Category: <span>thoughts by Julie Cosgrove</span>

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31

My attitude had sunk to the bottom, in huge clumps of self-pity and feelings of unworthiness. I’d become frustrated trying to find the best way to be God’s salt to a world that needed it so desperately. Each attempt only weighed me down further, like trying to climb out of a sandy pit with boulders in my pockets.

It says in Acts 4:31 that after the disciples prayed, the walls shook and the Holy Spirit filled them. When I read that, it hit me. I needed to stop and pray. Pray to be shaken a bit to redistribute my attitude, sense of purpose, and mission. It reminded me of the way a salt shaker is tapped get all the clumped salt to dislodge. That way it can be used again, and it is easier to determine how much more it will need to be refilled.

So I prayed:

Lord, Let your Holy Spirit shake my walls and empty me of all my worries and self-doubts so You can fill me up with Your presence. Dislodge the worries that are clumping together the talents You gave me to be Your salt. Where I am lacking, fill me once again. Amen.

Thought: – The next time you feel too deep in the valley and you’re wondering if you are making a difference, pick up the Bible and read about how the Holy Spirit worked through the early disciples in Acts 2-4. Dare to ask God to shake you up a bit so He can fill you anew with the Holy Spirit. Then Praise Him.

By Julie Cosgrove
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FURTHER READING

•  Spiritual Oxygen: Are You Getting Enough?

•  How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

•  How you can Walk in the Spirit – printable lesson (pdf file)

thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.” Jeremiah 34:11


Did you know it became a law in 600 BC that no Hebrew could enslave another? Makes sense, considering their ancestors had been slaves in Egypt. It didn’t last long, though. Pretty soon, the desire to have slaves became too great to resist.

Reading this made me wonder how many “slaves” I’ve set free as a Christian, only to take them back. Things that once shackled me such as fear, anxiety, worry. Maybe pride, envy, or unjustified anger? I think I can do without them for a while, but pretty soon old habits make me want to snatch them back from the cross and claim them once again.

We are told by Paul that if we believe in Christ we will be truly free (Romans 8:2). And yet, my humanity keeps wanting to chain me to sin. Instead of trusting in God and resting in His love, I pull on my chains of worry and lock myself down in anxious, sleepless nights. Instead of thanking Him for His blessing, I find myself mumbling why I can’t have the beauty of so and so or the income of whosit.

Click the shackles. Padlock the chains. I’m enslaved once again. I fight to get free, but deep down I know only One Person can set me loose. I cannot do it on my own strength. Again, I realize how much I need a Savior.

If this sounds like you, will you join me in surrendering to the One who can truly set us free?

Precious Lord, forgive me when I want to enslave myself once again to sin. It is like nailing you to the cross all over again. Yet I know you died for each of my sins, past, present, and future. Thank you for that, Lord. Set me free, again. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Break the Cycle – by Rand Kreycik

Live Free – by Kristi Huseby

Something Else Entirely by Ashlea Massie

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“Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind.”  Psalm 26:2

When I read this verse, I shuddered a bit. I don’t want to be tested. I never liked tests in school. I would prefer God just pat me on the head and tell me I am doing a good job.

But the truth is, tests measure our progress. They show what we have learned and how our skills have improved. As Christians, we are to keep growing in Christ, becoming more and more like him in thought, word, and deed in the Spirit’s strength. We need an assessment to be honest before God.

Lately, we have been living through trying times. What was once the norm no longer exists and no one knows if it ever will again. Our ways of working, worshipping, and walking in the Spirit have changed.

And that has brought new challenges. Do you feel more anxious now than you did at the beginning of the year? Or has your faith blossomed and your reliance on Jesus become more consistent? Are you less able to handle the stress or have you embraced it and tried to find the blessings?

Maybe it is time to ask God to examine our minds and hearts and show us if there is anything in us he wants to forgive or change by his grace. The good news is he will keep on patiently teaching us to trust and obey him, whatever the circumstances, as the old hymn ‘Trust and Obey’ says. Especially now, there truly is no other way to be happy in Jesus.

