At least that’s what Linda Grayson said. And while I don’t know much about Linda, as a hardcore chocoholic, I’d agree with this. Unless it is the cheap, bargain basement, dollar store stuff. Is it even right to call that real chocolate? My chocolate of choice – Tony’s Chocolonely, milk caramel sea salt. It’s a bit more expensive, but I like their business ethics. Plus, it tastes good, which is the most important thing with chocolate. But back to the topic of friends though.

The Bible has a lot to say about friends. Depending on how you phrase it, there are between 50 -100 verses that deal with the bonds of friendship, good and bad. For example, Proverbs 13:20. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (NKJV) Who we choose to spend time with is of vital importance, but what do we look for in a friend?

Facebook says I have almost 600 friends but many of them, I don’t even know. So, let’s define just what a friend is. A friend is someone you have an emotional bond with. There is trust, a relationship that goes beyond the surface. An acquaintance though, is someone you know more on a superficial level. Maybe from work, a neighbor, gym buddy, or even church.

Then there are “best” friends.

Best friends are the people who make your problems a little less scary and your victories a little sweeter. (unknown) These are friends you trust with your deepest secrets. The ones you call when you don’t know who to call.

I have two of these kinds of friends. The first, I’ve known for 40 years. We met at church and when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer, she got the keys to our house and took care of our other three kids. We knew they would be safe and well taken care of. She was with us through the thick and thin, even when we signed the DNR at the hospital for our daughter.

Since then we’re no longer neighbors and we’ve gone years without speaking, (Yes, we’ve texted and done the email thing.) but when we get together, it’s like we’ve never been apart. We pick up where we left off always knowing that we are there for each other.

My next best friend is a writer I met in a chatroom 25 years ago. We finally got to actually meet years later at a writer’s conference. She lived in a different state and life happened so we fell out of touch, but we never stopped being friends. When she moved closer, we spent hours together just talking about life. She moved a while back and we are back to the occasional emails but again, I know she is there and our friendship is solid. Distance doesn’t matter.

These two friends remind me of Eccl. 4:9,10. “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.”

A friend also holds you accountable.

While Jim Morrison said, “A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself…” I much more prefer Andy Andrews’  thought that “A true friend is someone who holds you to a higher standard. A true friend brings out the best in you.”  If you don’t know Andy Andrews, you are missing out. His book The Traveler’s Gift should be required reading. A good friend suggested it years ago and I highly recommend it. If you aren’t into reading, you can check out this video. It’s not as long as it says, so give it a watch. You won’t regret it.

Holding a friend to a higher standard is biblical. Pro. 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”  

Here’s the thing.

For us introverts, finding and making friends is hard. Pro. 18:24 tells us “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Okay, friendly, but what does that look like?

A friend intentionally makes time for the other person in their day-to-day life. Like any relationship, it takes work. We have to be mindful and intentional. I’m building a new friendship now. One thing I do is to send random texts about normal everyday stuff. It only takes a moment, but it is investing in each other.

Friends confide in each other, share our inner, real self, and support each other during the good times and bad. This is the hardest for me. While in the military, we moved a lot and being a pastor’s wife just isn’t conducive to building ‘best’ friend type relationships. I once had an older, wiser woman point out how I kept people at a distance and didn’t let them get to know me. I’m really trying to do better but it’s hard when you’ve seen how quickly “friends” turn to enemies.

A friend is who you call when you don’t know who to call. Someone who won’t consider that call to be an inconvenience and has your back. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 17:17, that “A friend loves at all times. And a brother is born for adversity.” I recently saw these types of friends being called “ride or die.” I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Look at what happened to Thelma and Louise.

That said, we do have a great example of friendship between David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. Saul wanted to kill David but Jonathan helped his friend escape in 1 Samuel 20.

Friends can also give bad advice.

Take a look at Haman’s friends in the book of Esther. They convinced him to build a gallows in his yard. Solomon tells us those with wild friends bring shame to their parents. (Pro. 28:7)

Becoming friends starts with a few things. First, don’t wait for the other person to make the first move. A quick “thinking of you text” is a great way to begin. Invite them to a local coffee shop and just spend time together.

Listen when they talk. Really listen. Not poke on your phone waiting until time for you to speak. Be genuinely interested in them. You don’t have to fix their mess, many times they just need someone to listen to them.

Make them a priority in your life. If you promise something, follow through. Be reliable.

Celebrate their wins and mourn their losses with them. Again, this is a genuine thing.

The best example of friendship and it’s cost is in John 15:13  “Greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends,” Ant that is what Jesus did for us. He didn’t wait for us to reach out to Him. He made a way for us.

It’s important not to take your friends for granted. Friends are a gift from God, a true blessing. Let them know you value spending time with them.

Well,  I’m off to text a couple long distance friends. We can’t sit on the patio at my favorite coffee shop but I’ll definitely have some chocolate in their honor.

Oh…speaking of friends, have you seen the new Roost app? It’s a pen pal app where you send messages by bird at the speed that it would take for the bird to actually travel the distance. Right now, I have a goose taking a message to Latvia. It should be there in a little over four days. I’m having way too much fun with it. If you’d like to join the fun, you can find me as speck. Use my referral code 4V6KCK for a special bird.

The post A Friend Indeed! appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

David wrote, “I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13) His song, God’s words. Now you can write your song with His words.

Now imagine that verse — or any verse — set to music. Your music. A song birthed from your heart with God’s faith (Mark 11:23) woven into the words. Here are two examples of how, last week, I created two songs based on verses that leapt off the page.

https://youtu.be/6NOOHumhq-c
There’s a goodness flowing down — Like a rushing river’s growing sound — His kindness calls out, turns you ’round — Leads you to higher ground 
Our power is in His Word — The greatest news, every word — For everyone who believes — His grace is all we need
He freely gives — oh, freely we live — All things, yes all things— It’s your Father’s good pleasure — To hand you His treasures…

Here we stand, in the light of grace — His record of full obedience, our rightful place — Every if-then, He kept them all — In Christ’s mighty name, we’ll never fall.
Promises ringing, like waves on the shore — He fulfilled the Law, every blessing is yours — He kept every statute, and it’s all for free — We wear His robe, that’s how we’re set free.
Every promise… is it YES!  Amen, so be it! — Healing, peace, and righteousness… Amen, so be it! — Abundance flows when we believe! Amen, so be it! —Every blessing — now receive! Amen, so be it! https://youtube.com/shorts/SuPuH_7K3hs

From Writer to Song Writer

If you are a writer — or simply someone who enjoys rhyming or making lyrics — you can create children’s songs drawn straight from Bible verses. Looking for music for this summer’s VBS theme? Make your own. Concerned about your choir singing copyrighted music when a church service is streamed? Write your own. 

David became a songwriter when he penned his first Psalms. As a shepherd with a lyre and a heart for God, he wrote tunes that still help us believe in the goodness of God today.

