Dayspring Letterpress Blocks giveaway!

Update:  This giveaway is now closed, and according to random.org results... the winner is Desiree!!!!  Congratulations and have fun picking your Letterpress block set! :) 

I am so excited to be sharing about something I love today, and giving you all the chance to love it as well!  (In)courage and Dayspring have partnered together to create a beautiful product called Letterpress Blocks!  Check out how stunning they are!

They have made it easy for you to choose from their already made word sets, or build your own custom set! With the hardware provided, you can also choose to either hang the blocks or just stand them up and display them in your home.  The hardware also allows you to attach the letters together, or leave them apart if you wish. 

I had the opportunity to choose a couple of sets for our home, and I knew right away what I wanted.  My first set was built with the word "grace". 

It goes perfectly in our family room with my Red Letter Words canvas behind it that features some of the lyrics to the song "Amazing Grace."  It is very important to me that, as we spend time together in our family room, we never forget that we are where we are only because of the Lord's richly lavished grace on us.  (And yes, we are a book loving family!) :) 

The other set I chose goes with my master bedroom nautical "hope as an anchor" theme that comes from Hebrews 6:19.  I knew I'd have to find a place for the word "hope" in there, for sure!

So now it's your turn!  You have the opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate to spend on your own Letterpress blocks!  These make a perfect Christmas gift as well. 

Head over to the Letterpress website and check it out, then come back here and post a comment with which word you would like to create for your own home.  You can also post an additional comment letting me know if you are a follower of this blog or if you subscribe by email.  Comments can be posted until Wednesday night, December 10.  On Thursday, December 11, I'll be announcing the random winner!  

Thanks for reading and entering! 

31 Days of Hope - Day 31

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before You, 

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” 

 Psalm 141:2

And there it is… the final verse in this series of 31 verses from the Psalms that inspire hope. And it is about sacrifice, which isn’t always the most fun topic to discuss. Sacrifice often hurts. It usually costs us something. It is worship with a price tag on it, offering to God what hurts to give up to Him.

It may be tearfully acknowledging that you would rather be married, but are choosing to be alright with being single if that’s what His plan is for you. It may be the painful giving over of your dreams to be a mother if no children is what He deems best, because the fertility issues are at the forefront of your thoughts right now. It may be just telling Him that you are willing to do what He wants you to do today, even when you would rather keep your own agenda.

Whatever it is, it’s usually difficult. And that’s why hands lifted in surrender, and words spoken in a submissive prayer before the Lord, can be a most beautiful gift to Him. Voicing them – truly speaking out loud that we choose His will before our own – is a beautiful thing to our Father. Like a sweet smelling incense, our words rise to Him and are counted by Him as beautiful. This is what the Psalmist prays for.

This is what I pray for, and that I hope you’ll pray for on this journey you are walking. Maybe hope still seems hard to find right now. But your words… your prayers… they can bring a spark of it. Maybe you don’t know what else to do. But you don’t have to. That’s really enough for now. Just speaking out your willingness, even when it’s tough, brings beauty… and hope.

He has not forgotten you. He sees your pain, and He knows your heart. He knows what a hard road you may be on, and how you are doing your best to just get through each day.

With your arms raised and your heart bowed, let’s keep walking.

For this walk, though it may be hard, is beautiful, because your Savior walks it with you.

And because He is the Author of hope, you will never fully lose hope with Him walking by your side.

31 Days of Hope - Day 30

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

 Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” 

Psalm 139:14

The other night I was brushing my youngest son’s teeth and I started looking at his little nose. Random, I know. But it is pretty cute. And it made me start thinking about all that had to happen for his nose to form, while he was being fashioned in my womb. There are the little curves and split between nostrils and perfectly shaped little holes in his nostrils. They are tiny, but they make up an important part of our facial features.

I know it’s so easy to let life suck the joy and the praise out of us. This life can be so hard, and its issues overwhelming. And believe me, I don’t usually enjoy someone telling me of how much I have to be thankful for when I’m feeling discouraged. I want to answer back, “I know all that, and I am grateful for all of that – but things are still just hard!” And there’s a huge reality to that that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Sometimes we have a community that holds us up and helps us through just by listening and being present instead of trying to fix things.  That's wonderful, when it happens.  But other times, we have to find ways to help ourselves plow through the difficult. And I’ve found that taking a good look at our bodies can do this.

