Category: Faith

Have you ever looked up to the ceiling of a room and spotted a flyspeck you never noticed before?

Right away it's as if the rest of the room didn't matter because that FLYSPECK blotted out everything else.

Think of that "flyspeck" as an example of how a small concern easily can become the only thing one can think about.

Learning along the way

I wasted years fighting the tendency to get hung up on small annoyances and faults I spotted in other people. I easily could overlook the 90 percent positive in a situation because I was fixated on the 10 percent that wasn't.

All I accomplished with that was to cheat myself of joy, over and over.

Once I clearly understood that huge flaw in how I looked at life I wanted transformation.

I tried to do my part: I prayed and kept reading the Bible. I read good books about managing one's thoughts and staying positive. Still, I often found myself slipping back into that weakness.

Lesson learned: Habit is a tough task-master and will not easily give up its hold on us.

Change came, but at a crawl

I started small, by paying attention to how I responded to the everyday ups and downs of life. I posted sticky-note reminders around the house. Some days I made lists I could check off and reread as evidence of progress.

Silly as it may sound, it gave me a lift to say (or whisper) "'Atta Girl" to myself at any evidences of change for the good. (It still does.)

We all need encouragement, every bit as much as a toddler who is learning to walk.

Lesson learned: Only later did I understand that prolonged effort and what seemed to be slow progress actually helped build my faith and inner strength.

One step at a time

It's both encouraging and discouraging to realize there is no one perfect method to change. How could there be? Each of us is a one-of-a-kind creation. Some of us work through our challenges by talking with a friend or family member, while others thrive with the help of a pastor or professional counselor.

What I write here is simply how it worked for me. It sounds basic because it is.

First I had to promise myself I would concentrate on what is good and hopeful and not get hung up on the "what ifs" that popped up along the way.

Over time I learned how to "switch channels" and now when I slip up, it's not long before I'm back on track.

Other learnings as time went on

As any parent knows, our children are not carbon copies of us, which shows up early on. Most of us aim to learn and grow and adapt as we go. We made/make mistakes because we're in training. Our overall goal is to understand and work with the children God gives us.

Before we know it our kids are adults and they appreciate being treated as such. We often want to help and share what we learned from our own lives. Maybe they'll be glad for that, maybe not. Then what?

Lesson learned: It's good to take a step back and remind ourselves what we love and admire in them and in their choices. We need to be sure to let them know this, too. Often.

Avoid leaping to conclusions

Thanks to the Internet we can look up every nuance of everything, including ever little twinge or ache or upset we might encounter. Once we read all the awful outcomes this might indicate we sink into fear and alarm. All this before we go to the ER or see our doctor.

How do I know? Been there, done that.

No more. Overall I try to do what I can to stay healthy and get medical care when needed. I thank God every day for my "ordinary abilities" like being able to see and hear and all the rest. I never want to take that for granted.

Most of all, I trust that God is watching over me.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   2 Timothy 1:7

Concentrating on what's good in life is not new thinking

Here are a few lines from a piece called "Salutation to the Dawn," written in about 2500 B.C., author unknown:

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow only a vision,
But today well lived makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

For me, the best advice about living in the present always is this, from Psalm 118:24:

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

"Let us … ." We can choose to rejoice and be glad in each day and what the day brings. Whatever comes, we have the power to choose how we look at our lives.

So let's forget about the flyspecks. The ceiling is not where we live.

Let's live in the day we're in and decide to be glad in it!

Still learning,

Lenore

Get Your Eyes Off That “Flyspeck” and Live!

April 25, 2024
Some of us know anxiety like the back of our hands, the low-level uneasiness that never settles down.

Take a nap, take a walk, take a pill, it's still there. Sometimes we blame it on current events or relationships or family situations. Other times we can't figure out a cause for the nagging sense that something "isn't right."

Could the root cause of our unrest be a matter of the soul?

Easter, when Jesus set things right between God and us

But first came Christmas and what the angels announced to the shepherds:

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus, true God and true man, was born as a human infant.

When Jesus was about thirty years old he began to teach and preach about God the Father and about the reason he was born.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jesus gave his life for you and me, to pay the price for all the ways we fail to live the way God would have us live. That is, to live a perfect life in thought, word, or deed.

It cost Jesus everything. All it costs us is to let go of our easy skepticism and truly investigate God's written word.