And now you can, too. 

Song Making Tools

I’ve tried Suno.ai and Songer.co Of the two, I prefer Suno by far.

I use Claude to help me shape the first draft of lyrics. I take key verses that inspire me, drop them into Claude, ask for a rough draft of lyrics, then start editing, fixing theology, correcting the rhyming and beats. 

Finally, for style, I ask Claude to give me a very specific style prompt. For Yes and So Be It!, I wanted a surf guitar riff and a surf beat. The final version was good enough to lift my spirits and keep me hitting replay.

Motivation

“For me, the goal is simple: songs that are about Him, not me. I want to limit ‘we,’ ‘us,’ ‘our,’ ‘me,’ and ‘I’ — because worship isn’t a report on what I’m feeling. It’s a declaration of what Christ has already done. Before you write your first lyric, decide why you want to write your own songs. Then go for it!

Eddie is an award-winning author known for crafting suspenseful mysteries and humorous adventures that captivate readers, young and old.  His books are read by countless inmates and used to introduce others to Christ.

Eddie is the author of The Caribbean Chronicles, a time-travel pirate fantasy adventure series, and The Caden Chronicles, a mystery series based on supernatural myths that he believes have their roots in the Bible. In each case, Nick Caden seeks to debunk the supernatural “myth” and uncover the truth.

Eddie helped launch Christian Devotions Ministries and is its president. He is the former CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a Christian book publishing company. He is Executive Editor of Inspireafire.com  and Devokids.com. (If you want to write for IAF, hail this pirate!) He’s also a Writers’ Coach.

The post Your Song His Words appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.

~Job 1:20-21 NLT

At the moment, they were bumped around by life.

Saturday. A theme park one hour away from our home. And why? To celebrate one of our grandsons’ birthdays. I didn’t care about any of the arcade games, nor do I ride rides, so I walked around with my wife and watched our grandkids have a good time.

But some of the rides had a height requirement that most of our grandsons didn’t meet. In particular, the go-karts that went a little faster than the go-kart ride they qualified for. What was the solution? To get their moms to ride with them. Actually, to drive for them. They would just be passengers.

The rest of us stood to the side and watched as two adults with their respective sons drove wildly around the track, speeding around curves they should have slowed around, sliding sideways, and bumping into anyone else who tried to pass them. It was a sight to behold. The expressions on their faces matched the adrenaline that pumped through their bodies like blood through veins. But the bumps didn’t bother them. Each just wanted to win—at any cost.

Life also has a way of bumping us around. Job discovered that. In what many theologians consider the oldest book in the Bible, we read of Job and how he was bumped around because of a contest between God and Satan. Satan accused Job of being a goody-two-shoes, but only because God never allowed him to be bumped around—so Satan said. Thus, God gave Satan permission to bump him around a bit to prove otherwise.

When the bumps come, we can slow down, speed up, or maintain the course. Job maintained the course. He never accused God of anything, nor did he become bitter and walk away from God. And in the end, when God didn’t explain the reason for Job’s battle, Job settled for the lack of information.

But if the bumps get rough enough, following Job’s example can be difficult.

Whether we understand the bumps or not, remembering that God is sovereign, never makes a mistake, and always has our best interests at heart helps us take the bumps better. And when we recall those important facts, we’ll find ourselves drawing closer to God rather than running from him.

Like Job, we rarely know the reasons behind our bumps either. Our job is first to ensure that personal sin hasn’t brought on the troubles. Otherwise, we trust that God knows what he is doing. In the end, Job recognized that God’s ways were higher than his understanding. An admirable conclusion.

When life bumps you around, maintain your course. Then, use the bumps to get closer to God and grow spiritually.

The post Bumped Around by Life appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

A basic communication after submitting a summary of a project. An “OK,” but no emotional connection there.

However, the actual email included a different punctuation mark:

“Thanks so much! This is very helpful.”

When punctuation speaks!

Exclamation Point

At writers’ conferences, faculty members in the know tell us not to overuse exclamation points. Yes, if something should excite the reader, use one.

“Check out this photo! An awesome panorama of the Grand Canyon, indeed!” This use of the exclamation point would work great in a travel blog.

And of course, if fiction dialogue, it’s a must.

“I can’t believe you did that!” she yelled as the dog took with her steak.

Exclamation points can “speak” excitement, anger, boldness, and more. And in the case of the original email quotation, this punctation mark spoke to me, heart and soul.

When Punctuation Speaks

As a second grader, I decided to become a teacher. Throughout my school years, I took every academic class I could, nailing A’s in every one. I picked my college and prepped as best I could. But when I fell in love and married a year to the day after my high school graduation, a college degree dropped from my to-do list.

After putting my husband through college instead, we settled and began our family. A chance article in a national magazine introduced me to homeschooling, and I knew that was my destiny. I’d not only be a teacher but the best one I could possibly become—a teacher of my own children.

Over the next 30+ years, I thrived in a teaching world. I created our own curriculum, designed projects, and helped develop a diploma program for homeschoolers. And forty years after I first declared I would become a teacher, I became a “real” teacher (without a degree, mind you). I was asked to teach college prep students in higher math, French I, economics, and my favorite of all—creative writing/language arts.

Soon after, I also had the opportunity to teach my first teen track at a writers conference, also a paid position. I felt I’d come full circle and could give back to young writers what God had done for me.

Then things changed. My life became complicated. And though I still looked forward to the writers conferences, I felt unnecessary, too “old school” in my ways. When asked to lead the teen track this year, I wondered if I could help this younger group, if what I proposed would be “OK.”

When I received the email response—“Thanks so much! This is very helpful.”—my heart filled with peace and joy. A smile lit my face and eyes, I’m sure. That exclamation point spoke to me and said, “You’re wanted and capable!”

Ellipses (Plus)

In a day when instant messaging to friends and family has become a major form of communication, does anyone else have trouble understanding the meaning of words typed without thought of full sentences?

“I think we should go to a diner.” In response: “Got it.” (Got what? The message itself? Is it a plan? Which one?)

And then there are the punctuation marks that leave you wondering.

In response to a suggestion of a diner: “I guess …….” (Guess what? Guess it’s a good place? Guess you’ll go but you hate that diner? Guess you’d rather not go now? And did you know ellipses only consist of three dots?)

When Punctuation Speaks

** Disclaimer: Yes, I’m a culprit of the ellipses plus!

But let’s give credit where credit is due. Everyone knows those awkward conversations, the ones you’d rather not take part in. If in person, we sometimes try to change the subject. If on the phone, we often tell the person the soup is boiling over and we have to go.

But when it comes to instant messaging, those ellipses come in handy. Especially since I avoid conflicts as if they are plagues.

