Category: <span>thoughts by Caroline Bellemare</span>


“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14


I just moved into the hood.  Parenthood that is. I’ve never been this tired, nor have I ever felt this much love in my entire life. If you’ve got a little one (or many kids) yourself, you know exactly what I am talking about.

The book of Esther is quite interesting to me because it does not mention God even once. And while His name is not read in words, His hand can be seen all over the place. God works in many ways, including behind the scenes.

Whether it is while caring for a newborn, or during any other intense moment of life, God is always at work, even when we are too overwhelmed to call on His name as often as we are used to doing so. Whatever it is that we go through, “…who knows but that [we] have come to [our] royal position for such a time as this?”

We are privileged to serve God in whatever area and season we find ourselves in. Whether we feel God’s presence or not, He is there and He is with us. After all, He is the one who prepared us for such a time as this. He will also graciously take us through it — and if we allow Him, make us a bit more like Jesus in the process.

Therefore, let’s depend on God as if we were a newborn ourselves. Let’s trust in Him for sustenance, for love, for security, for peace. Let’s trust in Him even when we can’t feel His hand or hear His voice. He is always with us.

Dear God, sometimes it’s hard to trust that you are with me. If I can’t hear your voice or see your hand, give me the faith to depend on you despite what I’m going through. Help me go on one more day. Thank you for your Spirit alive in me. Thank you for keeping me. Amen.

Thought — Simply pray to God with your deepest yearnings today, knowing in your heart that He is right there and that He is listening.

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

•  Will God Be There? – A Devotional by Marilyn Ehle

•  The God Who Provides – by Palitha Jayasooriya

•  Salvation Explained


thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women

Do people in church get under your skin sometimes?


“No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.” Ephesians 5:29

That sister in church was getting on my last nerve and I was getting on hers. I decided to bite my tongue and love her despite my feelings. That challenged me incredibly. More than a decade later, we know we can call each other at anytime of the day or night, and we will pray for one another. I love her as if we were raised together.

Do people in church get under your skin sometimes? Maybe you are in a season when you think church might not be for you. Have you been hurt?

The verse above is from a portion of Scriptures where Paul describes what a godly marriage looks like. Marriage represents on earth the relationship of Jesus with His beloved bride, the Church. Paul reminds us of how we care for our bodies and so does Jesus with His Body – that’s us!

If we love the Lord, how could we hate His Body? When you feel like the Church has done you wrong, don’t give up on the Body of Christ just yet. Go deeper. Love more. Invest even more. Care for it. Let it love you back. This Church is your family, the house of the God you love. Don’t give up on it. He built it up for a purpose.

Heavenly Father, You know my heart and all that I am going through. Help me to love your people. Give me wisdom and give me patience, oh Lord! Heal my heart and remove bitterness and unforgiveness. Renew my love and zeal for your house. Only You can do these things. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

•  Pressing the RESET button on our lives 

•   Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

I pressed my hand on my belly, nothing. I tried moving around, drinking something cold, nothing. My unborn child had either been quiet for quite a while or something was wrong. I had two choices ? panic or faith.

Perhaps you have the same choice right now in dealing with a situation in your life. I discovered in the fourth chapter of the letter to the Philippian church, (verses 4-9), a formula that can help us beat anxiety if we accept its words by faith and put them into practice.

Paul invites us to rejoice in God, not to be anxious, and to bring all matters to the Lord in prayer. Next he tells us to make it a habit of choosing where we place our thoughts, and on what we feed them. Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy — that is to be our focus.

When my baby went quiet, I decided to believe that my baby would “not die but live, and would proclaim what the Lord has done” (Psalm 118:17). Then I went to the doctor’s office and was happy to hear her beautiful heartbeat coming through the machine. I am aware that the outcome could have been different, but I decided from then on to deal with things as they came from the point of view of faith, not panic. One step at a time is more than enough for me to handle.

For you, it may be choosing to remember the good in someone who’s hurt you, and choosing to make peace with them. Maybe it is deciding to trust that God is holding the airplane you are about to board in His care and has commanded His angels to watch over you. Or perhaps it is accepting that He loves you beyond what you could ever imagine. So, if you’ve messed up, you can choose to believe it’s not over and turn to Him again, knowing He is not finished with you yet.

Father, I come to you because I need your help. I want my thoughts to be aligned with yours. I want my mind to be transformed. Teach me to choose faith over panic. Remind me of your truth when darkness fills my thinking. Remind me of your love when I cease to believe it. Hold me close to you. I love you, Lord. Amen.

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission


Do you know Jesus in a personal way?  Would you like to invite him into your heart where you can place your faith in him in times of calm and in times of panic?  You can start a life surrendered to Christ today. This is a sample, simple prayer, but the words are powerful and full of meaning.  If  you truly believe them Christ will enter your life and start you on a wonderful journey. (not always easy, but never alone)

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

It starts now! He has entered your heart.  Let us know on the response form and we can send you some links and even connect you with an online mentor if that is something you’d like.


If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.


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Further Reading

Religion Causes Conflict and Strife– No Thanks!

  A Moving Mountain – Have you ever heard of a mountain moving a person?

•  Salvation Explained


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thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women


Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.1 Peter 4:12–13

I grieved for the hardship I faced, yet as I helped prepare the charity event, I was filled with peace. Some people who’d never normally step foot in a church would come to this event and be exposed to living testimonies of how God worked in people’s lives. That’s what I had to focus on. Slowly, joy returned — the supernatural kind since my circumstances had not changed. Tears flowed, but my heart was content.