Primary source material abounds. Just read the eyewitness accounts found in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The record doesn't stop there

Several respected historians of the time described the same events. One was Josephus, a well-researched and respected Jewish historian, who lived from 37-100 AD. He wrote "Jewish Antiquities" in 93 AD. Here are some excerpts from that book.

(Jesus) "a wise man … who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly … Pilate had condemned him to a cross … He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him … And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." –Book 18, Ch. 3, part 3.

Josephus, like all historians, recorded facts, names and places. These historical accounts prove it's no myth that a man called Jesus lived and died on the cross, then three days later, he rose again to life.

What then? After that the risen Jesus, fully alive, showed himself to believers (Acts 1:3). He wanted them to know for sure that he was not a spirit or a ghost, but truly a human being. They touched him and Jesus talked with them. He ate ordinary meals with them.

After forty days he ascended to Heaven to sit at the Father's right hand.

The cross was God's way out for you and me

Our loving God knew we human beings cannot live an absolutely holy life because we all fail, all the time, even with our best efforts. We can't even live up to our own good resolutions.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

That's why Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to willingly die in our place.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus died so we can live free from guilt and fear of punishment and hell.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

He did it all for you and me, so we could have eternal life, life that never ends.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

What now?

Once again we find the answers in the Bible.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 6:23

When we confess our sin to God, we hand over all our failures and mistakes and uncertainties. All of it. And we are to leave it there.

Because Jesus died in our place, our loving Father answers, "What sins? My only Son paid your debt in full. My dear child, I love you."

It's as if God looks at us through one of those lenses equipped with a filter and sees only his perfect Son.

We can swap anxiety for peace. For good

Jesus living within us means we are never left alone to fear what comes next. Not even death, because we know that's not the end of our story, either.

This is only the beginning of the good stuff.

So let the anxiety go. Take a deep breath and relax. Let yourself believe in Jesus as your Savior, knowing he will not deny you. Feel the peace of being loved and accepted by God, without any ifs, ands or buts.

Next time anxiety comes knocking, turn your mind to the chorus of the beautiful old hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Happy Easter! May you know the lasting the deep-down peace and joy of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ as your forever friend and Savior.

I'm praying for you, gentle reader,

Lenore

Swap Anxiety for Peace That Lasts

March 28, 2024
A lot of people believe the very idea of keeping love alive–and thriving–over the years is an impossible dream. Not true.

From what I've observed over the years what's needed most is that each marriage partner does their best to keep their marriage Priority One.

How does that play out in practical terms? Something like this:

1. Check how you look at life

Because you two are building a life and a future together, think "we" instead of "me."

Abandon any "I need to do what's best for me" thinking. In marriage each one aims to put the other's needs and wants ahead of their own. (You're partners, united in building your life together.)

It's not an exact science, not something to keep track of. How it plays out from day to day will vary.

Is this uncomfortable at times? Yes. Does it communicate that you value the person you married? Yes. Does it reinforce your oneness? Yes.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

2. Major in looking for strengths instead of weaknesses

It's always easier to pick out what's wrong in a person or a situation. Let that go and focus on what's good and right. Affirm those qualities with your honest praise.

The receiver(s) will beam and grow stronger. So will your marriage–and your family.

Promise each other to strike phrases like, "You never," and "You always" from your self-talk and conversations. (And especially from your arguments.)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   Ephesians 4:29

3. Safeguard your trust in each other

Being trust-worthy is a gift you give each other and build on by being honest with each other, time after time, always with love and kindness.

What if one of you says or does something hurtful? Forget pride. The one needs to apologize sincerely and the other needs to forgive. Then leave it behind.

Being able to trust the one you're married to glues you together, even during the worst of times and communicates to your children that they can trust their parents.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

4. Give up the idea of 50-50

Forget tracking who did more of what last time and the times before that. This kind of nitpicking kills love.

Struggling to find the "right" percentages seldom pays off. In the strongest marriages, sometimes one gives more and sometimes the other gives more, according to what's needed at the time.

Happy couples know the life they're building together counts more than who "wins."

[Jesus said] "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:31

5. Abandon expectations of how it should be

This sets you up to be disappointed whenever your spouse or your life doesn't meet some idea of "perfect" you heard about or read about.

Harping on little annoyances slowly erodes a marriage relationship. Choose instead to be glad for what is. Talk about that, build on it–and get more of it.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

6. Accept that your marriage partner has human frailties, just as you do

For all of us, it's easier to forgive ourselves for our own weaknesses and slip-ups than to forgive our spouse for theirs.