I’m probably not the only person whose “friends’ list” includes some with whom we disagree on various topics. Might be friends, might be family members, could even be people we’ve never met. But when any of them send a message with an opinion about something we feel uncomfortable with, replying to that statement with a few words followed by ellipses (plus) can stave off an unwanted continuance of the conversation without hurting feelings.

For example, if asked about such a topic, replying with “I’m unsure ……. Let me get back to you,” may seem the same as “I’m unsure. Let me get back to you.” Yes, it’s a slight nuance, but it’s there. Read both replies. To me, the second says, “I disagree but don’t want to talk about it,” which could come across to the other person as, “He/she doesn’t want to talk to me,” putting the negative feeling on the person, not the topic.

In the first reply, the ellipses with the extra dots drags it out a bit, makes the other person feel the replier has some uncertain feelings about the topic, may even feel uncomfortable about it. It leaves the ball in their court to let it go or pursue it at another time. The ellipses spoke without words to ease a possible confrontation without hurting feelings.

Through our punctuation, we speak emotions. Let’s look at some biblical examples of punctuation speaking.

God’s Intent and Punctuation

My first Bible came through Sunday School at the Derry Street United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, PA. I was in second grade and attending Sunday School. A red, softcover, KJV Bible, my first introduction to reading His Word.

As the years went on, I discovered Psalm 121 and fell in love. What girl who spent years of vacation at a cabin in the mountains of northern PA wouldn’t connect with a passage of Scripture whose first verse mentions looking at the mountains? (Okay, most translations use the word “hills,” but that’s simply a synonym for my beloved mountains!)

When I grew and started studying Scripture more in depth, using multiple translations, I noticed something odd. In the KJV, Psalm 121:1 reads thus:

• I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

However, the NKJV and others have it like this:

• I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?

When Punctuation Speaks

Do you see the difference? The punctuation! KJV’s ends with a period, meaning it’s a statement, and the other translation ends with a question mark, asking us to consider where our help comes from.

In my earliest years, I learned to think of the mountains as the source of my strength and peace, a place I found God, with the emphasis on the place, not on the finding. To this day, I adore the mountains and spend as much time as possible in them.

When I discovered this seemingly trivial punctation difference, believe

it or not, it shook me. The mountains were NOT my source of strength? God wasn’t in the mountains with me? He made them for me but spends His time up in the heavens?

Now, before you call me a crazy punctuation nerd, think about it. I agree that man “wrote out” the Bible. But I’m thinking He Who gave man the words would’ve used inflection in His voice to let him know which punctuation to put there—punctuation that changes the meaning and/or tone of a sentence and shows the intent of it.

Does Tone Matter?

Let’s look at two other examples.

We’ll start at the beginning—Genesis 1:3:

• Then God said, “Let there be light”: and there was light. (KJV)

The KJV and most translations end in a period and give information: God said it and it was so. But check out this Scripture from The Message:

• God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared.

God was excited to be creating this incredible world for us. He couldn’t wait to get started! THIS is how I envision Our Father during creation!

And in my second example, one from the mouth of Jesus, Himself! In Mark 4—the disciples and Jesus, a boat, and a storm. The disciples wake Jesus, frantic about their impending doom. Jesus calmly rises, balances on the rocking boat, stretches out His arm, and says … says what?

To me, according to the punctuation in the NKJV and NIV translations, He commands that the wind would cut it out in a frantic loud voice (angrily or determinedly). (See opening paragraphs about exclamation points.)

• “Peace, be still!” (from Mark 1:3, NKJV) “Quiet! Be still!” (from Mark 1:3, NIV)

However, I don’t see Jesus as frantic, angry, or overly determined. He wanted to show His friends the power of an inner peace in faith. Check out the KJV’s translation:

• “Peace, be still.” From (Mark 1:3, KJV)

I’ve always drawn peace from that tableau in my mind. In fact, once during a thunderstorm, I held our two-year old daughter while looking out the screen door and recounted this story of Jesus. I didn’t make His voice angry or loud, but more a strong acknowledgement of the need to stop the storm so His followers can believe in the faith that allows all of us to … well, to stop using so many exclamation points! (LOL!)

Remember, punctuation speaks!

The post When Punctuation Speaks appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

This powerful proclamation speaks of our Father’s love, that which He declares to His children.

Yes, to His bride!

I was privileged to know a man who, even in death, declares his love to his wife and children. Some testimonies seem too amazing to be true. This is one such story, and had I not been present to witness the following for myself, I might doubt.

Still, I pray you–through its sharing–will believe as well and, in turn, be encouraged with the hope of heaven and in an eternal…

Declaration of love.

*****

You may wanna come say goodbye, Samantha texted, followed with, And Nanny could sure use your prayers.

I knew what Sam meant, so I wasted no time.

The Teagues are neighbors, their property just around the bend from ours in this rural Western North Carolina community we call home.

I’ve known Mary Ann, as well as her granddaughter Samantha, who happens to be our oldest son’s fiancé, for many years. Charlie Teague, however, I’ve not known as intimately. But what I knew? He loved coaching ball as well as hunting and fishing. He also loved caring for his 8-year-old grandsons, twins Mason and Maddox. But what Charlie was best known for was helping folks–often anonymously, in secret.

When I learned a little more than a year ago that Charlie’s cancer had returned, my heart hurt. I knew Mary Ann was devastated, not to mention so many others who loved this kind and sacrificial man–those who’d cheered him on when he’d battled lung cancer the first time.

After Sam’s text, I hurried to pull on my shoes, then jumped in my van to drive the short distance to the Teague’s home. Their driveway was already lined with vehicles–many having arrived to say their goodbyes. After all, we’d been told. Void a miracle, Charlie was slipping away.

“It’s only a matter of hours,” the doctor affirmed.

Stepping inside their cozy mountain cabin, I assessed the room. Some sat in chairs, while others stood near the doorway of Mary Ann and Charlie’s bedroom. Several dabbed their eyes, speaking in hushed whispers.

And then, there was Mary Ann. Stepping toward her, we embraced, and tears flowed.

I prayed.

“Father, bring comfort to this precious one who’s hurting and to any who grieve. Thank you for the hope we have in heaven for all who accept Jesus. Thank you that Charlie loves you, Lord, and that, because of salvation, he has an eternal future with you in heaven, whole and free. This truth offers assurance even in pain. Even in loss. Even in heartbreak. I pray now that, by the comfort of your Spirit, you’ll bring the peace that passes all understanding to my friend and to this family. Amen.”

Squeezing my friend again, I told her I loved her, then turned toward the couple’s room. Moments later, I stood at Charlie’s bedside to witness the reality of death, the result of this life’s imperfection–that which, one day, will be no more.

Placing my hand on Charlie’s, I sniffed, then whispered, “See you again.”

Outside, I climbed back in my van and breathed another prayer for those hurting. Please help this family feel your peace. Jesus, you’ve promised to comfort all who mourn.

