Category Archives: Encouragement

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Encouragement, Faith

Top Ten Lessons I Learned from Jigsaw Puzzles

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I love to get lost in a puzzle. It takes me to a world of creativity and provides the brain a break from facts and figures.

10. The finished puzzle is more beautiful than the imitation on the box. When we get to heaven, it will be indescribable!

9. Enjoy the journey – the fun is in the challenge. When it is done, the experience is over, so make the most of the process.

8. Not everyone likes jigsaw puzzles. And that’s ok. It’s ok to be on your own adventure; not everyone else has to be a part of your puzzle.

7. The picture on the box doesn’t always represent the finished puzzle. One puzzle came in a generic package; you had to figure it out on the fly. Life is a lot like that… ya gotta figure it out as you go.

6. Sometimes you have to look at a puzzle from a different angle to see nuances of colors and shading. When I sit at a different spot at the table, the picture presents a different view. Many times I need a new perspective in order to finish the job in front of me.

5. Some pictures on the box are at a different magnification than the puzzle. Sometimes my view of life’s problems get blown out of proportion. When I look at it too long, I lose sight of the desired goal.

4. The colors on the piece can be deceiving. A piece may look completely out of place, until it is in the right place. Just so, the moods of my day don’t determine a true picture of my circumstances.

3. Some puzzles have a tighter cut or angled ones. So, too, life doesn’t always fit neatly in the designated peg. Work hard; press in with prayer.

2. Forcing a piece to fit in makes it more difficult when the right one needs to go in that spot. If I force something to work into my life, it creates emptiness when the Lord wants to complete me. God’s timing requires waiting until He wants to use that piece.

1. Holes in the picture just mean the puzzle isn’t finished. Life has holes, too. We have questions. We’re looking for missing pieces. It doesn’t mean I’m a ruined picture, just not finished, yet.

Is life puzzling? Let prayer help you sort out the pieces.

Sally

Encouragement, Faith, In the News

Fear Mongering

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As a camp counselor in my late teens, homesickness and insecurity plagued me. But the worst was fear. Here I was to protect my littles, and I was afraid of what could be lurking behind the trees. Often, their worries surfaced at night as the shadows fell and the busyness of camp activities stilled. Tucking them into bed, I’d lie on my bunk and softly sing every song I could think of, from “Jesus Loves Me” to bedtime lullabies. It soothed us all, until I would slip out of my cabin to go to the mess hall. The darkness echoed with every twig break and leaf scrunched under my feet. It was at that point I began memorizing 2 Timothy 1:7.

            “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” KJV

I’ve needed that verse in many seasons of life. When fear seizes the world, it reminds us our enemy is on the rampage. He rules this world, but not our hearts. Paul said,

            “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV

In verse 16, he says, “Therefore, we do not lose heart.”

Go back and see what therefore is there for. He offers purpose and hope, and reminds us in the rest of the chapter, this trouble is temporary. When we fix our eyes on the eternal, the grip of fear is loosened from our minds and hearts. The footnotes in my NIV Bible say, “We live under pressure, perplexity, persecution, and pain. This is part of human existence. Despite all these problems, we know Christ is alive and working through us. This gives us confidence to face life’s threats and problems.”

So, how can we combat the mass hysteria we find in the media?

Philippians 4:8-9         Focus on these things, and peace will come.

Colossians 3:12-17      Pursue these things, and administer grace.

James 4:7-10               Do these things and your enemy will flee.

Have you ever been fly fishing? Does a fisherman drop a line straight down into the water? It’s a graceful sight to behold, as he casts his line far away into the depths. That’s what 1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 55:22 remind us to do with our troubles; throw them to the Lord and let Him handle them. He will care for you. Don’t panic; pursue peace.

Sally

Encouragement

Win 2 tickets for Liz!

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Liz Curtis Higgs in Jamestown NY

“Christian author, speaker, and encourager, Liz Curtis Higgs and Prison Fellowship International are partnering to present the Endless Hope Tour at Willow Bay Theater (21 East Third Street Jamestown, NY 14701) at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

“An international speaker, and best-selling author of 37 books with 4.6 million copies in print, Liz Curtis Higgs’ messages are biblical, encouraging, and profoundly funny. ‘I can’t wait to dive into the Word and share with you the hope-filled stories of two sisters, Mary and Martha, as together, we discover the deep-down joy and the absolute peace that comes in knowing Jesus,’ Higgs says.

“Sponsored by Prison Fellowship International, Higgs’ Endless Hope Tour helps raise awareness about the 14 million children, worldwide, who have a parent in prison. These children, desperate for hope, are among the world’s most vulnerable, persistently exposed to abuse and exploitation into sex trafficking and child labor. Without intervention, they are five to ten times more likely to end up in prison themselves.