Father, although part of me doesn’t want to invite you to examine my heart and mind right now, I realize it is necessary to my growth as a believer. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to be my tutor and my guide, and your Son, Jesus, to be my example and redeemer. Forgive me when I run away from your truth about me rather than embrace it. Help me to see the good behind the examination. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
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As I climbed the stairs a few cloudy and rainy nights ago, I noticed a difference. A veil of darkness blanketed my apartment complex corridor.  Halfway up the outdoor stairwell, the rungs disappeared into blackness. Ahead I could barely detect the light pole across the street, but its glow cast down to the pavement, offering very little help from my perspective. Needless to say, a chill clutched my chest for a second. What if someone lurked by my shadowed door?

Normally, a sconce hangs outside my entry to greet me. Via an automatic sensor, it flicks on when the skies darken. The same detector operates the ones at each of the four apartments in my unit along a sheltered, outdoor breezeway. I have become dependent upon its illumination when I come home after dark. It provides not only better ability to see the stairs and my door’s keyhole, but adds a sense of security. Tonight, that safeness I’d taken for granted didn’t exist.

The unexpected darkness unhinged me a bit.  I felt for the keyhole and worked my key into it. After several tries, at last it slipped into place. I turned it, heard the click, twisted the door knob, and sighed in relief as I entered my apartment with the table lamp lit to greet me. Safe.

Had I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dimmed glow emitting from street lamp across the street, I probably would have been able to detect the keyhole better and determine nothing evil lurked by my stoop.  But being a woman alone in the dark stairwell, I panicked –just a touch. That only made things worse. Time slowed as my anxiety increased. I became jittery with my fumbling to open the door as my brain hissed, “Hurry, hurry, hurry.”

As a Christian, have I become so used to the light of Christ that I become anxious when faced with darkness?

Do I need to “see” evidence of  Christ in order to believe He is always nearby?  Now you may argue a Christian is never totally in the dark. However, there are dark periods in all of our lives simply because we walk the earth.

When difficult times hit me suddenly in life, may I not react the same way spiritually as I physically did in that dark corridor. Instead, let me wait patiently for my faith-eyes to locate my Lord, the One who calms, guides and protects my soul. In blessed assurance, may I stand firm in the knowledge that Christ has already won the battle over the principalities of darkness. I know He is my faith’s automatic sensor, illuminating me with truth when things appear darker than normal.

Unlike the one at my apartment, He will never fail to light my life.

Lord, keep the jitters at bay and thwart the desire to handle things quickly on my own. Even if I can’t see clearly with my eyes, may I always recall what the Psalmist states:  “You are the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path.” (119:105) Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
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FURTHER READING

God’s Timeless Gift –  by Allan Mitchell

• One Step at a Time – by Max Lucado

Our One and Only Guide by Darren Hewer

thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.Psalm 40:1-2


In the English language, “rock” is a dichotomous word – a word that has opposing meanings.

It can mean shaky and unstable—the shocking news rocked my world. It can also mean, solid, strong, and immovable. That is the Rock of our salvation—Jesus. As the old hymn states, “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Think of the movies with scenes in the deserts in Arabia. There are miles and miles of sand hills that shift and move in the wind. No foothold. No relief. You can sink up to your knees in the sand and pulling your legs through it is an arduous struggle. It drains you of your strength. Then, at last there it is. A boulder peeking up. A place where you can rest. Refuge.

I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.Psalm 40:1-2

If you are in the shifting sands of life right now, seek out Jesus. He will be your rock, your stronghold, your refuge. You can rest in Him. Let Him give you a respite from your troubles and struggles. Renew your strength by tapping into His.

Dearest Lord, let us always turn to You for strength and safe refuge when we’re struggling in the shifting sands of this world. Be the solid thing on which we can stand, and the firm foundation on which we can rest. Amen.

If you are in an uncertain place right now, pick up a small stone and carry it in your pocket. Each time you feel overwhelmed, grab hold of it and let it remind you of Christ, Your Rock.