I shifted to reverse, then peered in my rearview mirror but saw there were other cars parked where I’d need to exit.

What to do?

Just then, someone else drove by, a young man I’d seen inside. He was taking a different route, so I decided to follow. Maybe the driveway looped around behind the house, then back out another way.

When I arrived at the backside of the Teague home, however, I saw other vehicles parked on the lawn, but there didn’t seem to be an exit. I’d have to turn around, then try and squeeze past the cars.

As I rounded their home once more, a pop of color caught my eye. Bright red tulips lined Mary Ann’s flowerbeds, each dancing in the springtime breeze.

I smiled, recalling a time some months earlier when, at a community event, the DJ announced “Last Date,” then added, “It’s Charlie and Mary Ann Teague’s  favorite song.”

The couple who’d been married more than five decades took to the dance floor, swaying to the Floyd Cramer melody–

“I gave my love to prove to you that I would always love you and be true…”

I snapped a photo of the tulips, marveling at the irony having recently read a book about the meaning of flowers. Then, home again, I texted the photo to Samantha. Look at this! These tulips are in your nanny’s garden. You’ll never guess what they symbolize.

A moment later, my phone pinged Sam’s response. Wow. What?

And I wrote–

Declaration of love.

Charlie Teague passed only hours later.

***** 

A few weeks after Charlie’s home-going, our family, along with son Ian and Samantha, as well as her twin boys, were on spring break at the beach. The sting of loss had eased into a gentler ache, though Sam continued to call Mary Ann daily to check on her.

One evening, we strolled on the sand. The rays from the setting sun pierced through some low-lying clouds, seeming to touch the water.

“Look, Momma,” Maddox cried. He pointed to the sky. “That looks like Papaw coming through the clouds.”

Sam smiled. “He’s telling us he’s okay, isn’t he, boys?”

“Yep. Because he’s in heaven, huh?” Mason, too, pointed upward.

Moments later, Ian approached Samantha, a hand behind his back. “You’ll never believe what Mason found. Told me to give it to you since I love giving you flowers.”

Sam gasped when Ian held out the gift. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she shook her head in disbelief. Ian clutched a white tulip, its long, green stem drippy with saltwater.

And then, only a minute later, a second tulip mysteriously washed up on shore. Like the first, in contrast to those in Mary Ann’s North Carolina backyard flowerbed, this one, too, was white.

We all gathered around, witnessing the miracle. What in the world were two white tulips doing lying on a beach hundreds of miles from home?

But there’s more.

The next morning, Sam’s phone rang. Though we couldn’t hear the caller, we watched as tears welled, then spilled from Samantha’s eyes. She hung up. “That was Nanny. You’ll never believe what she found this morning.”

Right then, Sam’s phone pinged. Turning her phone to show us the evidence, we stood dumbfounded. There in her grand-mother’s front flowerbed, two tulips. They’d bloomed the morning after a pair of white tulips were discovered on the beach, where no flower–void a proposal or a wedding–would typically be.

These, too, were white while the ones I photographed the day of Charlie’s passing were red.

A reminder that Christ’s blood shed for us is what cleanses us, making us whiter than snow.

After all, Charlie–having said yes to Jesus many years before his death–was cleansed, set free by the blood of Christ. And now, in heaven, he wears white robes of righteousness.

Yes, of purity.

And to those who loved him, who miss him, Charlie Teague–unrelenting in his faithfulness–has mysteriously offered gifts. Yes, tulips–an affirmation to those who remain that he’s not gone, that they’ll be together again. And though a mystery, it’s his…

Declaration of love.

Will there be more? Perhaps. After all, it seems Charlie Teague’s way. Each is an echo of a life lived in a better place–a Home Charlie’s family believes in also, holding on with hope that, one day, they’ll be reunited at last.

And how?

Because of the love of our faithful, unrelenting Father. Because He so loved the world, He sent His Son. And it’s true–all who believe in Him will not die but have everlasting life.

Yes, this is God’s…

Declaration of love!

Kind Father, thank you for declaring your love to us, in so many ways–especially through the simplicity of your creation. We believe–one day we’ll see you, face to face. And may it be so!

The post Declaration of Love appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

Moral and religious scrupulosity intersect faith, psychology and the human soul.

Scrupulosity often comes from legalistic environments, shame-based upbringing, and trauma.

Moral scrupulosity is a recognized condition where individuals experience an excessive, irrational preoccupation with sin, guilt and moral perfection.

The morally scrupulous sit under a high level of judgment; their unrelenting self-criticism holds them to very high standards.

Sadly, the morally scrupulous are plagued with feelings of false guilt and false responsibility.

Get Set Free

“Remove from me reproach and contempt” (Psalm 119:22)

While people with moral scrupulosity might feel disgraced, bible scripture promises that God heals and restores lost honor. 

There is freedom in the presence of Jesus.

I am a prime example. God delivered me out of legalism many years ago, but I used to suffer greatly.

Buffeted by the accuser of the brethren, I was in a state of perpetual anxiety and even despair.

My thoughts accused me… “Am I praying amiss? Have I confessed all my sins? Am I entirely in God‘s will?”

After wrestling for years, I finally gave the “left foot of fellowship” to moral scrupulosity – and you can to!

Are you morally scrupulous?

Read the following checklist and tally answers given in the affirmative.

1.  Do you feel guilty for no reason?

2.  Do you see God primarily as judge, not Father?

3.  Do you believe God is quick to punish and slow to forgive?

4.  Are you worried you must “earn” God’s approval through religious performance?

5.  Might you be constantly concerned about having sinned “without realizing it?”

5.  Is your default to over analyze every decision for fear of making a moral mistake?

6. Do you feel spiritually exhausted due to the incessant anxious thinking regarding your moral failures?

Note: If your sum positives are more than five, you probably have moral scrupulosity – it’s a good idea to seek out a professional trained in this area.

When Doing Right Feels Wrong

What’s the big issue with being morally scrupulous, you wonder?

Isn’t simply wanting to do the right thing, a good thing?

You might inquire, “if someone is honest, upright, ethical, virtuous, diligent, and thoroughly attentive to details – isn’t this something to aspire to?”

While the attributes of being conscientious are honorable, moral scrupulosity can lead to someone experience chronic shame/guilt.

People who have an accusatory conscience (like I used to have) will make them believe they are ‘never good enough’ – despite their heroic efforts.

Because of the mental assault, an individual with moral scrupulosity can experience difficulty trusting God’s love – resulting in a loss of joy.

Is it similar to OCD?

Morally scrupulosity is a form of OCD where a person becomes excessively preoccupied with moral or spiritual perfection.

Religious Scrupulosity is a subtype of OCD that focuses on fears of violating specific religious rules or doctrines.

Moral Scrupulosity focuses on personal moral standards and societal expectations, even if the person is not religious.