Aim to be at least as objective and charitable toward the one you married as you are with your friends.

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

7. Recognize the power of words

Not everything is worth saying.

Hurtful words live on in memory long after bad moods and angry outbursts have passed. So do words of thoughtful praise and love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

8. Appreciate the day you're living now

Instead of thinking "someday" will be better, work on making this day better. A lifetime consists of days, lived out one at a time.

One day at a time you can get through rough spots and scary times together.

Mindset matters. So does what you say about your relationship, whether to each other or to friends or co-workers because this also impacts how you view your marriage and your life.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation)

9. Love is not just an emotion

Real, lasting love is so much more. Every day one decides to keep on loving. That makes love an action word.

We can decide to act in loving ways even when our emotions are lukewarm. Almost always the feeling of love will return soon.

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.   Ephesians 4:32

10. Pray

Prayer is simply talking to our loving Father from the heart–and knowing He hears us.

My husband and I prayed individually and attended worship services together from the start. We did our best to follow Bible teachings in how we lived and parented our children.

Yet somehow we didn't begin praying aloud together for years. Only then did we realize we had cheated ourselves out of so much because this real, honest sharing helped us understand each other better. It deepened our individual faith as well.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

Building a strong marriage doesn't happen in a week or two

Even for two people who start out full of love and joy, growing a marriage is the work of a lifetime–and it's worth it!

Take the long view. Some days and some stretches of time will be better than others. That's life. For everyone.

Don't get fixated on what may in reality be little more than a blip in the story of your life together. Stay focused on what matters most.

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:23

Believe in your marriage

Can love last? Absolutely! Ignore those who deny or ridicule that truth.

Make it your mutual, unshakable resolve to stay worthy of each other's love and to nurture your relationship. Your joy in each other will warm your hearts.

For countless couples, including my husband and me, our shared faith in Jesus made all the difference. (Now you know why I included so many Bible verses.)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Blessings, always,

Lenore

Yes, You Can Have a Marriage That Lasts

October 3, 2023
Most of us know at least one person who believes others get all the luck and they don't have much of a chance to be happy or successful.

I think of my friend "Ellie," whom I've known for years. Whenever life disappoints her she says something like, "Well, that's the way it goes for me. It's that old black cloud that's been parked over my head since I was born."

Where she got that idea I don't know, but no one has been able to convince her she's wrong.

Ellie remains convinced she's unlucky. Therefore, everything turns out less well for her than for people around her. End of discussion.

I've come to think she feels a perverse kind of satisfaction when she can say, "See there? I told you everything happens to me and nothing ever works out right!"

Maybe Ellie's mindset isn't far from from our own, just a little bit. Or even a lotta bit.

Our outlook defines the "world" we live in

Christians are not immune to this way of thinking.

Most of us would confess we've asked God at times, "Why?" "How?" "When will this be over?"

Even as people who know and trust our Lord, it's still true that how we see determines what we see and yes, it often takes courage and strength to look on the bright side.

Maybe that's because it takes less energy to look down than up.

Negativity is rather like gravity. It exerts an invisible pull that drags us down.

Always, we get to choose

A favorite pastor who always seemed to be looking up, not down, said the first thing he did every morning was say, "Thank you, Lord, for another day. This is the day You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Next he took a few moments and ran through his reasons to thank God.

I knew him well enough to know he had his share of troubles and sorrows in his life, yet he deliberately turned his attention toward God's goodness and power.

That changes things, doesn't it?

We can keep our eyes on ourselves–on our problems and our limited abilities–and panic.

Or we can remind ourselves that as believers in Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth is on our side, which shrinks our challenges down to their rightful size.

Christians, too, can hit one of those times when everything appears to us to be unsolvable and we're drifting toward hopelessness. That's the time to remind ourselves Who has the last word:

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" —Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Always, we find what we look for

Even in the worst times we still have a choice: We can fixate on what's wrong or we can remind ourselves what we know is right and good and true.

The Apostle Paul knew all about that. For years he traveled far and wide to tell people about Jesus and repeatedly experienced the worst kind of hardships, including beatings and imprisonments. Even then, he wrote to the Philippians:

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

In those few words Paul shows us how to shed our own "black cloud":

Always asking God's help, we resolve to day after day fasten our thoughts on what is good. When we do that, over time the darkness of everyday life will lose its pull on us.