By Julie Cosgrove
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FURTHER READING

The Position of Hope by Sylvia Gunter

• Brokenness as a Good Thing  by John Walker

What is Your Hope Built On? by Caran Jantzen


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Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”   Genesis 28:16

They say hindsight is 20/20. That means that when you look back you can see things more clearly. Sometimes that is true. Other times, our memory is skewed by our emotions or our perception of how things happened.

The point is, none of us can see exactly what lies ahead in our lives. We can assume, but we cannot see with a hundred percent certainty because we live in the moment, literally. That is the nature of our temporal existence.

So, when Jacob had his famous “ladder” dream, it wasn’t until he woke up that he realized he had had an encounter with God. It made him gasp to think the Almighty Creator had actually paid attention to him personally. Him! Such a thing was unheard of at the time.

I get that. There have been times I recognized God moving in my life, but only after the fact. It made me drop to my knees. Of course, being born after Jesus’ death on the cross, I realize Jesus has bridged the gap between earth and heaven, and because I believe that, the Holy Spirit guides me. But a few times, God has touched my situation in an unforeseen way. Me! Despite my shortcomings and imperfections. I could only react the same as Jacob — humbled.

I am not special. God is moving in your life as well. Open your heart to his presence, even if it is after the fact. His love is amazing. Remember, he is there and he cares…always.

Lord, thank you for the times you have broken through into my life to show me you care and are there. Your love for me is beyond my comprehension, but I am so grateful for it. It helps me realize there is nothing that I will go through that you don’t already know about. And that brings me comfort. Amen.

Think back to ways God has been at work in your life, and thank him for his constant, caring presence as you go through your various tasks today.

By Julie Cosgrove
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FURTHER READING

  • A Struggle of Faith – my son first showed signs of mental illness in his 20’s
  • Gentle Spirit How do I embrace a gentle spirit when I have been hurt and/or deceived?

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Her sixty-two-year-old father teeters between life and death after a severe stroke. As a single mom with four small children living two hundred miles away, her heart tears in two. What do you say?

A coworker was just handed divorce papers. His face pales as his twenty-two-year-old marriage slips from his grip. What do you say?

What is there to say when tragedy strikes?

Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us a clue:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

When tragedy hits and the reasons seem unclear, words feel futile. You wring your hands, tongue-tied. That’s the moment to turn your ear to God and ask Him for help. Cry aloud to understand so you can, in turn, know how to comfort the person in the deep throngs of grief and bewilderment. Step out of yourself, your own inadequacies, or your desire to band-aid it all, and let the Holy Spirit’s warmth and wisdom guide your actions and your words. Then, you will know what to say.

All-knowing, All-caring God, please instill in us Your wisdom so we know how to respond in love and comfort to a hurting world and shine forth Your glory and peace. Through Your Son, we pray. Amen.

Thought: When you read about, hear about or witness a tragedy, take a moment to pray before you respond. Let God equip you. Then have faith that He is working through you.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

• Triumph in Tragedy – Devotional by Max Lucado

Does God only Love Christians?

Not What, But How A Devotional by Marilyn Ehle


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thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


A local Christian radio personality relayed how she was driving down the road when a cop flashed his lights and motioned her to pull over.  She admitted her blood pressure rose and her teeth clenched because she wasn’t speeding. How dare he?!

Then he told her that around the blind curve was a huge obstacle in the road and the road was very poorly lit. At highway speeds, she’d have careened into it. Other policemen were removing it now. Would she mind waiting about ten  minutes.

After she sputtered and nodded, the officer jumped in his car, and with lights flashing, swirled around to block the road for the oncoming vehicles behind her. She publicly thanked the policeman on the radio and apologized for her initial reaction.

It made me wonder how often God blocks my path and I grouse out about it. How often does He detour me from danger and I complain because things are not happening “my way“? How often were those irritating moments that delayed me –like the cat hacking a fur ball in my shoe just before I went to slip it on, or a button snapping that I have to quickly repair, or the moving van blocking my exit from my apartment complex for a few minutes– actually work to my advantage without me knowing it?

