Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, ERV)
Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries. – (1 Peter 5:7, VOICE)
No matter what we have been through, or what may lie ahead, we need not worry, for God already knows and will be faithful to be with us. When anxiousness begins to rise and creep in, we need to place it in His capable hands. Because He cares for us, we do not have to carry our burdens alone, nor do we have to face the fires by ourselves. God is with us, and He is able to meet us in each moment, and help us navigate through each new day. As a teacher, Monday mornings can feel a bit anxiety causing, especially on a holiday that provides a plethora of sugar to kids for the coming week. He is good, and already knows. The Lord will give us the wisdom and grace we need to keep moving forward. May we ever seek our Savior and place our worries and burdens at the foot of the cross, for it is there that they have already been seen, known and overcome.
Because the Lord cares,
We need not worry;
All is in His hands,
So strong and sturdy.
Anxiety falls,
When given to Him;
The Lord holds us up,
And grants peace within.
Help us turn to You,
Throughout all our days;
You are the answer,
You show us the way.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we need not worry or be anxious, for You are with us and remain present throughout all of our days. Forgive us for our fears and doubts that sneak in when we shift our gaze away from You. Teach us to ever trust in You and to lay all of our worries and concerns at Your feet. Show us how to let go and allow You to be Lord of all things. Lead us to love those around us as You do, so that Your hope and help are made clearly known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust in Your faithfulness forever and find Your peace is plentiful as we seek You. Amen.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. – (Colossians 3:23, NIV)
In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly masters. – (Colossians 3:23, ERV)
So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s. – (Colossians 3:23, VOICE)
Right now, this is very well-timed, as I am reaching a point of exhaustion and wondering how I can possibly sustain the hours and work required to do my job. I know I am ultimately working for God, therefore I am arriving early and staying late to ensure that I am adequately prepared for a job that I have never done. Yesterday afternoon, as I was walking our dogs, I could not help but pray as I walked, and ask the Lord what I am supposed to do. All that kept resonating in my heart and mind was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9) God is good, and if my weakness is an opportunity to display His strength, so be it. He has been faithful each day to meet me and to provide what I need to get through each day. Sometimes, our seasons are hard. He is our help and our hope to carry us through. For now, I will continue to seek Him and trust that He has me in the position I am in on purpose and for a purpose. May we ever seek the Lord and trust in Him, doing all that we can with what is asked of us. Where our strength ends, His begins.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to do all things as unto You, not for the people in positions above us. Thank You that You are the One to whom we ultimately answer, and the One who provides all that we need to press on. Forgive us for our frustrations with our situations when we haven’t the strength or skill set to do all that we are asked to do. Thank You that You come and meet us, and You provide the help and strength we need to keep moving forward. Teach us to trust in You anew every morning, for You are faithful always. Show us how to love those around us in ways that provide help, support and encouragement. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to be our strength when we are weary, and to supply what we need to keep moving in the direction You have called us. Amen.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
But I call to You for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer meets You. – (Psalm 88:13, HCSB)
Lord, I am asking You to help me! Early each morning I pray to You. – (Psalm 88:13, ERV)
But I am calling out to You, Eternal One. My prayers rise before You with every new sun! – (Psalm 88:13, VOICE)
God is faithful to hear us when we call on Him. Each day, as I rise before the sun, I call on God to be my help and my hope. If you have been following here, you know that the start to this school year has had its challenges. Yesterday, there was a bit of a change. It was far from perfect, yet how I felt at the end of the day was far better than the previous two. I am hopeful that today will be even better. May we ever call on the Lord for help, for He is faithful to hear us and help us in and through all things.
Each morning I rise,
Before daylight’s come;
I pray to the Lord,
The most Holy One.
I seek Him for strength,
My Help and my Hope;
To lead and guide me,
So love is evoked.
Ever He’s faithful,
To meet me each day;
His strength and goodness,
Lead me in His way.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, You hear our prayer. Thank You that even when we do not see it, You are moving on our behalf. Forgive us for our frustrations and fears when things are heavy and feel as if we are in the throes of a never ending fight. Teach us to rise and pray to You, for You are our help and our hope. Show us how to love those around us well. Lead us in the light of Your gracious goodness for all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You each morning as we rise, trusting that You hear us and will be with us as we go. Amen.