According to the authors Z. Appenzeller, PsyD and P. McGrath, PhD. (From The International OCD Foundation) moral scrupulosity involves “the fear that one may act in ways that are inconsistent with their own moral compass, or what they deem, as good or bad by society standards.”

As per the International OCD Foundation, “OCD often targets the areas of life that matter most to a person. Because being a good person is important to many, the uncertainty about whether they are acting morally can be deeply distressing.”

Sound Familiar?

To obtain solace from a guilty conscience, people suffering from moral scrupulosity will instinctively engage in a repetitive (or a set of) religious behaviors.

For instance, If I am a Christ-follower who desires relief from my internal combativeness to re-secure religious footing, I might seek reassurance by repeatedly confessing the same sin over and over again.

Sadly, if a person is vexed with moral scrupulosity, they might even refrain from reading their daily devotion or practicing their morning prayer.

Others plagued with symptoms of religious OCD will try and self-medicate the wounds in their soul – potentially leading to addictions such as shopping, gambling, food, pornography, to name a few.

One thing is certain; to overcome this nagging dilemma of moral scrupulosity, one will almost try anything to shut down the internal voice of reproach.

The Trap of Moral Perfection 

“What seems like spiritual sensitivity is actually anxiety wearing religious clothing.” – Anonymous

Other features of moral scrupulosity include intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, having a distorted sense of responsibility, fear (not faith) based spirituality, and struggle with feeling forgiven.

If I am a person that suffers from being morally scrupulous, my mind is bombarded with incessant accusations that I have sinned against others, offended God, or failed in an ethical manner.

To put it a different way, “if my internal dialogue is slaying me over possible blasphemous thoughts, I (erroneously) believe I can’t talk with God. I believe my Heavenly Father is angry with me.”

The lie is, “Because I feel unworthy, I am unworthy. I cannot approach the heavenly throne in my time of need.”

What’s the spiritual impact?

 “For this very purpose, Christ’s death was to free our weak minds, our souls and consciences [from idols].

Believing God is mad at you – for no good reason is legalistic, which I believe involves idolatry.

Idolatry happens in the mind. It involves mental strongholds.

In the Bible, an idol is described as a {physical} object, person, or desire that is taking the place of God – stealing our trust, devotion and affection.

When Jesus wore the crown of thorns on his head, I believe this symbolized our freedom – from all that ails us, including moral scrupulosity.

Even today, our Savior’s precious blood metaphorically covers our mind, will and emotions.

By understanding our new life in Christ, we realize we are no longer captured and controlled by idols – especially excessive fear of doing something wrong.

Restored at The Cross

Matthew 8:17 states: “Jesus bore our infirmities.”

If you do a deep dive into the root word for infirmity you will find it means “feebleness of body or mind;

When we remember the cross and what Christ did for us, I believe we can appropriate this divine act of redemption.

We can expect divine healing in our physical bodies, and also in our souls.

The soul (our minds, wills and emotions) refers to a person’s distinct identity: their heart… their, desires, affections, aversions.

I believe moral scrupulosity hides in our mind.

Thank God, our unhealed, soulish feelings and angry conscience(s) do not have the final word!

What’s the antecdote?

Holy Scripture admonishes us to take heed of our soul.

The meaning of “soul” in Hebrew is Nephesh and refers to the whole person – a living being with their entire person: not only the physical body, but one’s breath, desires, emotions and will.

Indeed, our souls carry offense, trauma, and betrayal that stem from sinful attitudes/behaviors originating from ourselves and others.

As Christians, we are admonished to pray and cleanse ourselves of defilement that contaminates our tri-part being.

It’s prudent we show obedience and have no other gods before God.

This means having no graven images that dominate our souls such as the likeness of moral scrupulosity.

Book suggestions and more…

Did you ever wonder how a child of God actually gets delivered from a weak conscience?

In practical terms, I have often wondered just exactly how believers overcome their condemning hearts ?

Some Christians might read Max Lucado’s book, “Anxious for Nothing.” Other Christ-followers might pick up Rebekah Lyons’ book “Rhythms of Renewal.”

My answer to those who are morally scrupulous is, “Take Holy Communion.”

The blood of Jesus atones for the soul.

I believe the blood washes our mind, our conscience, our thought life, the (bad) images that are in our brain from lust leading to dead works. (Idolatry).

In this regard, please read the 3-minute meditation that I wrote for my church in Pennsylvania.

The Lord’s Supper (as I presented it)

[Imagine me holding the bread and wine as I face the congregation]

“When we approach communion and drink the cup, this means “we receive into our soul what is to refresh, strengthen and nourish”].

As we partake of the Holy Elements, we are separated from profane things… We become pure and wholly consecrated to God.

It is my belief that Jesus replaces our fragmented soul and gives us HIS perfect soul.

What a relief to know all my unholy thoughts, stubborn will, ungodly beliefs, emotions and idols are demolished by His holiness.

We declare we are worthy because He is worthy.

The prayer of Communion (as I continue to speak)

Before we partake of the Holy Elements today, let us examine ourselves and discern the body of Christ correctly.

Please agree with this decree.

“Lord, I repent for every time I used my mind to meditate on my idol… [Anxiety, fear, gluttony, lust, anger, shame… you fill in the blank].

Father, I ask you erase these strongholds from my mind by the power of the blood of Jesus.

Thank you for being the King over my mind.

By the power of your blood and the work of the cross, I release your kingship to cancel the power of these thoughts on my mind.

Thank you for giving me the mind of Christ Jesus.”

Seek therapeutic interventions

I encourage people dealing with religious moral scrupulosity to meet with a Christian-informed therapist familiar with OCD.

In the mental health field, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard treatment for OCD.

For instance, if a therapist trained in ERP is treating someone with Moral Scrupulosity, they might ask their patient to develop a hierarchy related to their scrupulous concerns.

The next step could be to have the person approach their triggers that provoke anxiety and uncertainty without engaging in avoidance or other unhelpful ways to relieve their doubt or guilt.

In clinical circles, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also used to treat religious, guilt-ridden, Intrusive thoughts.

Core Strategies To Follow

A.I. produced a very thorough summary on ways to beat Moral Scrupulosity. I am including the list herein.

1. To break the compulsivity of the “Reassurance Cycle,” one must learn that reassuring oneself might feel comforting in the moment, but it strengthens the anxiety long term.

Action item – Set a limit: one confession per issue unless new sin occurs. note,

2. Normalize Intrusive Thoughts. People with scrupulosity often believe intrusive thoughts equal sin. But intrusive thoughts are neurological misfires, not moral failures.  In other words, Intrusive thoughts are not chosen. Sin requires consent.

Action item – Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Destroy mental strongholds through commanding prayer.

3. Reframe God’s Character. Learn the difference between God’s voice (clear, loving, specific) and anxiety’s voice (vague, condemning, relentless).