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.” Romans 8:28

Lord, forgive me. Let me publicly say thank you to You for putting obstacles in my path and delays in my day. Thank you for the story on the radio today that stepped on my spiritual toes a bit. Next time, I will try to be more patient and praise You in all circumstances. Through Your Son and by Your Spirit I pray, Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

• Waiting God’s Way –  by Kathy Cheek

Willing to Wait for God’s Way by Charles Stanley

Show Me Your Ways – by Phil Ware


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“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.”  Psalm 51:15


During the recent pandemic, a dear friend of mine did something rather unusual. A wiz at sewing, she normally makes prayer quilts for hospice patients and the elderly as a ministry. But during the lock down, she switched gears. She made cloth masks, but with a distinct difference. Hers had clear plastic in the front, so deaf people could still read the lips of their family members and the teachers who wore them. She saw a need and knew she could fill it with her talents.

Jesus saw people’s needs and helped them. Then once their plight was eased, their hearts were open to the salvation and the love he offered.

We all can find a way to help others. That is what being a disciple is all about. It is following Jesus’ example and spreading the Gospel’s message that God loves us and wants to be with us. This is conveyed by our actions, and if necessary, words.

We may think the little things we do, such as smiling at a frenzied clerk, or waving to the widow sitting alone on her porch, has no effect. But God can take our acts of kindness, big and small, and use them to bring people to want to know him.

If you see someone in need, reach out in love. Find ways to ease their pain, hold their hand, or just listen without judgment. Let your attitudes and actions reflect Christ’s  working in your life. Be willing to be Jesus to them and let God do the rest.

Lord God, please show me how you can use me. Help me be the disciple you want me to be as I read your Word and follow your Son’s example, seeing to others’ needs and then, when prompted, sharing that I do this because of the way your amazing, forgiving love has influenced my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, my Lord and example. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/


FURTHER READING

We are Christ’s Ambassadors

A Time to Dream

Conversation Starters to transition to Spiritual things


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“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry” 1 Corinthians 10:14


A friend came over to watch my latest movie I got in the mail. We ordered Chinese food to be delivered.  At the bottom of the sack were two fortune cookies. I like fortune cookies. They are just sweet enough without totally wrecking my diet.  I cracked mine open to see what silly fortune lay inside. I always like to look and read it, roll my eyes, then toss it away, ignoring the lotto numbers on the reverse side. This time, it was empty! No fortune. At first I felt rather cheated. Then God, in His subtle way, let me know He was teaching me a lesson.

As Christians, we are to worship only the Triune GodFather, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one.  After all, the first and second commandments instruct believers to have no other god before Him and not to worship idols. Today, we don’t sacrifice to Egyptian, Roman or Greek gods and goddesses, or bow down to Baal, but idol worship is still prevalent in many subtle ways in our culture.

Like reading a fortune from a fortune cookie. Have you read your horoscope in the newspaper? Do you avoid ladders or black cats?  Habits and traditions seep in. It may sound innocent enough, but each time, it is chipping a little chink in the armor of the Spirit of God. Whether we realize it or not, each time we turn our attention away from His control over our lives there’s a slight indentation from an arrow aimed at our faith, a crack that lets in a tiny bit of temptation. No big deal, or is it?

The next time you wish upon a shooting star, blow on a dandelion, throw salt over your shoulder, knock on wood, read your horoscope or crack open a fortune cookie, think about it.  God is a jealous god. He wants us to rely on Him and remember He is Lord over our lives, our thoughts and our actions. A fortune-less cookie became a fortunate lesson for me. It was a reiteration that my Lord is all I need. Jesus told us not to be anxious about our futures but to seek first the righteousness of God. (Matthew 6)

Next time, I’ll pray for another empty cookie! I still like to eat them.

Question: What are you relying on instead of God’s Word?