It's our mindset that matters most

Chuck Swindoll summed it up well: "We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. Our attitude is everything."

As always, the Bible stated this same truth centuries before Swindoll:

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he … . –Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

Perhaps you, too, know this and believe it, but still must keep relearning this truth again and again. (Me, too.) The good news is we can start over tomorrow. And the tomorrow after that every day of our lives. Today's failure is never final.

As Swindoll said, it's all about how we react to what happens to us. (Or doesn't.) That leaves us with no one to blame, but isn't that a good thing?

Doesn't this mean we get to decide whether we will walk in sunshine or live under a "dark cloud"?

Let's head our daily checklist with these two questions to think about:

What am I thinking in my heart?

How happy/contented/hopeful have I decided to be?

Only you (and I) can come up with answers for ourselves. Think of that as the ultimate power statement.

Thankful for each new start,

Lenore
Do you live under a dark cloud?

May 30, 2023
A lot of people do. How about you?

The other day a friend told of not being able to find her cell phone charger. "I took my house apart. I went through every place I could think of, but I absolutely could not find it.

"Finally I remembered to ask God for help. About two minutes later I realized I hadn't checked the wooden box on my counter. I checked the box and there it was. I think God was just waiting for me to ask so He could answer my prayer."

Is it really that simple?

Not quite. That would be a sort of "push-button God," wouldn't it?

Some of us have learned over the years that yes, God does hear our prayers. We may not always get the answer we prayed for, but one way or another, He will give what we truly need. Or we get a "wait" and feel forgotten. Only later will we understand that God did answer our prayers–and in the best way possible. We just hadn't recognized it at the time.

We can be certain of this: God does want to hear what's on our hearts:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. -Philippians 4:6

Do we pray only about the Big Things? Or everything?

Another time I was with a group of friends and one who lives alone told about trying to change a light bulb that refused to budge. "I was about ready to give up," she said.

"Finally I just said, 'Lord, I don't want to have to call someone to come for such a little job. Please help me!'

"Then I decided to give it one more try. A couple of twists and that silly bulb came right out. I know it was just a light bulb, but that day it seemed proof that God was watching over me."

People standing around her soon chimed in with their own stories of how they saw God's hand in their own challenges and also in various situations, past and present. Some were accounts of real crises and others of small, everyday things. In every case God brought the teller through the tough times.

It didn't matter. We listened and rejoiced together that God is faithful and He really cares about each one of us.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. -1 John 5:14

The truth is God really works

He can bless us with or without our prayers. It seems to me the value of us praying for everything that's on our hearts is twofold. First, it keeps us focused on our gracious Giver. Second, when we pray and things seem to "work out," it strengthens our faith because we know it's God answering our prayers and that reminds us that He loves us.

To put it another way, when we pray we look for His hand in our lives. We see Him already to work in our lives and therefore, we thank Him.

We know because we know that it is God blessing us. Not luck and not coincidence.

As for whether to pray only for Big Things or for everything, I vote for the latter. Listen to what the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Every moment of our lives it is as the song says: "He's got the whole wide world … in His hands."

That includes you and me. God is with us and He is for us and He always, always hears our prayers.

May you know this and may His peace fill your heart!

Lenore

Are You Wondering Whether Prayer Works?

March 25, 2023
After all, it dates back over centuries. How could the Bible still be relevant today?

This may sound like a logical question to many. I got a lesson in the "how" of it when my husband got a job promotion that kept the man I loved smiling from morning to night. Why wouldn't he? For years he had studied and taken extra training to move him toward that goal.

I rejoiced for him, truly I did, but I loved the place we were living. The place where I had established an identity and enjoyed interacting with other writers in the area.

We talked but managed to skirt around this touchy subject. I asked myself what would it accomplish to complain and rob him of his joy? I knew the answer: Nothing good.

Somehow, some way I would learn to love this new place.

Once we moved into our new digs my husband settled into his position as if it were tailored just for him. Morning to evening he was engrossed and energized.

Each day I watched his car fade from sight, then asked myself, Now what?

No answers came, but I clung to what I knew: Our loving God would not bless my husband and leave me, his wife, abandoned. I would wait.

"Be still and know that I am God …" Psalm 46:10 NIV

Finding my place

A month or two later I learned of the local chapter of the same Bible study a friend "back home" had often praised. Because I always wished I had her excitement about the Bible I decided to give it a try.