Action item – Memorize Scripture that highlights God’s gentleness (Psalm 103, Romans 8, 1 John 4).

4. Practice “Delayed Response” to Anxiety. This retrains the brain to stop treating anxiety as an emergency. This intervention builds self-regulation and reduced compulsions.

Action item – When the fear says, “Confess now,” delay 10 minutes and then gradually increase the delay.

Suggested Spiritual Practices

In like manner, to build a sustainable, joyful faith and a grace-based rhythm, one might include learning rest as a spiritual discipline.

Read here to find ways anxiety may have left you with a rest deficit.

Remember to make sure you celebrate the small victories.

Be mindful to practice gratitude and thanksgiving.

Learn to tolerate imperfection by emphasizing relationship over “rule-keeping” is another good tip!

Build nervous system regulation

Five things I’ve used personally to overcome an overactive religious conscience are:

• Slow breathing.  “Smell in the flowers. Hold for 4 seconds. Exhale and “blow out the candles” for eight seconds.
• Grounding exercises. Using the 5 senses to stay in the “here and now,”  I ask myself, “what do I see? Hear? Smell? Touch? Taste?”
• Walking or movement (move your body)
• Worship without analysis
• Practicing stillness without “fixing” anything

Free, indeed!

I trust this article has explained the difference between conviction and condemnation.

I pray those that read it will truly “walk out their freedom.”

In summary, be aware of religious moral scrupulosity – it feels like pressure; it is motivated by fear, pushes you away from God, focuses on rules and perfectionism, is constant and never satisfied.

Be led by the Holy Spirit and take note of a healthy conviction of sin – in this manner you will gently be drawn towards God. 

Loving correction will always lay out a clear path that leads to repentance and renewal.

May our prayer be ” We submit to you God – teach us your unforced rhythms of grace.”

The post Moral Scrupulosity Explained: How Guilt and Perfectionism Affect the Soul appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

Desperate and wanting to get back to full-time writing — my college major — I submitted a résumé at a job fair. I was pretty sure no one would know what “HTML Editor” meant, but at the word “editor” someone might take a look at my work.

Weeks later, a headhunter called. During dinner. We never answered the phone at dinner, but that night, for reasons I still can’t explain, I did. Joe with Headway asked if I could be at IBM the next morning to interview for a job working on IBM’s website.

I thought it was a joke and hung up. Joe called back. In a thick New York accent that confirmed to me the deal was a scam, he assured me the interview was legit. This is exactly how scams work, I thought. They sound very convincing right up until the moment you hand over your bank account number.

At 10 am the next morning, I sat in the lobby of IBM’s main campus in Research Triangle Park, feeling only slightly less out of place than a golden retriever at a chess tournament.

The interviewer, Jeff Miller, handed me a sheet of HTML code. I recognized maybe five lines on the whole page. The rest was Greek — and not the fun, Mediterranean-vacation kind of Greek. The kind where you smile and nod and pray nobody asks you to explain anything. But at the start of the interview, Jeff got a phone call and spent the next twelve minutes on it. When he hung up, he looked at me and asked, “Any questions?”

Clueless as to what I was doing, I smiled. “No.”

That night Joe called. “They want to offer you the position. How much do you want per hour?”

I told Joe I’d work for free, that I loved building web pages. He said, “Don’t tell them that.” He suggested an hourly rate. I said sure, whatever. The scam grew. Inside I kept wondering how much this was going to cost me.

A couple of days later the offer from IBM arrived. When I told my manager at Dillard I was going to work at IBM to build websites, the shock on his face — and the relief of getting rid of me — released the kind of enthusiasm you often see in the faces of fathers holding their child for the first time.

Still in a mild panic about being hired for a job I was clearly unequipped to perform, I showed up at IBM. One other person and I were the first members of the PC Group’s web team. I got an office with no windows and was told I could order as many books as I needed to learn how to do my job. IBM, to its credit, had essentially hired me to read and think, which is the same business model used by philosophy professors, except IBM actually paid well.

For around six months I read and played with code. Slowly we built a team. To this day, that summer — from May to Christmas — was like a slice of heaven. A pay increase for learning to do something I loved. Well, that’s a testimony that sealed the deal for me: God loves me best.

Two Years of Seeing God’s Goodness

From 1994 to 1997, while slowly watching my job disappear, I cried out to God. Literally. Gripping the steering wheel, tears streaming down my face as I drove past the airport to our office, I begged God for help. I had just finished BSF — Bible Study Fellowship — where I had learned a great deal about the Bible, about God, about Jesus. But I had not yet fallen completely in love with the Word. The summer of 1997 changed that.

God placed me on the leading edge of the Internet’s explosion, and I didn’t know it until years later. I started at IBM in 1997, worked through the dot-com bust, left to run my own web business, watched blogs arrive — and change how website design and hosting became a commodity. By 2009, I had sold my web business to publish books for others and run Christian Devotions Ministry. The skills I picked up in that windowless office I still use today to keep our ministry’s sites running.

I thought I was playing. God was filing it away for later.

What Is Prayer?

Countless books have been written on prayer, but what is it really? Jesus gave us the model. Problem is, for most of the model, no one was there to write down the instructions.

Mark says Jesus got up before dawn to pray. Luke says He prayed often. Matthew puts Him on a mountainside alone after feeding five thousand people — which, if you’d just done that, you might think you’d earned the rest of the evening off.

But what did Jesus do? Say? Hear?

God is Spirit. I used to think maybe God showed up the way He did for Moses — a burning bush that keeps your attention. Now I’m not so sure. In fact, I’m pretty certain that my experience in my car while driving past the airport, and Jesus’s experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, is the normal and natural model for prayer.

Jesus operated full of the Holy Spirit — Luke 4:1 says so plainly. But full doesn’t stay full. Ministry drains. People drain. Healing drains. Teaching drains. You can give out what you have. You cannot give out what you don’t. So He went off alone to be with His Father in prayer and got filled.

He went because praying in the Spirit to His Father who is Spirit is where the fruit of the Spirit falls into our heart.

I suspect Jesus did as I do. Outside, He looked up, spoke audibly to His Father, and said at least this much: Kingdom of God, come. Will of God, come.

God Is Not a Destination

The woman at the well wanted to settle the argument about where to worship. Jesus answered, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” — John 4:24

That quietly dismantles the rituals, the rote repetition, the proper posture, words, liturgy.

I take evening walks. I look up at the sky. The psalmist helps guide me. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from?” The disciples were still looking up when Jesus ascended. Up is a big space and God is big.

So I talk. What I say at first sounds a lot like the Lord’s Prayer, because it is. But anytime it even hints at becoming familiar, I stop talking. If I’m bored, my heart isn’t in it. I wait for Him to speak, to give me thoughts, to remind me of people. I make the prayer personal — for me, for those He brings to mind. And I keep asking. Jesus commanded us to ask. I’ve seen the results of asking. In asking, God is glorified.

