Barbara's Banter

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Many of us are living a story we didn’t expect. When asked as a child what we wanted to be when we grew up, I’m sure we didn’t say homeless, bankrupt, divorced, cancer ridden, lonely, a weary caregiver, jobless, or a parent outliving my children, People don’t expect their house to burn down, floods to waterlog possessions, the death of a spouse, or a car accident leaving them paralyzed. Yet these things happen, even to Christians. How do people live through such devastation without giving up?  

A major survival key is looking beyond our circumstances. Instead, we should look to God and place our trust in Him (Psalm 141:8). Trusting God will not make our trials magically vanish, but we will no longer be anxious that they will defeat us (Psalm 112:7-8). Trusting God means total surrender without fear or worry, knowing He will take care of us (Proverbs 3:5-6).

When I think of trusting God I’m reminded of this quote by Christian writer, speaker, and Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom. “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” ~Proverbs 3:5

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there. Just ask any blind person.

Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” As a blind person, she should know!

Additionally, sometimes it’s difficult to see God behind the scenes when we go through trials, but God is always near to those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18-20). God hears our prayers. God saves us. God love us. God cares for us. And God will deliver us from afflictions, according to His perfect timing.  

When the Syrian armies surrounded Israel, Elijah’s servant was afraid and asked, “Master, what shall we do?” Elijah said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed and asked God to open the eyes of his servant so he could see what was invisible to the human eye. God’s power and might! When God opened the servant’s eyes, he saw God’s army of horses and chariots of fire all around. Guess who won that battle? Ironically, the Syrian armies were struck with blindness (2 Kings 6:14-17).

We tend to think with a limited scope, but God’s power is limitless. On cloudy days, we may not see the sun but it’s definitely there. Remember that just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there!

“We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ~2 Corinthians 4:18

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Mundane means ordinary and repetitive. Mission means duty or responsibility. If we are honest, most of our days are filled with endless repetitive responsibilities, unlimited check lists, and ever-increasing in-boxes. Will we ever get to the finish line? There seems to be no credit, award, or merit badge for just maintaining a level of sanity as we survive another day.

However, everything we do is an act of service to God (Colossians 3:17). We forget that we are not working for the approval of men or even self-satisfaction, but for God’s glory. Yes, our daily duties might be mundane, but someone has got to do them. If God has determined that someone is me, who am I to complain? Each task is an opportunity to serve God.

“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.”
~Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJ)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony, but only if we persevere.

God never promised the Christian life would be free of hardships, temptations, sorrow, or suffering.  In fact, we are told to expect them (1 Peter 4:12). Our Christian maturity rests in how we handle such things when they come our way. The key is perseverance.  

Perseverance is not just a matter of enduring trials, but remaining steadfast and committed to God in the midst of them. It means not giving up. It means being faithful to the end, even when it’s hard and takes time. This is almost a foreign concept in a society that wants quick fixes and instant solutions. However, God will not be rushed because our spiritual growth depends on His loving attention to the details in our lives and His perfect timing.

There is no way to become a mature Christian without perseverance, and no one has ever persevered without a certain amount of discomfort or pain. It really is a matter of no pain, no gain. So, rather than always looking for a quick escape from our trials, we might want to look for what God wants us to learn.

Remember that today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony, but only if we persevere.

“You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by
the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” ~James 5:11

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Each morning when I wake up, I immediately thank God for another day of life and ask Him to help me align my will to His so I am ready for whatever comes my way. When we think of life as the most precious gift we could receive, it is wise to live each day with intention and reverence. Living in the present allows us to face each new day as one with endless possibilities.

Each new day is a gift. That’s why they call it “the present!”

“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will
rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Cease endlessly striving to do what you want to do and learn to love what must be done.” This does not mean we give up our hopes and dreams. It just means we do not have to remain unhappy until we get them. How we face each unwelcomed task determines how much joy we can have while doing what must be done, even when we don’t want to do it. Gritting our teeth, murmuring under our breath, or being resentful will not make the task easier to accomplish. However, choosing to face our circumstances in the light of God’s perspective helps us to endeavor not just endure. The Bible tells us to do all things for the glory of God, which includes those unwelcomed tasks that must be done. In everything we do, we must work like we are working for God. 

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Corinthians 10:31

Short and sweet thought for the week…

We all have times when hurt and pain overwhelm us. Perhaps it’s an injustice with no recourse, a sadness that lingers, a sorrow that floods our soul, or a wound that will not heal. We can’t make sense of what is happening. We are too emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted to even pray. That’s when it’s nice to have a caring prayer partner who discerns exactly how we feel.

It comforts me to know that the Holy Spirit is my prayer partner. The brief words I wearily utter may not adequately express how I feel but the Holy Spirit understands and intercedes for me (Romans 8: 26-27). Praise God for this amazing gift!

“We do not know what we ought to pay for, but the Spirit intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot express.” ~Romans 8:26

Short and sweet thought for the week…

We’ve all heard it said that falling in love is easy but staying in love is hard. Perhaps that’s because love is not necessarily somewhere we fall or something we always feel. Effective love is a verb. It’s something we do. 

1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter and it doesn’t mention anything about falling or feeling. However, it is goes into great detail explaining things to do if you love someone such as be patient, be kind, be truthful, be hopeful, and much, much more. Love is something we do!

“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.” ~John 3:16 (NIV)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

There is an old adage that says we become what we behold. There may be some truth there. Our focus greatly influences life choices and paths.

Therefore, let us behold the glory of God, the essence of who He is, and the wonder of what He does—so that we may become more like Him every day!

Let the transformation begin!

^“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” ~2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Earth orbits. Days dawn. The sun shines. Flowers bloom. Fish swim. Rivers flow. Breezes blow. Birds fly. Night falls. Stars twinkle. The moon glows. We never have to worry about these things taking place because God has them all under control. He is omnipotent.

Author Francis Chan once marveled, “Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?”

So never look at the size of your problems; look at the unlimited power of your God!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…
to Him be glory…to all generations, forever and ever. Amen! ~Ephesians 2:20-21