Motherhood is a daunting task at any age. I would imagine Sarah, the mother of Isaac, struggled with thoughts of what she could offer a child at such a late season in her life. Would she have the energy to keep up with a rambunctious young child? Would she have the patience? Would she be able to relate? Would she be around for those critical milestones in her child’s life?
Maybe you haven’t given birth to your child in your winter season, but you have taken on the role of mother to a grandchild, niece, nephew, or complete stranger. You may be a little skeptical of your ability to mother at this age, your ability to provide or, keep up with the child. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL.
God has given you wisdom, resources, and, most of all, love to share. Embrace your winter season of motherhood, because God is faithful and great is your reward.
As God blessed Sarah, He will bless you.
A Prayer for the Winter Mother:
Heavenly Father,
You are faithful. Even in my winter season, You have trusted me and called me to the role of mother. Though at times I don’t quite understand, neither do I think I am up for the task. I know I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Thank You for providing everything I need to parent in this season.
“Then he said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”
Ruth had reason to throw in the towel. She left her family and her beliefs to follow her husband only to lose him without any children to carry on his legacy. She could have easily pulled the shade, curled up on her mat and slept her pain away. Instead, she held on to her newfound faith as if she was clinging on for her life, committing herself to her mother-in-law and her God.
“For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.”
Ruth 1:16 NKJV
Her resilience, faith, obedience, integrity, and sacrifices ultimately led her to Boaz. Had she stayed in her room, she may have missed her kinsmen-redeemer—missed being the great grandmother of King David and being listed in the lineage of Jesus.
Don’t let your situation keep you down. Get up and get moving. Your Redeemer still lives.
A Prayer for the Faithful Mother:
Heavenly Father, Despite my loss, You are still God. You are a restorer of all things lost when I feel like giving up. You give me the strength to relentlessly pursue and follow You in willful obedience, trusting You—for You are my God. On the other side of loss is joy and life that is available to me now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
I love to get things done. As much I love getting things done, I equally love to see the fruit of my labor…though I am not always in love with the process of getting it done. As I mature in my faith walk, I learned that my desire to get things done can sometimes get in the way, yielding less than favorable results. In my quest to clear my to do list and reach the goal, I can unintentionally kill the harvest. Perhaps I plucked my fruit too soon, attached myself to the wrong thing, or tried to protect myself from the pruning that is required to produce the best fruit. More often than I like to admit, it’s the inability to work from a place a rest that spoils my fruit.
One of my favorite recorded conversations Jesus had with His disciples is captured in John 15. He provides them instructions on how to create fruit that will last…fruit that is produced from a relationship with Him, remaining connected to Him and a willingness to submit to the process of producing a special kind of fruit. This conversation would be one of His last before becoming the seed that would produce a harvest for eternity.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ‘”
– Jesus (John 15:2-5)
God desires for us to be fruitful. Not our way. Not culture’s way. His way. He established the protocol for producing a special kind of fruit.
Fruit cannot be produced alone. Jesus instructs His crew to stay connected to Him, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do anything. Not only do we need Jesus, but we also need partnership. God will send and position the people you need to get the work done. Sometimes it will require stepping out of your comfort zone, trusting, and asking for what you need.
Commit your plan to God, then do what He says. Whatever instruction God gives you as you are producing your fruit, JUST DO IT. Don’t delay your harvest because of the pesticide of disobedience. Jesus instructed His crew to stay connected to Him and do what He says. Then He promises if they did what He said, they could ask for whatever they needed, and He would give it to them.
You can be assured that whatever you need for your harvest has already been thought of and is waiting for you to take hold of.
Producing fruit is an act of love. Fruit produced with the wrong motives is rotten fruit Your fruitfulness should be an act of love towards God and others. While the work may be hard, the labor must be in love. Your work is an extension of God’s love for you, your love for Him and a demonstration of your relationship with Him.
“Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father.”
-Jesus (John 15:8 ERV)
You were chosen for the fruit you were called to produce. The fruit you were called to produce can only be produced by you. Sure, there might be other varieties. But your fruit, patented by God, sealed with His spirit, and trademarked by you, gets its unique flavor from all that is in you. Everything you need for production is in you. What you don’t have is on the way. If God chose you for it, He is trusting you with it.
Pruning is essential for production. When we are producing good fruit, we can expect to go through the pruning process – the removal of the toxins that would otherwise infect and damage the harvest. Sometimes those toxins include control, pride, insecurity, and fear…. just to name a few. It may hurt but it’s necessary to produce something special.