The next week I went to orientation and signed up. The teaching leader addressed the large audience of class members and us newbies, explaining the day's lesson based on Exodus, including Chapters 13 to 16.

She began with how God delivered the children of Israel from slavery

He parted the Red Sea and brought them across on dry land, a miracle for sure. Freedom! Yet soon they grumbled and complained against God's provision for them as they wandered in the wilderness.

Then she looked out at us and it seemed she looked directly at me. "Are you wandering around in a dry, dusty wilderness of your own making?"

At once I knew that I was! I was!

Then she moved on to how the children of Israel yearned for the abundant meats and fresh produce back in Egypt–where they had been slaves. Our merciful God provided fresh, bountiful supplies of Manna and quail for each day, yet in no time they started griping about being tired of the same old, same old.

With her next question once again it seemed the leader fixed her gaze on me. "Are you murmuring against God's provision for you because it doesn't live up to your specifications?"

My heart started pounding. Immediately I knew the Holy Spirit had just spoken truth to my heart and mind through that stranger. I saw clearly that God moved us to that place for my husband, yes, but also for me.

Don't ask me how I knew. I just did.

I drove home asking God to forgive me for my weeks of self-centeredness. When my husband came home I asked his forgiveness, too, but that darling man shushed me and folded me into his love. Finally, he had his wife back.

From then on I read the Bible with new eyes

Now I knew firsthand the truth of Hebrews 4:12: "The word of God is living and active …" God's living Word spoke to me and changed me. For life.

Since then whenever I read the Bible I look for:

What do these verses say? What do they say to me?

What can I learn from this account, from these individuals, on ways to live–or not live?

What principles can I use in my life? Right now?

What's my takeaway?

Often these truths pop out at me. Other times I need to be quiet and ponder awhile, waiting for what comes to mind.

Or I think I know what a verse means and then find some new facet that's useful for my life.

One thing is sure. I never come away empty. God's Holy Spirit makes sure of that.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.   Romans 8:26 ESV

No worries about "doing it right"

It's no more complicated than this: Relax and be still.

All it takes is that we make the time and ask God the Holy Spirit to give us teachable hearts, to open the Word to our understanding and to reveal his Truth. Take a few notes–or don't. Then chew on what you've read throughout the day.

As for being in a Bible study group what's good is that we all learn from each other as we share how the Lord works in our lives. It can be the setting for sharing prayer needs and growing friendships, as well.

All Scripture is inspired by God is and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

Always, always, always, it helps to remind ourselves that as God's children through faith in Jesus, HE is with us and guiding us.

The surprise at the end

God did have a purpose for me in that move. I stayed in the Bible study and became a group leader, where I found new meaning and made friends. Two and one-half years later my husband received another promotion. Once again I knew it fit him exactly right and once again, I regretted leaving behind what I had grown to love.

This time I knew from experience that whatever God provided for my husband would also turn out to be right for me.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

Still learning,

Lenore
Does the Bible still matter in our time?

October 25, 2022
WATCH OUT! DISASTER IS COMING YOUR WAY!

Variations on that theme run through every talk show and every news report. Whether it's the latest COVID variant or inflation or the weather, it sounds like everything is bad and getting worse.

Many of us might nod in agreement.

This keeps us running scared and feeling unsettled. We're living out the old cliché, "Waiting for the other shoe to drop," because no one knows what comes next.

Or perhaps what troubles you and wakes you with a racing heart has nothing to do with any headline news. It's way deeper, down to your core. Maybe you can't even remember when the haunting started.

This brings the question: Is it possible to maintain a calm center, no matter what comes?

That's our job as grownups, isn't it? Especially if we're Christians.

Sure, but how?

How do we ditch living in fear? Whatever our challenge, it's always wise to begin with the basics: principles that are true, no matter who we are or what the situation.

Be watchful, yes, but fearful, no

Focus our attention on facts, not rumors, nor on the endless "what ifs"

Do our best to live healthy by eating right and getting plenty of sleep

"Think health" instead of "thinking sick"

Speak peace instead of fear, knowing each time we do we reinforce the peace within us

These simple things make sense 365 days of any year and we have power to carry them out right where we are.

Yes, but … that doesn't sound like enough

I know. When we're feeling shaky inside and can't get to sleep at night we want something tangible. Authoritative. Something we can hold onto.

The truth is, calm that won't quit never comes from "out there." A government official or an "expert" with a string of degrees or even our trusted long-time doctor saying, "Don't worry," only quiets fear for a few hours.