Yes, our bodies. Not in a vain way. Not in a critical way. But in a way that reminds us of the amazing way we were created. Think about it. Your heart keeps beating through the good and the hard days, while you are sleeping and while you are awake. You take involuntary breaths, and swallow when it’s necessary. You heal when you bruise or bleed, and your hair and skin knows when to shed dead cells and grow new ones. And you don't have to choose to do anything to make any of that happen!

You, my friend, are a masterpiece, and it’s not because of anything you have done. Instead, it’s due to a brilliant design that can only mean an amazing Designer. So when your world looks grey and you can’t find much to be thankful for, just look down at your own skin.

Your body can be a constant reminder that you have hope, and reason to praise.  Because you are an amazing creation.

Know that.  Claim that.  And then let that give you hope in your amazing Creator today.

31 Days of Hope - Day 29

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; 

my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning…” 

 Psalm 130:5-6

The job of a watchman was an important one when this verse was written. With a huge amount of business involving crops, watchmen were placed in towers to protect fields from malicious animals or thieves. Watchmen were also placed on city walls to spy for any enemies trying to enter, prepared to send out an alarm at any instant.

What a lonely and tiresome job that must have been throughout the night hours. If you let your eyes close in heaviness for just an instant, the fate of the city could end in ruin. And an attack? Your fault. This is not a job I would have ever longed to have, and if I did have to work it, I can imagine I would be counting down the moments until morning light broke through the darkness.

In the same way, the Psalmist declares that He waits and longs for God even more than the watchman waits for morning. For the Father to show up and break through with His eternal light that scatters the darkness. For Him to do what He best… the miraculous.

I’m longing for the same today. Sometimes the darkness seems so vast and so dark that it’s easy to lose hope. But morning is coming, and it might even be breaking through right now in places we would never expect. The darkest place is where the light shines brightest, after all. Keep looking for the light and keep waiting for Him. But most of all, let’s keep longing for God Himself, even more than we long for His wonders.

For He is the wonder. His Word, the beauty.

And He’s promised to invade our lives with hope through His wonder and beauty if we simply let Him.

31 Days of Hope - Day 28

“Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” 

Psalm 121:4

As a mom, I’ve spent many nights laying next to a child of mine who is having a hard time relaxing or falling asleep. I lay nearby stroking his or her hair or back, speaking calming words or prayers over them while inwardly praying that they would give in to sleep that I know they desperately need.

I feel such a protection in reading this verse that it’s one I come back to over and over again. I think it’s because I have this mental picture of our Heavenly Father doing something similar over us.

When I’m laying next to my child and focusing on soothing and comforting them, I usually don’t fall asleep myself because I’m focused on meeting their current needs. But I’ll have to admit that there have been times when I’ve been so exhausted that I may have even fallen asleep before my sweet son or daughter did! (oops...)

The beauty of the promise found in this verse is that our Father would never do this with us. It is outside of His perfect nature to need rest the way we humans do. The all-sufficient all-Sovereign One never grows tired or weary. He never falls asleep while listening to us. He doesn’t need to rest, so He can protect us while we are resting.

When we know we have Someone watching over us at all times, we can leave our anxiety with Him and rest knowing He’s always on guard watching over us. We are always safe and held under the watch care of El Roi, the God who Sees.

Because of that, when He calls us to rest, we can freely and safely follow.

Book Review... Best Party Book Ever!

I recently had the chance to review The Best Party Book Ever, from the editors of FaithGirlz! and Girls' Life magazine.  Or should I say, I tried to take the time to review it, but my 9-year old daughter kept snatching it from me.  She absolutely loved this book and will be referencing it quite often in the future, I think.

With all sorts of creative ideas for themed parties, seasonal parties, or "just because" parties, this is the best party idea book I've seen for girls.  The illustrations are stunning, yet always portray modesty and beautiful, well designed art.  Along with ideas for games, recipes, decorations, and crafts, this book also focuses on the work that goes into the party, giving girls ideas on being a good hostess, finding their party style, and even dealing with friendship issues that may come up and party "blunders" they may have to deal with.  I particularly loved this part of the book, as this helps girls realize that there is more to a party than the actual events and gives them insight into these sometimes delicate issues that can occur within friendships and during parties.  Also included in the book are checklists and tips to guide readers.

I'm so glad I stumbled on this book and was able to review it, and like I said before, I know it's one we will reference repeatedly in the future.  I highly recommend it for moms of upper elementary/preteen girls.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

31 Days of Hope - Day 27

"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words." 