You need His word. Let God’s Word lead you, fill you and instruct you. Don’t let your plans, ungodly and unwise counsel, anxiety, worry, and competitiveness kill your fruit.
‘Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground — this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.” ‘
– Jesus (Matthew 13:22-23)
Abide. Work from a place of rest – spiritual, emotional, and physical rest are necessary for production. Jesus invites us to rest in Him, trusting Him with our lives – all of it. While we work, we can work knowing that we don’t have to strive for results. If we commit our plans to Him, do what He says, lay aside our anxiety and trust the process, we can continually produce from a place of rest.
You were chosen to be fruitful. Now go and produce fruit!
“‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ‘”
Loving someone, means you will inevitably experience pain…you risk being disappointed, frustrated, and even rejected. The pain associated with love is only known by the depths that one loves. In fact, it’s often not until you experience loss that you realize just how great your love was for that which was lost and there is no greater loss than when our loved ones transition from this life to the next. The scar of grief that remains is a reminder of the love we lost, how things were and how they could have been. The scar is frequently agitated by memories, pictures, special occasions and just about anything that reminds you it’s still there.
Grief is a process with no end in sight. It stays with you forever yet improves over time and with great care. While grief is associated with pain…and don’t get me wrong it is dreadfully painful at times, it is also a reminder of the love we had, the memories we made, and the life that we shared. Though we don’t welcome grief, it is an indication of our capacity to love and care for the people God has placed in our lives if only for a season but always in our hearts. It is in our grief, that we discover unknown strength, gain new perspectives of love, and a deeper appreciation for those that remain. Love is patient, gentle, kind….but it also hurts.
As I navigate my own grief journey, I am comforted by the love that I still have, the outpouring of love from my family and friends, and God’s grace…which is more than sufficient. I am also learned to embrace the process of grief and to handle myself with care.
When the pain sets in:
Remember
Remember the good memories you shared with your loved one. Remember the expressions of love, the moments that bring you joy, and the moments that make you laugh.
Release
Cleanse your soul. When the tears come, let them fall and just be. Tears are a necessary part of the journey.
Reach Out
YOU. ARE. NOT. ALONE. Reach out to your family and friends. Let them know that you are hurting. You are not a burden. As one who loved, those deposits that you made are waiting for you with open arms. Don’t be afraid to say you are not okay. It’s okay not to be okay. And don’t be afraid to seek counseling or therapy. In fact, I highly recommend it.
Rejoice
Celebrate your loved one’s life and your progress in your grief journey.
Repeat
Grief is a forever thing. Repeat this process as often as needed.
Love hurts but it is worth it all.
Scriptures to comfort you throughout your grief journey:
I love online shopping! I know what I want and with a few clicks (depending on the site, maybe one) it can be at my door in just a few days. No lines, crowds, hassles or assistance needed. I have what I want delivered right to my doorstep.
While I love and prefer online shopping, I must confess I am not the greatest at it. Often when my package arrives, I find myself disappointed because the color is not as vibrant as it appeared on my screen, the fabric is not the expected quality, or the sizing is off (because I failed to read the fine print directing me to look at the conversion chart), or it fits but doesn’t quite look the same as it did on the model. Then there have been those occasions where after making my selection, I receive a notification that the item I ordered is on back order and I have to wait longer than I anticipated. These hastily made decisions and lapse in judgement often leave me questioning my purchase.
The problem is, I am so certain about what I think I want that I don’t take the time to consider the purchase. Do I really need it? Is it really the right fit? Am I willing to wait until the item is back in stock? Instead of reading the details about the item – the fabric, the measurements, the shipping origin, I proceed with what I want – far too often disappointed that what I thought would look good on me, is not the right fit for me.
The same can be said about our requests of God. We think we know what we want – whether it’s a relationship, career, or ministry opportunity, only to find out it wasn’t the right fit for us after all.
Sometimes what we want is not what we need. Or maybe, it’s just not the right time. God knows exactly what we need, how to get it to us and when we need it. We need to trust Him to guide us in our decision making – to align our desires with His. It may take more than 2 days to get to us, but when it arrives He guarantees it will be the perfect fit!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6
“…but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”” – Luke 18:39
Sometimes it may seem pointless to call on God. We may feel that our situation is impossible or we have been crying out for so long and our situation has not changed. It can seem as if our desperate pleas for help go unheard. We don’t understand. Those around us don’t understand. They watch us worship, serve, cry out and wonder where God is when we need Him most. Some may even encourage us to stop our seemingly unheard prayers – or we may give up on our own because we can’t see how God is going to change our situation.
