Pieces of Trust

I subscribe to many ’email inspirations,’ they are reminders to start your day blessed.  Today I was inspired by “truth.”  It is a meaningful piece, I pray it inspires you as well!

“Trust and rest when all around thee
Puts thy faith to sorest test;
Let no fear or foe confound thee,
Wait for God and trust and rest.
“Trust and rest with heart abiding,
Like a birdling in its nest,
Underneath His feathers hiding,
Fold thy wings and trust and rest.”

Pieces of Clarity

There are many days as a believer that we stumble and fall.  Maybe more stumbling and falling than we care to admit, and sometimes we just have to sit with the confusion until we have clarity.  It’s not often (and usually not) a lightening bolt or gigantic billboard from God.  I believe personally, when the veil of confusion lifts, there in its place, is clarity.  This clarity gives us a better idea what to expect moving forward.  What we can count on in regards to our faith, what God wants for us.  Open your heart to receive all the pieces God has in store for you!

Philippians 4:7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 8:12  Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding.

Pieces of Grief

The holidays tend to bring a mix of sadness and joy.  We mourn the loss of those we have loved, that are no longer here to celebrate familiar traditions.  We delight in the knowledge that we will be reunited again, but today, it hurts.  Our heart is sad, the grief sometimes unspoken.  But your heavenly Father knows this pain, he suffered the greatest loss of them all; the Crucifixion if his Son.  He knows your pain, the grief, He watches your tears fall, and He desires to comfort you; will you draw close to Him?

Psalm 119:28  I weep with grief; my heart is heavy with sorrow; encourage and cheer me with your words.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord.
In the deepest parts of grief, lean on God.  This strengthens your faith and helps you draw closer to your Savior.

Pieces of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is certainly one of the hardest acts and emotions to live with.  We withhold it from others, yet our heavenly Father forgives us for EVERY thing we do or say.  Period.  Regardless of….!  Because…..!  It’s their fault….!

Psalm 25:6-7  Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness.
Joel 2:23  Rejoice, O people of Jerusalem, rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rains he sends are tokens of forgiveness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as those of spring.
Romans 5:15 And what a difference between man’s sin and God’s forgiveness! For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this one man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s mercy.

Pieces of Thanksgiving

In a few days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  Perhaps we will share a meal with family and friends.  What are you thankful for?

I see so many parallels in my past life and now.  Except now, I am grateful for all of it.  The hard, hurtful times along with the fun and happy.  I believe it’s more than equal parts – it’s how Jesus wants to live in me.  “Grateful for all the pieces.”  In this way, everything is able to be a witness to another.

Psalm 100:4 Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Leviticus 7:13 This thanksgiving peace offering shall be accompanied with loaves of leavened bread.

Deuteronomy 16:15  This feast will be held at the sanctuary, which will be located at the place the Lord will designate. It is a time of deep thanksgiving to the Lord for blessing you with a good harvest and in so many other ways; it shall be a time of great joy.

Pieces of Calm

We do not have to sit idly by waiting for the storm, it’s okay, really; perfectly okay to have periods of calm, without expectation of the hammer dropping or circumstances changing.

Psalm 107:29  He calms the storm and stills the waves.
Daniel 10:19  “God loves you very much,” he said; “don’t be afraid! Calm yourself; be strong—yes, strong!” Suddenly, as he spoke these words, I felt stronger and said to him, “Now you can go ahead and speak, sir, for you have strengthened me.”

Pieces of Patience

Frustration is a sign that you are doing the work; instead of God.  You cannot act independent of God, He needs to lead the way.  Wait on God.  Pray, meditate, fast, believe.  The battle is already won!  Think of Job, everything was taken from him; his animals, possessions, all of his children, yet he did not curse God, he continued to worship him.

Forgive; do it!!!  Pray about it, let it go.  Do not live by feelings, live by faith!!

James 1:2-8

Greetings!  Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3 for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; 7-8 and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.

Romans 5:3-5  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. 4 And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 5 Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Bold Pieces

I believe it’s incredibly important to research and understand what you believe; particularly if it comes from habit or “how you were raised.”  For many, many years I’ve described my spiritual beliefs as a “patchwork quilt” believing a little of this and a little of that, but not committing to any one belief.  And using the word “spiritual” instead of “religious” even sounded smoother, less conforming.

This is where boldness enters the equation for me.  It’s a new word, one I’m not entirely comfortable with and one that exudes confidence.  We’ve all know people who seem to just bleed boldness, nothing scares them, they face the world head on, they give a speech to a hundred people and nary a sweaty palm!

Acts 4:13
When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them!
Acts 28:31
…..telling them with all boldness about the Kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ; and no one tried to stop him.
2 Timothy 1:6
This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you.
In the book:  “The Pieces” and this blog, I hope to inspire and aspire boldness, the truth as I understand, the work that is being done behind the scenes and in front of me – marking a path with lights and little scraps of paper.  Pieces of Truth.  God’s Truth.

Prayerful pieces

Welcome to the very first post in “The Pieces” blog!  I am to remind you that I am merely a vessel, not a scholar, not an educator and most certainly, not an expert in religion, philosophy or any other higher truth, only what I believe to be true and what I am led to write.  I am like a very positive and uplifting Ouija board, I am guided to share truth and the love of God with you, letter by letter, word by word, paragraph, photo, scrap of paper, as I am led.

Mitigate

Alleviate

Help

Relieve

Soothe

Is it possible to live your life wearing rose-colored glasses?  Can your optimism and quick wit make a negative day turn positive?  Does this result in long-term peace of mind?  Or is it – instead, a vicious circle, one of constant upheaval, ongoing stress in an attempt to ‘be’ good, make the right decisions and live longer?

I’ve learned that it’s not anything I do or say that strengthens my faith or provides peace of mind.  It is my constant need for spiritual education and a heart anxious to know who her Heavenly Father is.

Psalms 39:7 …and now, Lord, for what do I wait?  My hope is in thee.

2 Peter 1: 2-3  Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. 3 For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us.

I finally understand the purpose of being saved; it is to be God’s voice and heart.  We are not just here to exist and live, God has given me tools and skills to have my life represent Him.  When people see goodness in me, they are seeing Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10  It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.