Psalm 119:147

Rising before dawn? I don’t know about you, but that’s quite a task for this usually tired mama.  I normally cherish the short amount of sleep I get these days, grasping for any extra moments and viewing them as sacred gifts. But I also crave my time with Jesus in the morning. If I miss it, there’s a huge difference in my attitude that day.  Ask my kids. They’ll be honest with you. :)

That's because I need Him. Desperately. Without Him I’m a total mess. And without Him I lose hope, because my hope comes from His Word. And that Word must be flowing in and out of me in order for it to take root and remain there throughout the rest of the day. Otherwise I quickly forget it, and I succumb to the crazy of life. I let the cares of this world take over my thoughts for the rest of the day.
 
So I wake up early – even if it’s not always before dawn, and I'm not fully awake yet.  And I cry out to Him.

For help.

For strength.

For His Word to fall over me like rain and bathe me in the rhythm of His grace before I turn to face all the cares of that day.

And He always meets me there, and offers hope that renews.

31 Days of Hope - Day 26

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

 Psalm 118:24

It's a popular verse you've probably heard. If you were raised in church, you probably even know the fun song that goes along with it.  You may be singing it in your head right now.  Or you may even be haunted by it a little as you remember the way you were "helped" out of bed in the morning as a kid, with your mother singing it cheerfully over you as you pulled the covers back over your head and begged for more sleep.  It's such a happy little tune.

But what about when life doesn't look so happy?  Does this verse apply then too? I, for one, think even more so.

You see, it's easy to rejoice and be glad when life is going pretty well for us.  We can look at the day we've been given and walk with a little spring in our step and a smile on our faces because things are good.

But when they aren't?  When it's a struggle to even get out of bed in the morning or get behind the wheel of the car to head out of the driveway, knowing the difficulties that await?  Well, that's when we need the reminder that even this day is God ordained.

Because He created this day, He knows what it holds for us.  He's aware of the difficult situations we will face in it.  He sees, and He guides.  And His sovereign presence gives us a reason to rejoice when pretty much none of the circumstances around us may seem to call for rejoicing and gladness.

It's a perspective shift from circumstances to Creator.  Furthermore, it's often a constant choice to rejoice when our present season of life doesn't seem to call for much rejoicing.

But it's a choice that is so very worth it.

31 Days of Hope - Day 25

“Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, 

for he acknowledges My name." 

 Psalm 91:14

God's promises... our source of hope.  When trouble swarms all around us, we have an anchor to keep our feet steady as we walk through unknowns.  He first gives us the wonder of Himself, and then He overwhelms our hearts with the beauty of His unfailing promises.

And so, with great assurance, we can cling tightly to His words.  We will be protected.  We will be rescued.  Maybe not in the way we think we should, but in the way He, as our loving Father, deems best.

Rescued through the storm, not always rescued from it.

Protected in His grasp, not always protected from experiencing hardship.

I for one want this.  I need this.  His protection and rescuing are the key to earthly survival.  But in turn, I'm reminded that I have a responsibility too.  I must love Him.  And I must acknowledge His name.   I can't hold back anything.  He must be first in my heart, and loving Him above all else, my priority.  His name must flow from my lips in acknowledgment that all that I have and all that I am is from Him.

It's not without a cost.  But the rewards of His deliverance and protection are far greater than anything I could ever sacrifice.  His love is richer.  His name is higher.

He is grander.

And He is enough.

31 Days of Hope - Day 24

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."

Psalm 84:5

We are getting toward the end of this 31 day series, so there have obviously been a few things repeated as we've continued to focus on this theme of hope.  One is that this world is hard.  Anyone who has lived here for more than a few years will probably be able to agree to that.  Another is that hope is found in looking beyond this world.

Beyond what we can see to what is unseen.  

Beyond our circumstances to the One who controls the master plan.

When our hearts are set on pilgrimage, we recognize that we are on a journey.  This world we currently live in is not our home, but just a stop on the way.

So we live each day focused on what awaits, with our perspective fixed on the eternal instead of the temporal.  And we live with supernatural strength given to us to endure the trials and hardships of this world that we are currently passing through.

Living this way makes us blessed.  And I, for one, want to live under the blessing of my Father.  So I choose to keep my gaze heavenward.

Remember you are just passing through, fellow pilgrim.  There are far better things ahead.  Hang in there, dear sojourner.

The journey can be long and hard, but it will be worth it.

31 Days of Hope - Day 23

"So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked." 

 Psalm 73:16-17

It's an age old question, asked by most of us in difficult times... Where are You, God? Don't You see this tragedy? Don't You care? 

And if You do see, then why don't You do something about it?