“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” Luke 18:35-43 NIV
Bartimaeus wanted to see. He probably hoped all of his life to have his sight. He heard about the miracles Jesus did, believed Jesus could change his situation and had faith to cry out when He knew He was near. The men who tried to silence him probably didn’t see any hope for Bartimaeus’ situation. They didn’t want him to distract the Master from His Father’s business. But Bartimaeus’ faith would not allow him to remain silent. While he couldn’t see any of the miracles Jesus performed, he could hear the testimony of others, he was aware of the power of crying out His Name. He believed Jesus could give him the one thing he desired. His faith restored his sight.
Don’t let ANYONE – the enemy, your family, friends or even YOU, silence your prayers. Despite what you can or cannot see, don’t give up! Keep crying out to the One who is capable of changing you and your situation.
Father, Thank You for hearing us when we call on Your Powerful Name. We know that all things are possible through You. Even when we can’t see what You are doing, help us to remember that You are working all things out for our good. Thank You for restoring our spiritual sight and increasing our faith to trust You in every area of our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Like most of the world, each day I wonder when this situation is going to end. When will I turn on the news to hear a cure has been found, that there have not been any deaths or more illnesses from this virus, that there is a vaccine to keep us safe, or we can return to life as we once knew it.
The other day as I returned from the coffee house (which is now my kitchen) to my makeshift work space slightly frustrated with the new norm, my screensaver displayed a beautiful lighthouse at the end of a long stony road. The black and white photo highlighted by the brightest white drawing attention to the light from the beacon of the lighthouse, reminded me of the saying “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” – John 8:12
Believers in Jesus Christ do not have to wait for the light at the end of the tunnel. The Light has already come that we can have abundant life here and in eternity – full of goodness and hope, even in the midst of chaos, tragedy and devastation. Jesus came into the world – into our hearts, not only to save us but that we would be a reflection of His light for others to see the hope of glory that is in us as a testimony of His salvation.
There is Light in the tunnel. His name is Jesus. The world needs His Light more than ever.
In our darkest moments, we need to fix our eyes on the Light to be reminded and encouraged by His faithfulness, using this time to seek Him through prayer and His Word, and to serve Him by being the light among all men.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16
If you have never placed faith in Jesus Christ, you do not have to wait until we get through this..until we get out of this tunnel. Jesus came to rescue us ALL from darkness.
You can receive this Light today.
If Jesus has prompted your heart to do so, pray this prayer:
Jesus, I am a sinner lost in darkness. Come into my heart, illuminate it with Your Light, and cleanse me of my sins. Today I accept You as my Lord and Savior. I believe that You came to earth as a servant, as God in the flesh. You died, was buried, and rose from the dead, that I might have the Light of life. I place my faith in You alone. My heart belongs to You. Thank You Jesus for loving me and saving me.
Now is the time we should be seeking the Lord like never before. Sometimes that can be hard. We don’t know what to say, what we should be praying for, or maybe you never prayed before. When you’re at a loss for words, open the Book of Psalms and speak God’s Word back to Him. Over time and through the Holy Spirit, you can use one of the Psalms as a foundation for your prayer, adding your own praises and prayer requests.
Use this prayer based on Psalm 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 for your prayer today and let the Lord lead you.
Peace & Blessings.
Father God,
The world is Yours and all it that is in it. Lord, You know my heart and the hearts of all your people. Where there is fear and anxiety, give peace and calm that only comes from You…that comes from knowing You as Lord, knowing Your Son as Savior. Right now we need to be seeking You like never before.
You Lord, are the King of Glory, You are strong and mighty – You are mighty in the midst of our battles, You are Lord of all. You are welcome in my heart, my mind, my spirit and soul.
Father, I lift up my soul to You. Lord, I trust You. Do not let me be ashamed of this hope and my faith in You. A gift that You freely give. Help me to see things from a heavenly perspective. Teach me Your word. Lead me in Your paths, lead me in Your truth. I belong to You…I will wait on You. Thank You for remembering me, my family and my loved ones during this time. Your compassion and lovingkindness are forever – You reign Lord!
You, Lord, are good and right. All your paths are lovingkindness and truth – let us hold fast to You. Help me keep my eyes constantly on You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me. Thank You for forgiving my sins – past and present.