By Julie Cosgrove
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FURTHER READING

Shunning Materialism – by John Grant

Trusting God or the World – by John Grant

Living Beyond the Darkness – by Jan Stewart

Thoughts by All thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4


I have a horrible sense of direction. No internal compass. As a child I was told my eyes faced north, the back of my head faced south, my left hand pointed west, and my right hand east. But no one explained they had purposely positioned me so this would be true. Later I learned to look for the sun. That gave me an idea where westward sort of was, so I had some sense of direction.

Today, we seem to no longer have a moral compass in our society. We have laws, but the goal now seems to be who has the smartest lawyer who can find a way for the law not to apply to their situation. Children are taught over-tolerance in school, to the point that all behavior is okay and acceptable.

When the Hebrew nation left Egypt, they had a physical guide–God’s compass-ion. Because He cared for them, He guided them safely in the way they needed to journey.

Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. Nehemiah 9:19

In our life journey, the Bible is our best compass. When we look to the Son, Jesus, as our example, we get our moral and spiritual bearings. He shows us which way we should go. He is the Way (John 14:6). Because of His compass-ion, once we accept him as our Savior, He embeds an internal compass in our souls called The Holy Spirit to be our guide.

I may not know north from south at times, but I know Who to look for to point the way, be it a decision I need to make, a direction my life needs to go, or whether I should just stand, be still and wait. I look for the Son.

If you are feeling a bit lost today, seek the Compass-ion of God. Let Him direct your path. He won’t steer you wrong.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

• Look of Compassion – by Vonette Bright

Compassionate Father – by Max Lucado

•  A Loving Word  by Doug Lim


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“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1


On a whim, I stopped at a fast food restaurant to get a cold drink while dashing about with my to-do list of errands. There was a line of cars at the drive-through, so I decided to go inside instead.

I saw a dear friend of mine bent over her computer, holding her right hand to her mouth, worry lines exaggerated on her forehead. I waved to get her attention but she was too busy concentrating on what was on the screen. Then I saw a tear run down her cheek, so I slid into the booth and placed my hand over hers as it crunched a to-go napkin. She jolted. Then relief filled her face. “How did God know I’d need a good friend right now?” she whispered. On the screen was an email from her son with disturbing news. We bowed our heads and prayed.

David asked why God seemed so far away in times of trouble. I think if we are honest, that same question has crossed our minds as well. God is always present. Sometimes we just need to look up from our troubles to see Him. Maybe in a rainbow, a song on the radio, or maybe a friend who comes alongside at just the right time.

Or, perhaps He will provide the opportunity for us to be there for someone else so that, as we give, we will be ministered to as well. As I held hands and prayed with my friend, I felt God’s loving touch.

Jesus, You knew suffering when You walked on our soil, and in Heaven You continue to pray for us here in earth who continue to suffer. Fill each of us with the assurance that You are there, You care, and You will provide support, comfort and love. And Lord, spur in us the desire to be there for someone else when You provide that opportunity. Amen.

Thought: Is God calling you to be a comfort to someone? Don’t shoo the thought away when their name enters your head. Pray for them. Then call them, text them or go hug them. And if you need comfort right now, be open to the ways God will let you know He’s there.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

• The Reach of God’s Love – by Charles Stanley

There is Nothing Beyond Your Reach – Poem by Mark Doyle

How to Convince Your Heart that His Arm is Not Too Short by Bethany Hayes

Thoughts by All thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women

Insights on Spiritual Growth


This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

God didn’t create me with a green thumb. But I have friends who are avid gardeners. They plant tiny seeds and nurture the plants all the way to maturity, each bearing the vegetable or herb or fruit they are supposed to bear. A tomato plant doesn’t sprout okra, or a carrot a potato.

The same is true with us humans. God grants each of us the talents to do the tasks He has appointed us to accomplish. He equips us, nurtures us, pulls the weeds of negativity and sin from around us, and even stakes us so we grow in the correct direction. When we feel parched or hungry, He waters us with His Word, the fellowship of others and worship. In return, we bear the fruit He has deemed us to bear.