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!” – (John 11:32, HCSB)
May went to the place where Jesus was. When she saw Him, she bowed at His feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – (John 11:32, ERV)
Mary approached Jesus, saw Him, and fell at His feet. “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would still be alive.” – (John 11:32, VOICE)
There is so much to the story of Lazarus. Though he was the one that Jesus raised from four-days dead, his sister, Mary, was also a key player in the miracle that Jesus provided for people whom He loved. In her grief, Mary spoke to Jesus, acknowledging the power He held in preventing death, and honestly shared her frustration and sorrow that He had not arrived four days sooner. It was not an accusation nor placement of blame, but rather a statement of faith in her sadness. She knew that had Jesus been present, He would have healed her brother. Jesus, full of compassion for His dear friends, wept, and then asked them to take Him to the tomb where Lazarus was laid. Once there, He asked that the stone be rolled away, and then He called out to God to bring Lazarus forth from the grave. Lazarus, still wrapped in grave clothes, walked out of the tomb. For Mary, this miracle went even further beyond her hope of what Jesus could do. Despite witnessing the power of God to raise a man from being four-days in the grave, faith again would be blinded by grief a short time later when Jesus Himself was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb. I wonder if Mary held hope that Jesus might do for Himself what He had done for Lazarus? Incredibly, she was one of the women to whom Jesus appeared after He had risen. Imagine her faith and determination when Jesus told her to go and let the others know. For me, this is a reminder that no matter how far gone things seem to be, God can bring life back to hopes, dreams, promises, and more. He can do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine. Mary wished that Jesus had been there sooner, yet He still did the impossible. We may hope for answers or direction sooner, yet God can do so much more in His time. May we ever seek the Lord in faith, trusting that He has compassion for us and will move in ways that are even better than we could hope or imagine as we wait and trust in Him.
In disappointment,
And times of sorrow;
We forget who holds,
All our tomorrows.
The very same God,
Who raised up the dead;
Can still move mountains,
Lifter of our heads.
He can restore hope,
Where all seems but lost;
Restore life to dreams,
We thought had been squashed.
Sometimes the answer,
Is not what we’d choose;
Yet there’s always more,
For His love renews.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You restore life into hopes and dreams, even when we think that they are long dead. Thank You that You can do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine. Forgive us for our faltering faith when things seem hopeless. Teach us to trust in You in all things and at all times, believing that You can do more than we could hope or imagine. Show us how to love those around us in ways that give life and hope and help where all seemed to be lost. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we call on You in faith to be our help and hope, and to bring life to that which seems lost. Amen.
Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person. – (Colossians 4:6, HCSB)
When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. – (Colossians 4:6, ERV)
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response to everyone. – (Colossians 4:6, NLT)
This is the epitome of my mom and her mom before her; gracious, kind and wise. No human ever always has the right answer, but I think great moms come awfully close. These two women, as well as some incredible mother-like figures in my life, have modeled God’s love with the way that they speak with grace, kindness and love. It has never been unkind, but the truth is ever spoken in love. At times, the truth was to correct or redirect, but always with my best interest in mind. I am forever grateful for the gift of mothers in my life, and today, it seems only fitting to celebrate and honor them. May we ever give thanks to God for the gift of moms and mother-figures that He grants unto us, and seek Him to lead us in their likeness.
Let conversations,
Be filled with God’s grace;
Kind and with wisdom,
In every place.
For His love’s made known,
Through how we choose speak;
Actions and kindness,
Ever let us seek.
Seek to be loving,
Through every word;
Good spoken in love,
It’s how love is heard.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of mothers and mother-figures who model Your love with words, actions and their very existence. Thank You for the blessings in my own life that have come through my mother, grandmother, youth leaders, church mommas, and incredibly wise and wonderful friends throughout the years. Forgive us for the times that we have not followed the example set before us and have spoken with a lack of love. Lead us to always speak with love, kindness and grace. May Your words lead the searching to see Your face and enter into a lasting relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we seek You to ever lead us in Your love with every word we speak and all that we do. Amen.
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. – (Jeremiah 33:3, HCSB)
Pray to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before. – (Jeremiah 33:3, ERV)
Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. – (Jeremiah 33:3, MSG)
God is faithful to answer when we ask of Him. He hears our prayers and leads and guides us in the ways we are meant to go. Wisdom and insight are things that He provides as we ask. Often, when we listen intently, He reveals to us the things we need to know. May we ever seek our Savior, for He is faithful to meet us where we are and answer as we call on Him.
O Lord, help us seek,
In You all is known;
Whatever the plan,
Your way’s clearly shown.
Reveal unto us,
What we need to know;
Lead us in Your love,
Show us where to go.