That's because we know the truth: Like us, they're only human and they only know what they know … so far.

We want more. We need more.

So where does that leave us?

How do we shed this deep-down fear that weighs us down?

The "more" we seek comes from within. Each of us constantly fills our minds and hearts with something–and we get to choose what it is. This dictates our day-by-day question:

Will we feed the fear or feed the peace?

It takes no effort to stoke uneasiness. All we have to do is look and listen.

To nurture inner peace costs us something. I'm not talking yoga or meditation or any of those self-help relaxation practices. As useful as they may be, they don't fear-proof our hearts for long.

(How do I know? Over the years I've tried several of those methods.)

Here's what I learned from dealing with my own "hard stuff"

First I had to gather up all the tormenting "what ifs" and stuff them into a box in the attic of my mind. (Yes, they kept creeping out but if I persisted, gradually they stayed put. At least most of the time.)

All day, every day I need to remember who I am. I am loved by God, simply because I believe in Jesus as my Savior. Period. That's what the Bible calls "grace."

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Did I pray? Of course, and God always, always, always gave me strength and courage to face whatever came.

I drew courage from the Bible, too

For years I have underlined verses that touched my heart and spoke to my spirit. I also jotted down brief references on the blank pages at the back, in case I forget where they are. (These days I also have the Bible on my smartphone and often list my notes there.)

Bible verses like these:

The Lord will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7 NIV

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. …   Psalm 56:3-4 NIV

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

(The Lord said to Joshua)  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 NIV

As time goes by you will discover verses to add to that list

Look for verses that touch your heart because they speak faith and reassurance. Keep them at the ready for whenever you feel fainthearted about your life or about the future.

Let's be clear about one thing. We Christians do not remember and speak Bible verses as some sort of magic charm. Rather, those times when we quake in fear–whatever the reason(s)–such verses remind us who is really in charge and has the power to help us:

"For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 NIV

He is speaking to you, my friend, and to me. In every occasion or dark corner of fear that comes upon us, now or in the future. We are not alone.

What more could we ask?

Thanking God with you,

Lenore
How to shed the fear that keeps crowding in

October 1, 2022
What an odd mixture of Easter symbols we have in America…and probably all over the world. Bunnies, butterflies, baby chicks, eggs, flowers and green grass, chocolates in foil wrappings.

And once in awhile, a picture of a man hanging on a wooden cross.

But hey, isn't Easter really all about Spring and everything greening up, blooming, growing?

No, not really.

The deeper meaning of Easter

Easter traces back to the life and death of a man called Jesus, who was impaled on a wooden cross on a hill outside Jerusalem.

Heavy nails had been pounded through his hands and his feet. Blood trickled down his face, the intended result from Roman soldiers twisting together some thorny branches to make a crown, then pressing it down on his head.

Blood seeped from the wounds on his back, too, the result of being mercilessly whipped by soldiers with leather whips that featured bits of bone and rock imbedded on the ends.

Onlookers moaned and wept to see the suffering of this man.

But the story doesn't end there

Jesus said little during the nine hours he spent on the cross. Near the end, he cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45)

Not long after, once again he called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

At this point, for one who had been hanging on the cross for nine hours to be able to say anything in a loud voice was remarkable. A few breaths more and Jesus gave up his life as a human being.

One of Jesus' followers found courage to ask permission to take down Jesus' body from the cross before sundown and Roman rulers permitted it. So Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish ruling council, took it down, then wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a new tomb cut in stone. The women at the cross followed and saw where Jesus' body was laid.

Then because sundown ushered in the Sabbath, they hurried home so they could observe it properly.

The sad day Jesus died became known as "Good Friday," because it led up to Easter

Early on Sunday morning followers of Jesus went to his grave, ready to embalm his body properly. They pondered how they could move the heavy stone Roman guards set in place to block the entrance, then sealed it around the edges with sealing wax. What's more, Pilate, the Roman ruler, had told the soldiers to stand guard, day and night.

They tried to think how they could manage those barriers.

Matthew 28 tells us when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb there was a violent earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone, then sat on it. The Roman guards were so afraid of him that they shook and passed out.

When these grieving friends looked into the tomb they saw it was empty, with only the cloth death-wrappings left behind.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid…He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…Go quickly and tell his disciples…"

What could this mean?

Who could know what it meant to "rise from the dead?" Every person alive, now or then, knows that dead means dead.