“’Children of prisoners are an invisible population, suffering in ways we cannot imagine,’ Higgs says. ‘Yet, because of the dedicated work of Prison Fellowship International, hope is alive and well in their lives. Truly, endless hope!’

“With music and worship by Austin and Lindsey Adamec, join Liz Curtis Higgs for an event overflowing with joy and laughter, and celebrate God’s boundless, matchless, endless hope. “

Why am I such a fan of Liz Curtis Higgs? Her genuine warmth conveys God’s love across the screen and the page. Her Bible studies call to a deeper walk with the Lord, and her works of fiction create story worlds of intrigue. Our women used Liz’s book, The Girl’s Still Got It!, for a retreat, and gleaned a new understanding of Ruth and Naomi’s connection to the lineage of Jesus, and what it means to love your neighbor. Invite your neighbor to experience Liz with us!

Tickets on sale at lizcurtishiggs.com. Group discounts available.

Sally

Encouragement, Reviews

Book Review: In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer

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In Her Shoes by Joanie Shawhan

In Her Shoes is a celebration of life. Yes, it is a cancer journey, but it is also a tribute to courage, tenacity and to the team of so many who come alongside the one with cancer, even if just to celebrate with scarves!

With riveting, engaging, real talk, Joanie Shawhan shares the account of her walk with ovarian cancer, and will wrap you in the wonder of illness and of our God who is bigger than any diagnosis. She uses her experiences to encourage others and to train medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program.

I’ve walked through chemo with three friends, yet found I had no clue as to what they really experienced. Joanie shares the reality of prognosis and the emotional rollercoaster of treatment. Included are the stories of other women, facing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, ovarian and breast cancer, Leukemia and one with a brain tumor. Their stories are heart-wrenching, yet heart-warming, in their struggle for survival.

A registered nurse, Joanie also includes helpful hints for prevention of blood clots, care of the bald head, dealing with chemo day, fatigue, hair loss, wigs, managing constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, nausea and nutrition. Her attention to the care of the whole person is even evident in the “12 Steps to Spiritual Wellness.”

I found in Joanie a sister with a heart for missions and the gift of encouragement. She adds verses that perfectly illustrate God’s faithfulness and prayers that voice heartfelt cries. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone going through cancer or caring for a loved one in the middle of their storm. Whether coping with brain fog or going through clinical trials, there’s reassurance in knowing you’re not alone!

Sally

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of In Her Shoes from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Encouragement

Why? Why? Why?

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Guest post by James N. Watkins

If you have children, nieces and nephews, or younger siblings, you know that a three-year-old’s favorite word is why.

“Johnny, hold my hand while we cross the street.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to run out in front of a car.”

“Why?”

“Because if a car hits you, you’ll be hurt or killed.”

“Why?”

“Because if it’s a contest between a thirty-five-pound boy and a three-ton SUV, the truck is going to win every time.”

“Why?”

“Because the laws of physics state that mass plus momentum equals . . . Just take my hand!”

And on it goes-right into adulthood!

“Why didn’t God heal my friend?”

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

“Why do I still have acne at 50?”

I’ve worked up way too much spiritual perspiration trying to answer why my second-grade Sunday school teacher committed suicide, why I was laid off from the perfect job in publishing—twice—or why bad things happen to such good people as you and me.

I have learned that while why is often a futile question, God is more than willing to answer other questions. But, like the popular game show, Jeopardy, the answers are in the form of a question.

Why is often a futile question. ~ James N. Watkins

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What can I know?

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).

So, while I’ve struggled with hundreds—probably thousands—of questions about God’s workings, I have grown in my knowledge of who he is. While agonizing about an estranged relationship, I burst into tears—for God. I had described to a friend my pain: “It feels like my heart has been cut out with a chainsaw, run over by a logging truck, and then fed through a wood chipper.” If I was feeling this excruciating pain for one broken relationship, how was God feeling about billions of heartaches? It was one of the few times I actually felt I understood God.

I can also find the answer to . . .

How can I grow?

I’ve always leaned into Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).

But what is that “purpose”? The very next verse answers: “To be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). So do other verses:

“And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18b).

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1).

That’s our purpose! So ask, how can I grow more like Christ through this difficult time.

Who can I show?

Second Corinthians 1:3-6 has become one of my favorite passages in encouraging me while I’m going through terrible times:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer” (NLT).

The Greek word translated comfort is paraklesis. It is a calling near, summons for help; a prayer, a plea; exhortation, admonition, encouragement; consolation, comfort, solace, refreshment; or a persuasive speech, motivational talk, instruction. And it’s feminine case. No one comforts like a mother.