For as we seek You,
You’re faithful always;
To lead and guide us,
New insight each day.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You hear us when we call on You and You are faithful to answer and reveal to us the things we need to know. Thank You that You provide all that we need to navigate each new day in You. Forgive us for the times that we forego asking You for insight and muddle our way through the muck. Teach us to trust and rely on You, for You are loving and kind and willing to lead us where we are meant to go. Show us how to love and encourage those around us, as You teach us how to love like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we earnestly seek You and listen intently for all that You have to say to our hearts. Amen.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – (Philippians 4:6, NIV)
Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. – (Philippians 4:6, ERV)
Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. – (Philippians 4:6, VOICE)
God is so faithful to hear us when we present our requests in prayer. This school year has been really challenging thus far, and though I pray generally, my best day this past week came after praying specifically for individual students by name. I don’t know if it was a shift in them, me, or both, but whatever it was, there was a tangible difference that day. This reminds me that I have to call on Him and ask specifically for what I need. He is faithful to answer, even when we do not see immediate results. What I do know is that God can use all things for good, so I have to press in and continue to trust that I am in the right place for such a time as this, even when I am overwhelmed and exhausted. This morning, I am thankful for the extra day of rest, as on this particular state in-service day, I have no training that I am required to attend. Instead, I now have the opportunity to pay a much needed visit to my mom, who lives a few hours away. God is good, and today I will pray and ask Him for all that I need and give Him thanks for the abundant blessings that He has poured out in my life. May we ever seek the Lord and pray our petitions to Him, for He hears and acts on behalf of His people who call on Him.
When anxiousness comes,
Choose call on the Lord;
Let Him know your needs,
His grace He’ll outpour.
Peace in our chaos,
The calm to each storm;
Love that surrounds us,
And hope that transforms.
Goodness and mercy,
In Him may be found;
Each time we seek Him,
For His love is sound.
Give thanks for blessings,
The good that abounds;
Seek Him in struggle,
In Him hope is found.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You and present our prayers before You, You hear our hearts and move on our behalf. Thank You for the abundant blessings that You continually pour out, as You surround us with community and provide hope, help and rest when we need it most. Forgive us for our anxiousness that we hold. Teach us to place all in Your hands. Show us anew each day, that You are the answer to all that we need. Lead us to love those around us as You intended. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as You make Your goodness known. Be glorified O God, as we present our prayers before You and pour out our praise in thanksgiving for who You are and how You love. Amen.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. – (Psalm 139:23, NIV)
God, examine me and know my mind. Test me and know all my worries. – (Psalm 139:23, ERV)
God, I invite Your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. – (Psalm 139:23, TPT)
This is a good reminder, especially during seasons that seem to spark anxiety. Normally, I would have written something about the eagerness for the first day of school. However, yesterday, all I could do was read and pray, as I was anxious to walk into the unknown after nearly eighteen months. Yes, I had returned to hybrid school in the spring, but there were only a handful of kids in class at any given time, so the idea of full classrooms and the chaos of the “normal” start of the school year was weighty. God knows our needs and meets us where we are. Despite a bit of a bumpy morning, the day went well. Kids were excited to be back at school, and the vast majority were fantastic about masks and social distancing. I know for many, there was much anxiety about the unknown. Two-thirds of the student body had never before set foot on campus. My classes are primarily eighth graders, so most had been away since their sixth grade year that was cut short and flipped upside down. God knows each heart and what it needs. When we slow down and quiet our hearts, He whispers the words that bring peace. I can’t pretend to understand why we are in the midst of a pandemic that is still our reality, but I can trust that He has placed us all together for this season. May we ever give God the reins and ask Him to search our hearts, for He is the One who uncovers and soothes our anxiousness and brings peace to places of uneasiness.
O God, bring us peace,
In space of unrest;
You know well each heart,
And how to love best.
Lead us in Your love,
With goodness and grace;
Teach us to love well,
So peace finds a place.
A place in our schools,
Each classroom and hall;
Let kindness give room,
To one and to all.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are with us and that You know our every anxious thought. Thank You that You hear and answer us every time we call on You. Forgive us for holding on to anxious thoughts and not giving You room to bring Your peace. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times, even when things don’t make sense. Show us how to love well and bring peace to all those whom we encounter. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You our cares and trust Your love to lead us in Your goodness and peace. Amen.