They hurried away from the tomb, headed for Galilee. Then suddenly (Matthew 28:9) Jesus himself stood before them and said, "Greetings."

Filled with joy, they clasped his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

They could not explain it, but Jesus did not stay dead. This was not a ghost, not a spirit, this truly was Jesus, their friend and teacher.

Jesus, fully human, born of Mary, was–and is–true God, as well

Now his followers saw and touched the same loved friend they had watched die on the cross, very much alive and in the flesh. He spoke with them. He ate with them. How could this be?

Jesus told them again how much he loved them and promised they would receive power to carry on his ministry. How would this happen? Through the power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to send them. (And he did, just read the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament.)

Even today, the same indwelling Holy Spirit lives within the hearts of everyone who believes what the Bible says and trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Maybe you're reading this and thinking, "Says who? Why should I take your word for anything?"

Please don't. Check it out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (Don't miss John 3:16-17.) They all tell the story of Jesus and his life.

Each Gospel has a slightly different "flavor," since each was transcribed by a different individual. Matthew and Luke begin with his birth. Each one winds up with the sequence of events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

It's worth reading the book of Romans, too, especially chapter 8, verses 1-4 and also verse 31 to the end of the chapter.

How could one sum up the Easter story? John's Gospel, Chapter 3:16-17 lays it all out for us:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Are you looking for a more modern explanation?

One I think says it well goes something like this:

Jesus had to be true man, because God cannot die for the sins of the world. God cannot die for any reason. He is eternal, without beginning and without end.

Jesus had to be true God because man cannot forgive sins or pay the price of sin for the world. Only God.

So what's the big deal about Easter? Just this: New life for the world. New life for each of us–eternally–free for the taking.

Look around. Every new leaf, every bud and bloom, points back to the Source of life that never ends: Jesus Christ.

All it costs is taking Jesus at his word.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Romans 10:10.

Life. To the full. Now and eternally. For me, that's the real meaning of Easter, because Jesus' resurrection proved the truth of what he said about himself. Now, there's reason to celebrate!

May you know for yourself the peace and joy that Easter's real meaning brings,

Lenore

Will the real meaning of Easter please stand up?

April 7, 2022
Okay, I get it. Your mom made you go to church and you vowed you would never do that to your children.

Maybe it's time for a rethink. You may be cheating them–and yourself–by staying away.

How? Let's do a rundown:

Where else can kids be surrounded by grownups of all ages who smile on them and love them even when they don't know their names?

Where else does a "holy terror" kid get loved, time after time, even when said HTK can't sit still, can't be quiet and won't stop pestering whoever sits next to him?

Where else do young children and adolescents interact with older adults–other than their parents–instead of just observing them from a distance?

Where else do youngsters carry on real conversations with adults–listening adults–who aren't relatives or friends of their parents?

Where else in today's world do kids get a front row seat to watch and learn that it takes all kinds of people, each one playing their part, to keep things going?

Where else do children learn grownup songs and get to sing alongside adults? And where else would adults within hearing distance smile benevolently, even if a youngster sings off-key or messes up the words?

Where else can you feel you already know–before you've spent much time with them–many of the values of the people around you?

Where else will the difference between right and wrong be so clearly reinforced to your kids?

Where else will they learn principles like "Love your neighbor as yourself," and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and all the rest? (These truths sink deep and become a personal code far more reliable than moods of the moment.)

Where else will your kids learn that Jesus came to set things right between God and us humans, that he lived and died and rose again so that all who believe can call him Friend.?

In what other setting–besides at home–will your children be reassured over and over again that Jesus loves them? Or that he watches over them and is with them every moment of every day and night?

It's not "Go to church and do your duty," but rather, "Why cheat yourself and your kids out of the blessing and joy?"

Every mom and dad soon learns that our words don't mean much to our children if they're just words. What really counts with a child is, "Does this really matter to Mom or Dad? Or is it just something I'm supposed to do?"

That is, bring them with you to church, rather than just drop them off for Sunday School and then pick them up afterward.

Being part of a family of faith reinforces what you as a family stand for. It's about support and encouragement–for both your children and you as their parents.

Bringing your kids to church is not just so they can hear the pastor's sermon and/or the children's message or go to Sunday School. It's also so they naturally grow friendships with kids you more likely feel comfortable with.

If you're a mom or dad, your fellow churchgoers are like your backup team.