I've asked those questions myself in the midst of tragedy, during times that make no sense at the time and still don't make sense today.  They probably never will.  The older I get, the more I come to the realization that some of our questions will never be answered here on this earth.

And yet... we have hope.  When we come into God's presence, our earthly problems that seem so huge fall to the dust, as we come to grips with His glorious grandeur.  As we reflect on Him, the things of earth do grow strangely dim.  The need for answers diminishes, and the need for more of Him and His presence becomes so much greater.

Today, if you are one of the ones asking some of those questions above, know you are not alone.  Deep down in most of our hearts, there's a wrestling for answers.  For justice.  We hide it sometimes, but it's still there... because He has made us with the desire for a world we aren't in yet, where peace prevails and wars and evil cease.

So for now, while our bodies live in this world, let's plant our hearts in His presence.

For it is only there that we will experience peace.

31 Days of Hope - Day 22

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." 

Psalm 68:19

This past spring, the kids and I read through the children's version of Pilgrim's Progress. Though the words were made simpler for children to comprehend, they were still powerful, as were the illustrations. I vividly remember the picture of Christian,, the main character, trudging with a huge burden on his back.  Then, the picture illustrating his freedom once his burden was lifted at the cross.

Though I believe the burden lifting in this book was meant to represent salvation, the image reminds me of how I often feel on a daily basis. Like I have all this excess weight to carry around with me. There are all of these troubles... worries... fearful thoughts... needs I have... that I carry around with me. I let them bog me down, unable to fully enjoy life and the joys I am also given to enjoy during the course of the day. Been there? Done that?

We all carry burdens, and we are all invited to lay these burdens down, whatever they are, and let our Heavenly Father carry them for us.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." -Psalm 55:22

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  -1 Peter 5:7

And when we do that, this verse brings us to praise! We don't have to struggle with them on our own any more.  We can experience joy, not because our troubles are gone, but because they are in safe strong hands. The hands that hold the world are holding your heart, and your burdens.

We praise You, Jesus.  You are good, and we can rest knowing You are carrying our burdens each day.

31 Days of Hope - Day 21

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." 

 Psalm 62:8

The visual image of pouring something has become more of a reality to me now that I'm a mother living in a warm climate.  When my kids go outside to play, they come in totally parched.  "Mom, I'm so thirsty!" they all cry.   And so I pour.  And pour.  And pour.  Water cannot be consumed fast enough as the water level continues to go down and the pitcher continues to be used to pour water out into depleted cups.

I love this word "pour" when it comes to our relationship with our Father.  If He is our refuge, we are in a safe place with His loving strong arms around us.  If we are choosing to trust Him at all times, then I think the pouring out of our hearts will naturally be a result.  The gushing out of our words that we may not feel comfortable saying to anyone else. The deluge of secret thoughts that noone else knows.

We know our hearts are safe with Him, so we tell Him everything.  We cry out. We complain to Him.  We share our hopes and dreams.  We seek His guidance for the future.  We praise Him for His faithfulness in the past.

It's a continual outpouring of whatever is in our hearts - both the good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.  He knows every part of them anyway.  But He invites us to pour them out before the One who is all trustworthy and offers a safe refuge for us, as we journey through a turbulent world.

Whatever is going on in your heart today, you can pour it out to Him.  He knows and sees it all anyway.

It's November.

So... it's November. October just flew by with some travel and crazy mingled in with the blur. I tried to get all of my 31 posts done, but realized that if these were words I believe my Father gave me to share from my heart, then they couldn't always come on such a scheduled approach. Instead, they are on His time table.  Then when I saw that one of my favorite bloggers, Emily, posted her need to continue her 31 day challenge into November, and her sister - the creator of the challenge, none the less - is doing the same... well, I'm totally fine with stretching it out now. :)

I hope to continue the last 11 posts in this series over the course of the next two weeks, so I hope you will check back here for them. In the meantime, my heart has been preparing to usher in the month of November, and with it, the realization that the holidays are just around the corner. For someone who has been through loss and is trying to keep plugging along through a lot of hard when most everyone around seems happy and festive, the holidays can be a time when you just want to run for the nearest exit and hole away in your comfy little home until they are over. Or, they can be a greater reason to focus on the hope we have as an anchor for our souls because of Jesus. His love. His sacrifice. His securing of a future that is bright and free of pain and loss.

There are two ways that I have found so far that are helping me tremendously with that, and I want to share them here in case you are also trying to choose joy throughout the next couple of months.  You get that it can be easier said than done.  But it can be done.  Day by day.  Sometimes moment by moment.