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – (Luke 11:10, NIV)
Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them. – (Luke 11:10, ERV)
All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking. – (Luke 11:10, VOICE)
Now happily home…
When we ask the Lord, He answers. Friday evening, we were in communication with the trainers who were caring for our dogs during their board and train program. By the end of the back and forth conversation, I could not shake the gnawing feeling that had formed in my gut. As I prayed and sought the Lord, I knew that we needed to bring our dogs home the next day as we were scheduled for a private lesson to work on what the dogs had been doing throughout their training thus far. Yesterday, after having run an errand, we returned home to take care of some projects around the house, prior to heading to our meet up location at a park. Out of the blue, I received a phone call that I would never have expected. An animal control officer contacted me to let me know that there was a case involving our pup, Thor. Shock and disbelief overwhelmed me as I listened to the officer unpack what had transpired. A kind citizen had called animal control and submitted video footage of Thor being continually mistreated and harmed for somewhere between thirty and sixty minutes. The officer let me know that the initial officer who took the case had to hand it over to him, as she could not watch the footage due to the horror it portrayed. By this time, I was shaking and could not fathom the sort of people who would do such things. Prior to leaving for the park, we messaged the trainers and asked that they please bring our dogs belongings with them. Upon arrival at the park, we restlessly watched and waited. I knew that I was not to even speak to the trainers, for God had prepared me to focus only on my dogs, and have my husband speak to them. Thankfully, the kind animal control officer arrived prior to our pups, so we were able to speak more with him about what had taken place and what would happen next. He remained with us when the trainers arrived, and I immediately went to the back door of the car and took Thor’s leash to get him out. He joyfully came to me, and could not get away from the car fast enough. Once my husband had Tali, our other precious pup, he calmly took our belongings to load in the car, and then matter-of-factly informed the trainers that they would be granting us a full refund and covering the vet bill we would incur as our next stop was to be a wellness check with our vet for both dogs, to be certain there were no lasting injuries, or, we would be seeing them in civil court. With looks of fear and horror, they simply shook their heads in the recognition that we knew what had taken place. Thankfully, both pups were uninjured, but both had lost a dramatic amount of weight. Thor was down ten pounds, and Tali, six, after nine days in their “care”. Both horrified and tremendously grateful, we brought our babies home and have been loving them ever since. Though this has been a traumatic ordeal, I can see God’s faithfulness, protection and provision, despite the evil intent of the trainers. From the good citizen who reported and submitted what they saw, to the animal control officer who went out of his way to help us and be certain that our dogs were safely returned to our care, God was with us as He provided and protected, and showed us the way to deal with this horrific situation. Both pups are happily home, and have returned to their normal sweet and mischievous ways. God is good, and He is forever faithful to answer as we ask and seek Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, You hear us and answer our cries. Thank You that You open doors that we knock upon, and make Your heart and plan evident as we ask. Thank You for returning our fur babies safely. Forgive us for the fear and anger that arose as we discovered what had taken place. Continue to teach us how to trust You more, as You are always with us and working on our behalf. Show us how to love all those around us, even when we think others are undeserving of love. Please work in the hearts of the trainers so that they may come to understand Your love and kindness that heals hurts and changes hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we continue to ask, seek and knock all of our days. Amen.
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV)
Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, ERV)
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.” – (Matthew 22:37-39, MSG)
If we love God and love people in a way that truly honors and obeys His commands, ALL people will feel valued, seen, heard and known. Sadly, everywhere I look, I see evidence that we are far from this. It is devastating to hear reports of people’s brilliance being overlooked, or of individuals being treated harshly or in a way that is in no way warranted. If I read too much, or look too hard, the heaviness is overwhelming. That being said, what can one human do? The answer is Jesus. If I seek Him to lead me in love, I can be part of the change I long to see. My role is to recognize, listen to, celebrate, encourage, educate, empower, value and honor the next generation. At times, this whole remote teaching gig makes it feel like an impossible task. The kiddos whom I never “see,” I struggle to get to know. Each opportunity I have, I attempt to encourage and care well for each faceless black box, and recognize that I have no idea what their environment is truly like. My hope is that kindness and encouragement will help them feel valued, and that at the end of the day, each is aware that someone cares. Lord, help us to love You and love one another as You intended.
Lord, will You lead us,
To love as You do;
Care for each other,
Let Your light shine through.
Help us be vessels,
Afloat in Your love;
May kindness give hope,
Care that You’re proud of.
Show us the spaces,
For encouragement;
Teach us to listen,
Hear discouragement.
Lead us all in love,
So kindness may reign;
May all voices be heard,
And Your love made plain.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to love You and love each other. Thank You that You have shown us what it is to truly love one another. Forgive us for the times that we have not acted or spoken in ways that demonstrate Your love to those around us. Teach us to do and be better. Help us to recognize, value, encourage and love well, all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to love You and those around us as You first loved us. Amen.
Revelations In Writing 