We offer our best comfort to those experiencing what we have personally gone through.

So, sorry, we can’t always answer the why questions, but we can answer these three.

Condensed from The Psalms of Asaph: Struggling with Unanswered Prayer, Unfulfilled Promises, and Unpunished Evil by James N. Watkins. Browse and buy at jameswatkins.com/asaph

Encouragement, Reviews

Book Review & a Giveaway:  Hope Prevails

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Have you dealt with depression? I have. And that’s why I was excited about getting my hands on this book. But Hope Prevails is so much more than a how-to about tackling the darkness of soul. It also takes a look at the lies we believe, the way we compare ourselves to others, and how worry says “I can‘t trust God to take care of me.”

The author, Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist with more than 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of medical and mental disorders. However, Dr. Michelle says her greatest shock came when she tried the same treatment suggestions for her own depression that she typically offered her patients – and they didn’t work. She learned there was another element that needed to be addressed, and that was the spiritual side of depression.

Dr. Michelle asks, “How would you like to be free not only from depression but also from the fear of depression, the shadow of depression?”

To the normal person, this might not seem like an important question. But to someone who struggles with depression, the shadow is a part of daily life. To break free of that shadow would mean you, too, can have a good day when the sun is shining. You won’t look at others and wonder why you’re different. 

Depression is like drowning, except you can see everyone around you breathing. ~ Dr Michelle Bengtson #HopePrevails

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Did you know depression is a silent epidemic? Dr. Michelle says 1 in 4 adults suffer, 1 in 8 teens suffer, and 1 in 33 children suffer from this malady. She offers free resources on her website for those seeking to help a loved one and her book is a handbook to the many layers of depression and finding the steps out of it.

We live in a culture that glorifies busyness. Yet, Dr. Michelle says stress, whether good or bad, can contribute to depression. She includes a prescription, prayer, and praise songs at the end of each chapter to guide a time of reflection. Through personal examples, the author doesn’t diminish despair, but shows how she wrestled with it and pushed through it. Dr. Michelle equates depression with Scripture’s reference to a spirit of heaviness. She reminds us that David, too, experienced the pit of depression. Yet he called out to God and found hope in the One who heals our broken and wounded places.

I wish I could get a copy of Hope Prevails into the hands of everyone I know, because the principles go beyond dealing with depression, to learning how to live a victorious life. The next best thing I can do is offer a giveaway!

I am giving away an autographed copy from the author, courtesy of Revell Publishers, to one reader in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and respond to this question, “Have you had any tough times that you are now thankful for?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held five days from today, August 15. I can’t wait to hear your stories!

Sally

P.S. Each person who leaves a comment will also receive a free pdf, “What God Says About You,” from Dr. Michelle Bengtson, in Hope Prevails!

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Encouragement, Reviews

Book Review: In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day

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Do you have a lion you’re facing, that project looming larger than life? What about a fear you just can’t tackle? In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day will help you stare down your obstacle with a bravery you just didn’t know was possible. And, yes, it is that good. Mark Batterson has lassoed a beast many of us face, as we seek the courage to dream big dreams with God.

Courage is putting yourself into defenseless situations. ~ Mark Batterson

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Mark Batterson is the author of a dozen books, including The Circle Maker, and the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. His innovative look at the definition of success will cause you to rethink your view of God’s work in your life.
I promise this book will make you stop in your tracks. Batterson says when we fail to step out of our comfort zones, we rob God of the glory He wants to showcase in our lives. When there is no problem to be overcome, there will be no miracle experienced, because we’re not fully relying on the Lord to do the unexpected. He says we’re called to chase opportunities and take risks for God’s best.
Are there any irrational fears and misconceptions that keep you from God’s best for your life? It’s time to reframe them.
Are there difficult circumstances you’re asking God to get you out of? It’s time to ask Him what He wants you to get out of them.
Is uncertainty rocking your faith? It’s time for your faith to embrace uncertainty. Batterson contends risk taking is at the heart of righteousness.
I chose to read this book because of the tagline: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars. Are there times when you feel like me, an opportunity is scarier than the potential? This book helps with that! Batterson provides tips to develop the skills needed for the path. Get your own copy today and go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention!
Sally
FTC disclaimer: “I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.”

Encouragement, Reviews

Book Review: Sure Mercies: Hope for the Suffering

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Sure Mercies

40 stories. 40 witnesses for the work of God through Christ. Sure Mercies: Hope for the Suffering highlights figures from the pages of history as well as present-day martyrs. Why is this an important book? When you’re hurting, it is a lonely place to be. Suffering feels isolated. The testimonies of others who suffered help us to see we’re not alone. They were victorious through God’s strength and we can be, too.