O Lord, I love Your dwelling place. Thank You for this time that I get to spend with You – getting to know You better through Your Word – Your Iove letter to us. You tell us that when we seek You with our whole heart and mind, we will find You. Give me a fresh desire and thirst for Your Word.
Father, You are my light and salvation, who shall I fear? You are my protector, who or what should I dread? Though troubles come, my heart will not fear. In spite of it all, I will remain confident in the hope that I have in You.
Lord, the one thing that I ask and seek is to dwell in Your house all the days of my life, to behold Your beauty and to meditate in Your temple. In these trying times, You have covered and protected me and those I love. I will praise You each and every day – even when we get through this because You Lord will never forsake me. Help me to wait on You. To be strong and courageous as I wait. To seek ways to serve You by helping my brothers and sisters.
You alone, Lord, are my strength and my shield. I will trust You as long as I live. I praise You Lord for all that You do for me. You are my strength during these troubling times. Save us Lord, according to Your will. Be our shepherd. Lead us. We have been so preoccupied looking to our earthly leaders – let us look to You. You will lead and carry us forever.
Lord, You are great! Your goodness has been stored up for those who fear You-who take refuge in You. You have hidden us in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man – You keep us hidden and safe. Thank You Lord for meeting us here in this time You knew about. Thank you for taking care of us – shielding us from this virus. Thank You for healing those that have been diagnosed. Thank You for comforting those who have lost loved ones. Their loss does not mean that You do not love them or that You did not want to heal them but as Your Word says whether we as believers are awake or sleep we will live forever together with You. We praise You Lord that we have this confidence of abundant life through Christ Jesus. It is in His great, holy, mighty, keeping and matchless name that I pray. Amen.
Do you struggle with saying NO? Let me free you today….it’s okay to say no in order to say yes to right thing – without guilt or explanation to others.
I am in a season where I am learning how to say what I always believed to be a bad word…No. Maybe not using that exact word, but respectfully declining the great new opportunity that happens to coincide with the things God has tasked me with, that easy thing that would be a welcome escape from the daunting project or diversion from the present problem, gracefully bowing out of social opportunities to spend more time in His presence so that I can know what God’s perfect plan and will is, so I know exactly what I should say yes to.
Now, for a recovering people pleaser, saying no hurts sometimes. The look of disappointment sprawled across the faces of your girlfriends as you decline the invitation to brunch this weekend because you need to just sit at the feet of Jesus for a little while. Feeling like you let those down who need you because you can no longer support their vision but need to get busy on the work God has called you to. There have been times God has clearly told me to pass on certain things and I have had to fight the beast within to say Yes.
Use your no’s wisely and in obedience to God. Just say don’t say No to Him.
“But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.” -MATTHEW 5:37 AMP
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”
Galatians 5:7 NIV
We start with such excitement and passion over a new beginning, a new idea, a new acquisition, new relationships….so on fire and committed. Then something happens. We hit a roadblock that causes us to lose momentum, discipline, or even hope.
You were doing so well. Life was good. You were living the best & blessed life…#GOALS…that is until life happened. An unexpected hurdle gets in the way and sends us in our feelings limping back to the sidelines.
So what happened? Who or what cut in on you?
Was it illness? Death of a loved one? Family issues? Busyness? Insecurity? Rejection? Opinions of others? Lack of faith?
One day during my quiet time, the question leaped right off the pages of Galatians…”Who cut in on you?”. Though Paul was speaking to a group who had started strong by faith that were being misled by false teachers, it was as if Brother Paul was speaking directly to me in that moment. Who/what did you allow to quench your fire? What made you lose focus? Who told you that you couldn’t do that thing God told you to do? Who told you weren’t enough?
I thought long and hard about that question. I had allowed quite a few hurdles to trip me up….grief mixed with a whole lot of busyness, add in getting my only child through his senior year of high school (and all of the emotions that come with it), a dash of rejection and oh…trying to help everyone else run their race. Fatigue and frustration cut in causing me to check out of my own race. I had momentarily lost sight of the end goal and what team I was running for.
Well it’s time to get back on track, refocus, and run the race like a champion. I might have got cut off but I am not counted out (Thanks be to God) and neither are you. So friend, if you haven’t been running well, there’s still time on the clock.
Run well.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Do you struggle with saying NO? Let me free you today….it’s okay to say no in order to say yes to right thing – without guilt or explanation to others.
ROYALTY 