First, Ann Voskamp's "thankful tree,"

Our family has done this for a few years now, but we used to just find a pack of paper leaves somewhere (which has been a challenge some years!).  I love how Ann's have verses of praise on them that can adorn your tree.  We just got all of our leaves cut out and can't wait to get started with one thing we each are thankful for each day for the entire month of November.  Go here to find them.

Second, Sara Hagerty, a new author that I seriously cannot get enough of right now, wrote an incredible book I just finished called Every Bitter Thing is Sweet.  She introduces a practice of adoring God, where she finds something about His character to dwell on each day.  I haven't been doing this for long, but already it has encouraged me so much to keep my eyes on Him more often and not on my circumstances.  She has printables to help her readers with this reflection, and you will just love them!  Go here to find them.

So... happy November, everyone.  No matter what we are facing right now in life, may we look back at the end of the month in gratitude not only for what He has done for us, but what He has done in us.

Allume recap

We interrupt this 31 Days challenge here on the blog to share about an amazing conference I had the opportunity to attend this past weekend. Allume is known as a Christian women's conference for writers and bloggers to come together and be refreshed and challenged in their craft. This year, it was held in the beautiful city of Greenville, SC.  Although we didn't have much free time to explore the city, I made the most of it with a few new friends.

It was a little different of a conference than I expected it to be.  Definitely less technical and less focused on specific details related to writing than I expected.  Instead, there was a huge ministry focus, and this year, the theme was on hospitality.  It was just beautiful.  We were challenged by wonderful and well known Christian writers and speakers, and some new voices, to make our homes - both our literal ones and our online ones - be open doors to welcome and love on those who may stop by for a visit.

While I do realize I need technical help to create a better blog in days to come, I was greatly encouraged by this focus.  There was no comparing of status there, even with widely published authors and brand new bloggers in the same room.  Instead, the overall theme was that God is working in our lives every day, no matter what we are doing, or the accomplishments our names may or may not carry with them.  It really doesn't matter.  What matters instead is that we choose to be conduits of His love to the world around us, throughout all of the individual situations and circumstances we will face.

There were all sorts of service opportunities and ways to bless and help others.  I was made aware of needs that I can fulfill and I'm excited about those opportunities that are to come.

And of course, the leaders of the conference were so generous with the number of books and goodies that we were given!

So yes, while Allume is known as a "writing conference," I now wouldn't be so quick to label it as such.  It is for any woman who desires community, a sisterhood of women to partner together with, as we fulfill our individual callings to make some kind of difference in the world as the Lord works through us in unique ways.  

I was so encouraged, because this season of my life is just a tad crazy.  I can't realistically do things I would really like to do.  Other things I try to do take me longer to fulfill than others  - take the 31 Day writing challenge I won't be finishing by the end of October!   God is just looking for our "yes."  He will work out the details, perform miracles, and give us an amazing story to share through our voices, our pens, or our keyboards.   

Thank you, Allume, for the refreshing encouragement to keep walking the road I've been assigned, and that my little "yes" counts in ways bigger than I can ever see.  

31 Days of Hope - Day 20

“Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

Did you know that you can complain to God? And that you can even do it repeatedly, if needed?

I think there’s often this view of God which makes Him appear far too distant and lofty to listen to anything hard that is in our lives or on our hearts. Yes, He’s holy. Yes, He’s Almighty. And yes, He’s seated on a heavenly throne. But this same Almighty God longs to hear from us – and if what we say to Him appears more like a frustrated cry, then so be it.

You see, if we believe He truly knows our hearts, then He already knows our frustration, our pain, and our hurt. So why would we try to hide all of this when we come to Him in prayer, masking it all and acting like everything is fine?

If David, who is known after a man after God’s own heart, didn't mind pouring out His complaints to God over and over – and he apparently didn't, because in this verse he mentions doing it in the evening, morning, and noon – then we should be encouraged that we can too. We can tell him how we really feel on both the good and the bad days. We don’t have to “sugar coat” our lives just because we are talking to a perfect God.  He knows He is hearing from an imperfect person He's created who is living in an imperfect world.

So let’s drop the pretenses, and get real before Him.

He knows. He sees. He cares.

And He’s always listening.

31 Days of Hope - Day 19

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

Did you know that a broken heart can be a beautiful thing? I didn’t, until lately.