You ask from those from whom you expect an answer, help, something good. Asking is worship.

Paul Said Drink

If I find myself walking around carrying guilt, shame, and a low hum of condemnation, I know I’m not walking in the Holy Spirit. That’s the accuser. For that, I confess, repent, and get refilled.

Paul says it best: drink in His Spirit. Get drunk on it.

“Be filled with the Spirit” — Ephesians 5:18 — is present continuous in the Greek. Not get filled once at an altar call and coast. Keep being filled. I’m certain this is how Jesus refreshed and refilled on those times when He went off alone.

The disciples at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. The same disciples were filled again in Acts 4. Nobody called a theological committee to discuss whether that was permitted. They just prayed, the building shook, and they went back out full.

I can tell when I’ve skipped a day of walking and praying. So can those around me. The flesh speaks from me more often than His Spirit.

I find this encouragement from Paul: pray in the Spirit often. Build yourself up by worshiping in your heavenly language. For me, both leave me with peace, often insight into issues, and a deep knowing that the issues I face are already decided in my favor.

Because of His word, I know God’s will for me: favor. From Him; from men.

Because of His Spirit, I know God.

Because of both, I know I’m known by God.

And that assurance settles my future for the remainder of today, tomorrow, and all eternity.

Scripture Reference

Jesus went alone to be with the Father.“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” — Mark 1:35 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:16 “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.” — John 5:19

God is Spirit — not a form, not a location.“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” — John 4:24 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17

Walk in the Spirit — and thus, not in sin. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 “Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” — Romans 8:5

Pray in the Spirit — including your spiritual language.“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” — Ephesians 6:18 “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.” — Romans 8:26 “Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God… they utter mysteries by the Spirit.” — 1 Corinthians 14:2

Be filled — often, repeatedly. Be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18 (present continuous — keep being filled)”After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 4:31 (the same disciples, filled again)”Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit.” — Luke 4:1

Look up when you worship.“I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord.” — Psalm 121:1–2 “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” — Luke 21:28 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2

Eddie is an award-winning author known for crafting suspenseful mysteries and humorous adventures that captivate readers, young and old.  His books are read by countless inmates and used to introduce others to Christ.

Eddie is the author of The Caribbean Chronicles, a time-travel pirate fantasy adventure series, and The Caden Chronicles, a mystery series based on supernatural myths that he believes have their roots in the Bible. In each case, Nick Caden seeks to debunk the supernatural “myth” and uncover the truth.

Eddie helped launch Christian Devotions Ministries and is its president. He is the former CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a Christian book publishing company. He is Executive Editor of Inspireafire.com  and Devokids.com. (If you want to write for IAF, hail this pirate!) He’s also a Writers’ Coach.

The post Worship God in Spirit — What Jesus Did When No One Was Around appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

“You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl, instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

A New Study

The Sunday bulletin announced that a new Bible study group was forming. Miss Trudy, as I referred to her, asked me personally to be part of the class. She was the wife of our eldest pastor, and a strong woman of faith. The nine-week study gave an overview, or as Miss Trudy put it, a taste of each book of the Bible. She informed us that it wasn’t a deep dive but just the Basics of the Bible.  Consequently, we learned that the Bible was written by 40 writers over a period of 1,600 years, resulting in 66 books. Another key point is that 39 books are placed in the Old Testament, and 27 books are arranged in the New Testament.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV.

I looked forward to gathering for Miss Trudy’s class and learning new tidbits of Biblical information.  I sensed that Miss Trudy’s study was more than just “Basic”, it was foundational.  She encouraged us to learn the Books of the Bible for memory, rather than relying on those “cheater tabs”, that mark the Books in the Bible. Each week our homework consisted of memorizing the Books in each of the categories.  In this way, by the end of the 9-week course, we would have them down pat.

Old Testament

Law-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy                                                                              History–Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther       Poetry– Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon                                                              Major Prophets– Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel                                                          Minor Prophets – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

New Testament

Biography – Mathew, Mark, Luke, John                                                                                                      History – Acts                                                                                                                                                  Paul’s Letters – Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon                                                                                           General Letters – Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II, & III John, Jude                                                   Prophecy – Revelation

 A strategy that Miss Trudy suggested for memorizing the books was to study them by section.  For example, we memorized the Books of Law using a first letter strategy. By remembering the first letters, I was able to memorize the books by category.  Like a child with a new treasure, I found myself pouring over the information that I was studying. Whenever I had a free moment, I would jot down the first letter of the section we were learning.

G– Genesis

E– Exodus

L– Leviticus

N- Numbers

D– Deuteronomy

Undoubtedly, there was a supernatural awakening in my heart and soul as I learned the order of these Books. Without question, my faith walk is richer for following this spiritual practice.

The Lightbulb Moment

“From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, one important theme weaves through the books of scripture.” This theme Miss Trudy taught us is the “scarlet thread”.

“The story of Jesus, and His sacrifice for mankind.  In the Old Testament, the blood of animals had to be shed as the sacrifice for sin.  In the New Testament we learn about Jesus, His death, resurrection, and our atonement by His blood being shed.” (Just the Basics/2022)

How beautiful is this imagery of a scarlet thread masterfully threaded through 66 books, all masterfully sewn together by our God.

Miss Trudy struggled with tremors which were gradually becoming worse. It was her hope that leaders would rise up from this class to facilitate the study when she was no longer able.

While considering her hopes, I came to realize my time with Miss Trudy had become a source of great contentment for me. Moreover, I began to see her as a motherly/grandmother figure. Her gentle, loving ways were settling into a deep crevice carved into my heart from long ago.

Miss Trudy’s example soon got me thinking about my own responsibility in becoming a Godly example to women, particularly the younger women around me.  How wonderful our God is when we recognize that “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6

There are younger women in my life that I daily associate with from family, church, work, and neighborhood, and we only need to seek Godly wisdom to recognize this.

The Younger Set

Spending time with my daughter and one-year-old grandson is invigorating. I am delighted to take part in conversations with her and her thirty-something friends. Interacting with these young women is a responsibility I handle with great love.  The Holy Spirit is making me keenly aware that my words need to be carefully chosen. I remember being a young, inexperienced wife and mother.

Responsibilities of being a loving wife, raising children, caring for the home, maintaining friendships, and keeping up with Bible study and church can be overwhelming. Women need each other.  Additionally, women need community.

However, even more than community, women need the loving arms of Jesus. “Come to me, all you who are wary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28 NIV

While it is true that older Christian women don’t do life perfectly, I am grateful we serve a God who offers fresh daily blessings. The deceiver may whisper words that cause us to doubt our role in encouraging younger women. He is the father of lies and likes nothing more than to fill our heads with doubt and distraction.