Looking for Hope in Suffering?

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I started in the back with the Study Guide, and immediately liked Megan Vance’s style of writing. Her voice is easy on the ear, yet polished and carries depth of character. She describes Sure Mercies from the viewpoint of a hurting girl who connected with the cries of a hurting boy in the book of Psalms. She says David didn’t just memorize the Scriptures as a religious exercise, “he believed what they told him about Jehovah.”

And so this work continues to unfold accounts of those who believed God at His word, and stood for Him in unthinkable circumstances. William Borden gave up his family wealth to pursue missions among the Muslims of China. He died of meningitis. Corrie ten Boom came from Dutch descent and suffered in the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. Richard Wurmbrand spent years in solitary confinement in Communist prisons. Nate Saint and his friends were murdered deep in the jungle of Ecuador by Auca Indians. Yet, in all of these lives, and more, they resolved to follow Christ knowing a life spared would not be worth a witness sacrificed.

Sure Mercies is a compilation of short stories that are tall on inspiration. They tell the back story of those who are part of “God’s chain of grace” extended across time. And they bring hope! Ever wonder if you would be resolute under trial? Megan prays, “Lord, we need not fear our own inadequacy, but only behold Your Son and His finished work. Thank You that He works as we merely yield our lives to Him.”

The Meditation Prayers lead us to remember our future is not our own. The faithful testimony of those within these pages will encourage us to remain steadfast in difficult times. And, as she remarks about Gracie Parker Rosenberger, “Watching Gracie, it’s easier to believe impossibilities can create abundant possibilities.”

Bravo to Megan Vance on a thoroughly researched, well recorded progression of God’s Message over the ages. It is a timely dose of encouragement for us all!

Sally

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Encouragement, Faith, In the News

Almost Home

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On our return from Africa, our Mission Team flew into Toronto for the last leg of driving home to Jamestown, just south of Buffalo. The 17 hours of flight had only served to make us more homesick, as we longed for sweet sleep in our own beds.

Finally, with luggage gathered, tired bodies accounted for and vans retrieved, we settled in for the three hour drive home.

As we approached the Canadian/US Border, we noticed traffic slowing. And then it came to a standstill. We could see the flags of our own country, but could not advance to it.

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In these tumultuous days, we’re watching the effects of sin take a toll on our planet. War, hatred, abuse, the sex trade, people hungry for power, poverty, drought and all sorts of evil in between. And it makes us long for our Heavenly Home. Jesus said we would face trouble. But He also promised His presence would comfort and guide us. This is the time to stand firm and pray. When you hear the news, pray. When you see bad things happen, pray. And when you think you can’t take any more, pray.

https://youtu.be/MC4kbteMLCg?list=PLAimbpQf8zH5UX2zd5DIrHzQCB_-QjJV6

Answers in Genesis opened their replica of Noah’s Ark on July 7. One of the first visitors was Bill Nye, who claimed children are being brainwashed. As I scrolled the comments of his supporters, I couldn’t believe the bashing toward Ken Ham (who happens to have the same name as one of Noah’s sons) and his Ark. And I wondered if that was just an inkling of the mocking Noah endured in his day. We are not home yet.

Our Heavenly Home is just over the horizon and our King is on His Return Trip. Stand firm; we’re almost Home.

Don’t give up. We’re almost Home!

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What helps you stand firm? Leave a comment in the link just under the title, and I’ll send you 6 Tips for Talking to God.

Sally

Encouragement, Faith

We are not home yet

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Teardrop

“What is home?”

Our class had a variety of answers; places remembered from the past, or an ideal set apart for our families.  But all I could think about was a feeling.  “You know that feeling you get on Christmas Eve?  When everyone’s in bed, asleep, and everything’s done that can possibly be done?  All that’s needed at that moment is to reflect on The Day to come, and gaze at the lights on the tree.”

That’s my picture of “home.”

What is your picture of “home?”

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Anne Graham Lotz talks about our heavenly home in The Vision of His Glory.  She says the glassy streets of gold will reflect God’s glory with every step that we take.  We will not only have access to the Presence of God (as the Israelites experienced through the priest entering the Tabernacle), but we’ll live in the Presence of God.

No, we are not home yet.  But Jesus is preparing it with painstaking detail, just like a mom would get ready for her college student to come home on break.  Anne reminds us that favorite meals would be prepared, activities planned and phone calls made saying, “My daughter is coming home!”

I can’t wait for my heavenly home!

Sally

Originally published at Sally’s Words