It is easy to become envious of someone who seems to be growing faster, taller, or more abundantly. But, if you are called to be a potato quietly growing under the surface don’t wish to be a tomato bursting in bright color and juiciness for all to see. In God’s garden, we are to become what He has made us to become. An old saying states we should “bloom where we are planted.” Our job is to absorb all the nutrients He provides on a daily basis so we become resistant to the things that want to thwart our growth. When the time is ripe, He will walk through the garden and pick us.

Dear God, grow me in the way You wish. Let me yield my crop according to Your will. Thank You that I am significant because You planted me for a purpose. Help me not to compare my growth to others in unhealthy ways. And when the time is right, let me bear the fruit of the Spirit so others may feed on Your Truth. Amen.

Thought: Does your spiritual growth feel slow or stymied lately? Ask God how you can bear more fruit for Him.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

• Growing Pains – A devotional on Spiritual Growth by John Fischer

Slow Down: Work in Progress – Devotional by Marilyn Ehle

The Balanced Life –  by John Grant


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thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


“I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2


In the English language, “rock” is a dichotomous word – a word that has opposing meanings. It can mean shaky and unstable—the shocking news rocked my world. It can also mean, solid, strong, and immovable. That is the Rock of our salvation—Jesus. As the old hymn states, “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Think of the movies with scenes in the deserts in Arabia. There are miles and miles of sand hills that shift and move in the wind. No foothold. No relief. You can sink up to your knees in the sand and pulling your legs through it is an arduous struggle. It drains you of your strength. Then, at last there it is. A boulder peeking up. A place where you can rest. Refuge.

I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

If you are in the shifting sands of life right now, seek out Jesus.

He will be your rock, your stronghold, your refuge.

You can rest in Him. Let Him give you a respite from your troubles and struggles. Renew your strength by tapping into His.

Dearest Lord, let us always turn to You for strength and safe refuge when we’re struggling in the shifting sands of this world. Be the solid thing on which we can stand, and the firm foundation on which we can rest. Amen.

Thought: If you are in an uncertain place right now, pick up a small stone and carry it in your pocket. Each time you feel overwhelmed, grab hold of it and let it remind you of Christ, Your Rock.

By Julie Cosgrove
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Further Reading

•  Refuge – A Devotional by Alec Niemi

•  Let All Take Refugeby Phil Ware

•  God, Your Refuge – by Max Lucado


thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women


I have heard serene and beautiful places described as a “little piece of heaven“.  It may be a pristine beach with tumbling waves glistening in the moonlight. A vast mountain vista or a bubbling creek under the canopy of shade trees. But it is ONLY a piece.

It cannot replace the inner peace that comes from Heaven.

Why? Because where we live and move and have our being is time-bound.  Our world is ever changing– minute to minute, second to second. Weather can affect that serenity. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and blizzards ravage the earth. Human progress can affect it as well. Bulldozers can topple mountains and oil tankers spill black gunk into the water, coating everything. And even if the serene views remain intact, our human emotions can discolor it. When we are angry or depressed we often block out birdsong and sunshine filtering through the leaves. No wonder cartoonists depict a dark cloud over the head of their characters. If there is one thing that is definitely not constant, it’s our mood.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:7

This peace that passes all understanding, as Paul describes it, is not affected by change. It is constant, eternal, and unmoving. It doesn’t come and go, or ebb and flow.  It is there like a solid foundation that is unshakeable even in times of turmoil. You can cling to it and know it’s not going to crumble.  This peace only comes from anchoring our hearts, minds and souls into the living waters of our faith in God. It transcends whatever is happening in our ever-changing world, because His peace is not of this world. It is Heaven-sent.   In John 16:33, Jesus said, “...in me you can have peace.”

Two words that sound the same but are so different.

The first one, pIEce – where the IE stands for I Enjoy – is fleeting. It can be gone in a moment.

The other is pEAce  – where the EA stands for Eternal Access. For the believer, it is always there, no matter what.

Which will you choose to bask in?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

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Further Reading

•  My Search for Peace

•  Inner Peace – by Gail Rodgers

•  Living in God’s Joy and Peace – Prayer for Inner Peace


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thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Thoughts by Women