Silence that voice! “Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7 NIV

 Start Encouraging Other Women

1. Pray for wisdom daily as you seek to encourage other women.
2. Actively Listen Make eye contact, and genuinely hear what others are saying.
3. Actions speak for themselves. Let others “catch” you being merciful, loving, and helpful.
4. Observe ways to help women organically. Be the one who notices when a woman is not herself, needs a helping hand, or needs a listening ear.
5. Mind facial expressions and tone when speaking with other women. Be a light, not a judge.

Additionally, women need to take special care of their Spiritual health.  Some daily tasks for caring for yourself include:

Protecting Our Spiritual Health

1. Begin the day with Scripture and journaling. Make it a priority.
2. Keep your first hours of the day free from social media.
3. Pray, and spend time with God daily.
4. Be mindful of what you feed your mind and body. Meditate on scriptures that encourage you.
5. Be in a small group, Bible study, or community of believers. 

Scriptures to Meditate On

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Miss Trudy’s Legacy

After we completed the 9-week Basic Bible class, Miss Trudy encouraged me to teach an evening version of the Basic Bible class, while she continued to teach a morning class.  I accepted and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  We touched base often: when students asked questions that I was unsure of how to answer, or when I needed her advice on matters.

When my husband and I vacationed in the beautiful Utah mountains, I sent her photos to share the beauty and wonder of the experience. I knew she would appreciate the awe-inspiring glory of the landscape. Of course, she shared in my enthusiasm.

Last year, I received a heart-wrenching text from our pastor.  Unexpectedly, Miss Trudy had suffered an episode and was in a coma. Later that day, with her husband and family surrounding her, she passed into the loving arms of Jesus.

I wondered if she knew how much she meant to me.  Did she realize how much I appreciated her gentle presence and Godly wisdom?  I may never know this side of Heaven, but for now, I have responsibilities in my daily walk.

Father God, may I be a light and an encourager for other women as Miss Trudy was for me. In Jesus’s name I pray.  Amen

The post A Lasting Light appeared first on Inspire A Fire.

The talented artists at Seagrove Pottery use the same clay that permeates my yard to produce some amazing creations, drawing me back to the image of God forming and shaping Adam from clay in the Garden of Eden.

I assume somewhere in my past there was an attempt to make an ashtray out of clay, though I don’t remember it. I suspect my “creation” was quietly discarded, as we never found it in my parents’ things. That lump of clay deserved to be shaped by someone with far more skill than me.

One of my favorite descriptions of God and His relationship with mankind comes from Jeremiah 18:1–6. The Bible describes the nation of Israel as a clay pot shaped by God’s hands as seemed best to Him.

The Potter Is In Control

Throughout the process – from inception to finished product – the potter is in control. The God Who created the universe is in control of your life. Psalm 24:1 tells us “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;’

The Potter Is Patient

The potter carefully shapes the clay, patiently correcting flaws without discarding it. Some clay yields easily, while other clay resists—but all remain in the potter’s hands. God is patient when we sin, seeking to draw us back to Him. 2 Peter 3:9 states that God’s goal is that we all come to repentance and a restored relationship with Him.

The Potter Has A Purpose

Each piece is formed, refined, and finished according to both its condition and the potter’s purpose. The finished vessel reflects the potter’s loving design as the clay yields to His hands. We are God’s masterpieces, created in Christ to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Trust The Potter’s Plan

All of creation is being shaped by the same faithful Potter Who is also shaping us. The God Who formed mankind from clay has a purpose for your life.

Consider the words of “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”, a hymn written in 1907 based on our focal passage:

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

The last verse of the Jeremiah 18 passage says, “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”

The God who formed you (Psalm 139:13-16) is still at work—shaping you as His servant, and using you as an instrument in shaping others.

What area of your life is God still shaping today? Yield it to the Potter and trust His hands.

Prayer: Father, let me yield to Your direction as You lovingly form and shape me into an instrument for Your use. Amen.

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When I sat in the living room snapping the beans, I realized I wasn’t tired. My back didn’t hurt from staying out late picking. My arms weren’t eaten up from mosquitoes or ants. I didn’t have to adjust my afternoons to make sure we got all the beans picked before they were too far gone. And yet, I had the same result: enough green beans to get us through the year.

After this experience, I’m considering other ways I can work smarter, not harder. While growing our own garden has always been a blessing, it also takes time, seed, fertilizer, water, weed pulling, picking, and more picking. We just aren’t in that season right now.

Grocery Delivery and Pick-Up

Another choice I made this year was ordering items online and utilizing store pick-up options. The first time toilet paper showed up in the mail, my kids made fun of me. “You’ve reached a new level of lazy, Ma.”

I laughed. “Lazy or not, it’s better than getting stuck without it.”

So many items are available for same or next day delivery and pick-up. Why not utilize that option on days when the tired is huge and the energy is gone?

The older I get, the more my “rememberer” fails. Instead of depending on my memory or keeping up with a list, I immediately add the item to my upcoming pick-up or delivery. The stress caused by forgetting necessary items has virtually disappeared and once the item is ordered, I can stop trying to remember.

Front Porch Swing

Another smarter not harder choice this year was my front porch swing. I’m perfectly capable of building a swing. There are tons of free plans out there and we have wood left over from building our house. But I haven’t had the energy to make it happen. Working extra this year wore me out, so I saved a little each month and asked a carpenter friend to build us one. I didn’t have to stress about cutting things wrong or carrying heavy boards. But I get to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful swing.

Trusting God

My biggest smarter not harder choice this year was trusting God. He made it abundantly clear that I was to take on an extra part-time job at the school. And he also made it clear that I was to write six lessons a week for a devotional Bible study for educators. Being that I knew these assignments for certain, instead of worrying how I would make it through physically or find time to write, I defaulted to God. Let me explain.

There were many days when fibromyalgia seemed to win and I was struggling to make it past lunch time with my students due to pain. Instead of feeling defeated or wanting to quit, I immediately prayed. “God, I know you led me to this job. And since you want me here, I need you to be my strength. You tell us when we are weak, you are strong. I’m taking you up on it. Please help me.” And every time, he showed up.

When commitments happened and time to write dwindled, I responded the same way. “God, you placed this assignment in front of me, and you know how mentally exhausted I am. I can barely find the words to speak, much less write. This is your study I’m writing. Please let your words fill my pen. I can’t do this without you.” And every time, he showed up.

Smarter Not Harder Faith

While the physical exchanges of smarter not harder were beneficial, the faith element changed my life. When we surrender without putting up a fight and lean on his strength because we know he’ll show up, our faith grows. Our dependence is natural. And the fruits of our labor are in his hands. If he leads us to it, then he will continue to guide us through it.

Do you trust God enough to completely trust that he’ll make a way?

For more on faith: When Faith Demands Everything – Inspire A Fire

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