Often times, scripture verses appear out of context on social media which portray the goodness of God. They can leave the impression that being blessed is all Jesus’ message boils down to. But the truth is, life is hard, and though God has a good plan for us, His word clearly lets us know it won’t be all roses and blue skies.

Yet, God has a provision prepared for us to help us endure through the hardships. He has supernatural joy for our souls. We can receive it by reminding ourselves of the cause we are standing for and the choice we have made.

If you are going through hardship, take heart. You are not alone my sister, my brother. There are faithful people around you that can relate and help you through it. All the while, God is working miracles in you and through you.

From ashes to beauty is what He promises.

*My Lord, my God. My heart aches and my soul is crushed. I want to keep on running this race of faith. Send me people to share this with, and help me to be aware of your goodness in the midst of trials. Help me recognize the joy and honor to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Amen. *

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women


Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

My knees felt weak, my head spun. I was filled with so many toxic emotions at once. My colleague had grossly lied about me and my work, and it was too much to bear. I eventually decided to not seek justice, trusting God would see to it Himself.

Make no mistake about it. What my colleague did was absolutely wrong. Out of jealousy, he wanted to smear my reputation. I wish someone would have stood up for me. But when it didn’t happen, God gave me the peace to let it go and move on to a new job.

When someone diminishes you, lies about you, and mocks you, especially for or because of your beliefs, it can be such a personal and vicious attack. But what do you do when you can’t quit your job, when you can’t change families, or when you don’t want to have to attend another church? One of the hardest things to do, when walking with Christ, is to not seek your own justice. It is totally opposite to the natural human response.

Jesus said the words found in Matthew because He understands. He knows the pain. He was insulted, lied about, and mocked all the way unto death. But He wants us to see the bigger picture.

What Jesus teaches us is to be loving, even when facing such difficulties. God is our justice. When we love in spite of it all, it proves that we are made of something that is not merely human — that God, who is love, lives inside of us.

Almighty God, my justice and my peace, forgiving is hard to do, and so is letting you be my justice. Yet, I will trust in you. Change my heart, renew my mind, and fill me with your Spirit. Teach me to love as you love. Amen.

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/


FURTHER READING

Articles by Psychologist Dr. Henry Brandt:


Who is My Behaviour Affecting?

What is Your Measuring Stick?

The Power of Forgiveness

Dealing with Inner Turmoil

Why is What I say So Important?

 

 

Thoughts by All thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

The temperature was just right, a summer evening like I love them. My pal and I sat outside with our friends, amused, as they bombarded us with questions they couldn’t keep to themselves. “You are young and healthy, you’ve got your life ahead of yourself. What is it that you need in this Jesus thing?” They couldn’t grasp how we could find joy in Christ, nor what pleasure we could take in our new-found faith.

Christianity, contrary to what some may think — or even practice — is not about a stack of religious instructions that promise to make you pious. Following Christ is a privilege developed out of a relationship of love, freedom, passion, and joy. When you recognize your need for the Savior, and accept His sacrifice for you, it is far more than anything this world can offer.

This powerful relationship goes both ways. In the third chapter of the book of Zephaniah, we read of the people of God who turned away from their Father. But then the prophet explains what happens when His children return to Him: “He will take great delight in you. He will rejoice over you with singing.” He promises to forget your wrong doing, and marvels over you with loving tenderness, singing His joy over your coming back to Him.

Look no longer to your past. Move forward with Jesus. Rejoice in the God who rejoices in you when you place your faith in Him. Whether you have been a believer for five seconds or five decades, this promise applies to your life, daily.

God, I want to learn to rejoice in you every single day. Joy and peace are not created by circumstances, but by faith. Set a fire and a joy in my heart for all things concerning you. My life is yours. Amen.

By Caroline Bellemare
Used by Permission

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women

Whoever has ears, let them hear.”  Matthew 11:15

There are so many ways to communicate, yet, there are also many ways communication can go wrong. I am reminded of that every time my husband and I disagree on something. Sometimes, we end up realizing we were both saying the same thing — only in two very different ways. It is not always easy to communicate, but it is well worth the effort. The reward? Relationships.

In our text, Jesus is exhorting people to pay attention to what He is saying. Often, that’s just the problem in our communication with God, isn’t it? We forget God is looking for a loving relationship, and so instead we use Him like an ATM. Prayers in (card + pin) results out (dollar bills from our bank account.)

We read in God’s Word that He wants us to talk to Him, but also that He speaks. His talking to us can take many forms. It can be through a friend’s or even a stranger’s words. It can also be through revelations, thoughts, dreams, etc. The surest way is through His Word, the Bible.

When we are intentional about listening to God and tuning out the outside noise, we are setting ourselves on a path of delicate intimacy with the Creator of all things. This is such a beautiful honor! If we say we love God more than anything else, it means we won’t mind taking a minute to sit and listen.

Heavenly Father, help me to listen. You have so much to say to me, and I want to hear from you. Give me a childlike faith and discernment to know just when you are talking in my life. I also want to obey. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Take time to listen to God today, even if just a few minutes. Find a quiet space, take a deep breath, and turn off your thoughts and outside stimuli. Pick up a Bible and take your time to read a chapter, making every effort to understand what God has to tell you through His Word.

By Caroline Bellemare

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Caroline Bellemare Thoughts by Women