Barbara's Banter

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

Short and sweet thought for the week…

Life can be overwhelming. We have too many problems to deal with, too many burdens to bear, too many obstacles to overcome, too many people depending on us, and too many mundane tasks to do. It can all get to be too much to handle. During these times, it helps to take the advice of missionary Elizabeth Elliot who often quoted this excerpt from an old English poem…

“Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.”

Do the next thing! Of course, this will be different for each person. It might be closing your eyes to rest. It might mean saying a little prayer while taking a shower, gassing up the car, cooking dinner, taking the kids to school, fixing a leaky faucet, or doing a load of laundry. Just keep on keeping on! Put your life in God’s hands and do the next thing! 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season
we will reap, if we do not give up.” ~Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Short and sweet thought for the week…

I must admit I get a little discouraged thinking about the storms of life. It seems like every time I turn around a friend or family member is going through another disheartening disaster. Cancer has threatened a loved one’s life. Fire has demolished a friend’s house. An unexpected death has left a family in turmoil. There are no words of comfort to console a weary soul. Prayer is our lifeline to help those in need.

Here is a thought I cling to when storms of life rage: Sometimes God calms the storm but when He doesn’t, God can calm the child. Only God can bring comfort out of chaos.

“The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will
bless His people with peace.” ~Psalms 29:11

Short and Sweet Thought for the Week…

It’s the New Year and already my life is in turmoil. My emails got hacked so I had to take my computer in for a diagnostic. But then, that’s a life lesson, isn’t it? Life is just one inconvenience after another. Some things never change whether it’s a new year or an old one. That’s not always such a bad thing. For example, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can be thankful for that!

However, I will be trying to make a few changes for 2025. My goal is to downsize a bit and not do as much that isn’t necessary. Therefore, my 2025 blog theme will be modified. I’ve decided to make each post a short and sweet thought for the week. These might be my thoughts, or quotes, or sayings, or refrigerator magnet wisdom…with a few pithy comments to hopefully bring you a smile or something to ponder.

Let’s start with one of my favorites: Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so don’t screw it up. But if you do, don’t give up because God never gives up on you.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning…” ~Lamentations 3:22-23