hills. What are you waiting for? The blueprints are already laid out before you! Get that hard hat and tool belt on! Let’s get started!

Lord, help me with my renovations. I want that house on a hill with the beautiful lights that shine leading the way to You! ~amen

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2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

I know, you are probably thinking, “OK Tabetha, this is a strange set of verses to choose on Christmas week.” However, may I point out that these verses embody Scrooge? So, I still have the Christmas spirit, sort of. . . LOL!

Actually, what I do want to point out is the last sentence. “Have nothing to do with such people.” Those seem like very harsh words. I mean, this world today preaches tolerance. God Himself said to love one another. So why would He say have nothing to do with such people? Does this mean there are people who are unreachable, unsavable? No! That is not what God meant at all.

Here is the thing. We can love people and not hang around to be abused by them. We can love people and not be besties with them. We can love people and certainly keep praying for them. We can let our light shine bright around them and not let them darken it.

Honestly, read that list again. Those losts souls are around us every single day. We can’t help but be around them. We can’t let them influence us. We can’t fall into their character traits. I love what a pastor once told me. Birds fly over our heads all of the time. It doesn’t mean we should let them nest in our hair. Oh, and don’t forget, even Scrooge was changed.

Lord, I pray for those individuals today who want nothing to do with You. Let my light shine bright to penetrate through their darkness. ~amen

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Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

You don’t have to struggle with depression to know what it is like to be in a dark space. I think we have all felt that lonely, lack of being in control struggle at some point. You have felt that darkness all around you and probably struggled to get out, only to find yourself trapped even more. It is like a quicksand slowly enveloping you until you can’t breathe anymore.

Sorry, to be so graphic today, but my last week was one of those weeks. I am sorry that I couldn’t even find the strength to write my blogs. Last night, I woke up and picked up my iPad to find this verse in Isaiah. It reminded me that I am not alone and the light is there. I need to quit struggling with the darkness and look for the light. At first, it may seem dim and far away, but if you keep your eye on it it will grow in intensity. Soon it will flood the dark and encompass you.

Sometimes all the problems will go away. Other times, the light will guide you through them. One thing I know for sure is if you are looking for the light, you can’t concentrate on the darkness. When you don’t concentrate on the darkness, it takes its power away. If you are sitting in the dark today, reach out your hand I will be happy to hold it. We can look for the light together. See, it is right there in front of us!

Lord, shine Your light brightly. I need to see you now. ~amen

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