Think about it. A church family is just that: Family

You may live a thousand miles from relatives, but if you're part of a local body of believers, you're plunked right down in the middle of family.

Family related by faith, not blood, who will be there when you need them.

Folks who if they see you talking to a friend and spot your toddler running across the parking lot, will immediately race after your junior adventurer and deliver your little one safely back to you.

Individuals with whom it's safe to talk. People who will care that you're running on fumes and feeling overwhelmed.

It only takes one to hug you and remind you, "Take heart, it's not the end of the story yet. God will get you through this. I know that's true and here's how. …"

It's been this way since Jesus started it

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Look for a church that's Jesus-centered and Bible-centered, where the pastor and people are real, that is, authentic.

Then go with an open mind and be as friendly as you would be if taking part in any kind of new activity. There's no better way to give your kids–and yourself–a solid base for living. No better setting in which to make new friends. Count on it as a place to grow.

Why bring your kids to church? Because you love them.

Why go to church? Because you love yourself.

Still growing,

Lenore
11 Reasons to Bring Your Kids to Church

January 6, 2022
For a moment or two, let your mind wander and picture this . . .

You finally managed to buy your longtime dream, a home deep in beautiful, wooded mountain country in California.

Tranquil lakes and streams. Towering evergreens up close or on the next hill. Room to breathe. Peaceful, blessed quiet, except for the calming sounds of Nature all around.

However you spend your days, whether hiking one of the many trails that thread through the forest or just sitting in your front-porch rocker, you're at peace.

Several times a day you think, All those years I (or we) worked hard to get here and it was so, so worth it!

At night, looking into the deep blue sky and counting stars or watching the logs in your fireplace ebb down into embers, you say, "Life couldn't be better. What a blessing!"

And then comes the horror

For some, it came late at night, for others, in broad daylight.

Engrossed in what you were doing–or perhaps sleeping soundly–you're roused by someone pounding on your front door.

There stands a frantic smoke-blackened firefighter. He yells, "You must leave! NOW! You only have minutes! You have no time to grab any belongings. Just go!

"Get your family members and RUN!"

For any of us, life as we know it can fall apart in an instant

All it takes is a phone call. A bad fall. A car accident with devastating injuries. Biopsy or lab test results we prayed never to hear. Someone we love hit by disease or a heart attack. Or a devastating injury. Or death that claims the earthly life of one we thought we couldn't live without.

Or it may be "impersonal," such as a business closing–and with it, the end of a job or career that enabled us to pay the bills. Job changes that call for retraining–or starting over. A landlord that sells the home we live in, leaving us with nowhere to go that we can afford.

Whatever the cause, many of us have lived it, sometimes more than once. Or we know someone who has. In times like that, tragedy can overwhelm our spirits and snuff out hope.

How do we go on?

Whatever comes, we cling to Truth that outlasts any trial, any catastrophe

When we're in pain because our world is falling apart, it feels natural to lapse into anxiety and fear. We're tempted to pull our pain around us like a warm quilt. Why not? Everyone would understand.

Here's the question each of us must answer for ourselves: Is that really how we want to live?

Most of us would answer "No."

Still, how do we hold it together? How do we find strength to go on?

Answer: We do the hard thing: We fight for it.

We deliberately–as if we were changing channels on a TV–fill our minds with reminders from the Bible that our kind and merciful God has not turned his back on us.

We repeat the verse or verses aloud if that's the only way to drown out the fear. We whisper them at night when we cannot go to sleep, sometimes over and over until sleep comes.

Start with reassuring Bible verses like these

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. –Psalm 46:1-2

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. –Deuteronomy 31:8

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. –John 16:33

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.   –Isaiah 41:10

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. –John 14:27

Make these verses–and others like them–the refrain of your life

Promise yourself you will stop saying–and thinking, "I don't know how I will get through this."

Say instead, "With God's help, I will get through this. Moment by moment. Day by day."

When fear intrudes–and it will, mentally shout "Stop!" and emphatically turn your thoughts to the One who loved us enough to die on the cross so that we can be at peace with God.

He is the One who told his followers–and us: "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." –Matthew 28:20.

We do not walk alone.

We do not face our troubles on our own.

Whatever comes into our lives, God will give us the strength to get through whatever comes.

In every situation, we depend on Him, not on ourselves. And so we survive–and get through–whatever comes.

Hanging on tight,

Lenore

Here’s help for when life falls apart

September 2, 2021