Until recently, I’ve always felt a broken heart was too messy. Sad. Discouraged. Ugly. Shattered. Unable to be completely mended. And that’s pretty much all true. But I never discovered any beauty in those things until I experienced my own broken heart.

Not the kind of broken heart because the boy you have a crush on in high school asked someone else to the prom. But the kind that is truly, completely broken. A mess. Dark, and seemingly beyond repair.

This verse shows us that God, in His beautiful way of restoring broken things, loves our broken hearts. They are true sacrifices to Him that He will never detest or turn away from. That is because a broken heart is real. Vulnerable. Completely undone and in need of total help and healing.

It’s us acknowledging that we can’t fix things on our own and in need of a Savior, the only One who can.

It’s us admitting that we don’t know what to do but turning to the One who does.

And to Him, that kind of heart is beautiful.

Because that’s when we step out of the way and let Him do miracles… His specialty.

31 Days of Hope - Day 18

“Through You we push back our enemies; through Your name we trample our foes.” 

Psalm 44:5

What would you say your biggest enemy is right now? Sure, these Psalms were written when there were gigantic armies of men pursuing God’s people, and you may not (hopefully) have that occurring in your own life physically right now. But I'll bet you have some enemies.  I know I do.

For me, there’s a giant enemy called fear that likes to loom around me. Especially after experiencing loss, the tendency is to want to live safely and to do everything I can to protect those I love to keep from experiencing any further loss. I want everyone and everything to be ok, and I wrestle with thoughts of made up scenarios where that’s not the case.

But with God on my side, I don’t need to fear. I can push back that fear. I can trample it! His Word equips me to be brave, take risks, and move forward in His strength. And it does the same for you!

We don’t have to be held captive by our enemies. We always have hope that our God is stronger than them. They can threaten and scare us, but they have no power over us. We are His, and we can defeat them in His powerful name.

Whatever enemy you feel might be holding you down today, realize it doesn’t have to defeat you. Then get up, push it away, and go forward in the strength the Lord gives!

Pushed down. Trampled. That’s where that enemy belongs.

And you? You, my friend, belong right in the grip of His strong loving arms.

31 Days of Hope - Day 17

“Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.” 

Psalm 35:28

I’ve often struggled with anything I need to do consistently. Take writing 31 days in a row, for instance. :) Only a few days in, I saw just how hard this challenge would really be. Just the day to day busyness and schedule doesn’t allow for writing sometimes. Then throw in some sickness and travel that’s happened during this month. It’s made it a little challenging, to say the least!

So when the Bible talks about doing something continually, like “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), or “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), I find that pretty hard. How do we realistically be thankful in everything or continually pray? That seems to take some real effort.  There have probably even been books written on those topics to help us learn some ways.

But this verse? This verse proclaims this truth in a way that shows a result. Earlier in the chapter, the Psalmist prays for victory over his enemies in such a way that causes them to magnify God. Then he closes the chapter with this verse, describing the result almost as involuntary. My tongue will tell. I will speak Your praise.  I don't have to force it.  It will happen.

I love that. It’s not something I have to go looking for or go asking for. When God works in amazing victorious ways, this will be the result. I want to speak God’s praise all day long, but so often other things creep in and take priority in my thoughts and words. But when we see Him work – really see Him work – we won’t be able to keep silent! The praise will be constantly overflowing from our mouths because we’ve seen Him work in such powerful ways.

That gives me hope today, and I hope it will encourage you too.

Keep watching! He’s working.

31 Days of Hope - Day 16

“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” 

Psalm 34:5

My late husband B used to tell me that women he knew with the most beautiful faces were some of the oldest ones he knew. He said that he could tell that when a woman walked with Jesus throughout her life, she was transformed into a more and more beautiful person, even as her physical body began to age. And he always affirmed me that he knew I would be one of those women.

Man, what an encouragement.  Boy, do I pray so. This world is hard, and it can leave you feeling and looking pretty haggard. We can’t really stop all the wrinkles and lines from forming. We can spend all sorts of money to try to fix them, but that never really stops them.

But true beauty lies so much deeper. This verse reminds me of it, and encourages me that when we turn our gaze to the One who loves us most, He makes us radiant. Our beauty shines off to a watching world that there is something different about us, and that difference is that we’ve walked closely with the Savior. Just like when Moses came down from the mountain, we are different. We are beautiful. And we aren’t ashamed, but instead full of hope.

Lord, turn our eyes towards You and let us gaze into Your beauty until our faces radiate with it. Replace our worry lines with peace, and let us continually be reminded that when we choose to put our hope in You, we will never be ashamed.