thoughts by Karen Woodard Archives - Daily Thoughts about God

Published April 21, 2024

Just a Little Kindness

“But be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you!” Ephesians 4:32

Do you know the secret to a lasting marriage? Kindness! It is a choice that we all make on a daily basis, but it is like giving water to a thirsty soul, knowing how thirsty we have also been in the past.

When my husband and I meet with engaged couples, we include this verse in our discussions with them. In their starry-eyed love, they cannot imagine ever being anything but kind and forgiving with each other, but as years go by, unkind words are spoken and unkind deeds are done because even people who love each other are selfish at their core and will lash out in self-defence when threatened.

We all have tender hearts as children, but over the years they often they get walled up in self-protection once we start to feel the unkindness of others. Getting back to a tender heart takes time; it means allowing God to break down walls and then choosing to be vulnerable again. Jesus kept his tender heart throughout: he wept at the death of Lazarus, he agonized over the city of Jerusalem, and he forgave those who crucified him as well as the disciples who ran away in fear.

Do you have a tender heart? Are you still moved by what moves the heart of God, an unconditional love that keeps pursuing the broken-hearted and desires to heal wounds? Choosing to be kind and forgiving to people who do not deserve it is the ultimate example Christ has set for us!

Father, How often I have been on the receiving end of your kind and tender heart towards me. How can I not extend kindness and forgiveness to others? Please show me how to have a tender heart once more that is willing to be vulnerable like Christ was even on the cross. Amen!

Is there someone to whom you can extend kindness and forgiveness today? Allow God to break down any walls surrounding your heart so that you can reach out with tenderness to others who need to be loved, even if you think they do not deserve

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Impossibilities

“Jesus looked at them and said,

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

This statement from Jesus follows a question asked by his disciples, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus had challenged a rich man to sell all of his worldly possessions and become a disciple, but the young man went away, sorry that he could not do as Jesus asked.

In our rich culture, there are a lot of young (and old!) men and women who do not want to give up everything to follow Jesus. Persuading them to be Christians often seems impossible. Jesus acknowledged that it is hard for those who are rich to enter the Kingdom of God; in fact he said that it was easier for a camel to go through the “eye of a needle” than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

When in Israel, our tour group was able to see what the “eye of the needle” is (a small opening in the city gate where camels can be tied up) and to think about how difficult it would be for a camel to squeeze through one! With human eyes, it does look impossible!

Perhaps you are struggling with your own “impossibility” today. There is a chorus that comes to mind (perhaps like me you learned it as a child):

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains, you can’t tunnel through? God specialises in things thought impossible And he can do what no other power can do! — Oscar C. Eliason

Father God, help me to see what seems impossible to my human eyes in a new light today. I give you my mountain, my uncrossable river, my loved one who turns away from Jesus again and again, knowing that you do the impossible every day because that is who you are!

Allow God to carry you. Rest in him, trusting him to work in ways that surprise you!

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

How to Recognize the Counterfeit

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.” 1 John 2:27

It’s hard to know what is true anymore!

John talks a lot about truth in this epistle, because it was also hard to know what was true back in his time… It seems that nothing has changed that much, after all.

What is all of this about anointing (mentioned 3 times in this verse)? Traditionally, we know that a person was anointed for a special purpose — to be a king or to enter into ministry, for example. Who did the anointing (a high priest, or another dignitary) was very important. In verse 20, John identifies the Source of our anointing as the Holy One, which refers to Christ, but also to the partnership work of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Christ’s work of atonement for our sins, the Holy Spirit anoints us, not with oil, but with supernatural power to live the Christian life!

This anointing does 2 things for us: it remains in us (we cannot lose it), and it teaches us everything we need to know. We need to do 2 things: remain in Christ and believe in this anointing that it is real and not a lie (counterfeit).

I was drawn to this passage because it used the word “counterfeit”. I wondered why anyone would have questioned the authenticity of the Holy Spirit’s anointing. Perhaps it was due to the same ridicule that the disciples encountered in Acts when they spoke in tongues and were accused of being drunk (Acts 2:13)?

Do you doubt that you have received this anointing of the Holy Spirit? That it is perhaps a lie? That you cannot understand the truths of Scripture? You are not alone. John was writing to others who weren’t sure that they were really anointed by God for life and ministry, and this doubt kept them from moving ahead in faith. Our culture still questions all things spiritual, including the truth of what Christ has done for you on the cross, but you need to stand firm in what you know to be true and keep believing, no matter what!

Father, please help me to take hold of what is true in a world that has so much that is false and counterfeit, and to know that your Spirit’s work in me is real, not counterfeit, and I can take everything that you have deposited in me to the bank!

Choose to focus on what is true today.

Refuse to buy into doubt and to listen to the ridicule of our culture when it comes to what God has done in your life!

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Giving Freely to Others

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8

Giving is not easy for me!

And giving freely of myself is even more difficult. (Others may not hear my inner voice that often warns me that people are going to take my giving for granted, and that I am going to end up emotionally drained if I am not careful to conserve my energies, but it does exist!)

Jesus’ disciples were commissioned to do some challenging work! The list is a little overwhelming for me, I have to admit. Although I may have helped someone to recover from illness, I have never raised the dead or cleansed someone with leprosy, let alone driven out a demon. So how does this Scripture apply to me?

I believe that this verse exhorts me to freely give, based on what I have freely received. There is a reservoir of power available to me and to anyone who is a disciple of Jesus. It is encouraging for me to see that Jesus gave the power the disciples needed earlier in this chapter:

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matthew 10:1).

So why would there ever be a deficit in what I am able to freely give to others?

I have realized that what keeps me from giving freely and blocks the reservoir of power that God has made available to me is my own self-centeredness and sense of self-preservation. I confess it. God has shown me this through bringing 2 Japanese teenage boys into our home, who recently came home sick from school with fever and sore throats (sound familiar?). Out came the hand sanitizer and social distancing, with the fear that I was going to get sick, too!

Okay, so I will never be a doctor or nurse in this life, but that will never justify my being stingy with all that I have been given, or holding back in the Kingdom ministry that God has given me in the lives of these 2 boys, who, before coming to Canada, had never heard the gospel, or even the facts about the life of Jesus!

Father, I confess my selfishness and concern for self-preservation. Please forgive me, and fill me with true empathy again, that allows me to once again hug the hurting and offer healing to the sick (even to touch them, or be in the same physical space).

Think about how you have been blessed and empowered for ministry. How can you freely give to others in the way that God has freely given you all that you need for his Kingdom work?

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

A Solitary Place

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

Jesus needed to get away from all distractions to prepare for another day of serving others’ needs. Maybe Jesus had a lot on his mind that he needed to talk to the Father about. Whatever his reason, he had a limited time to do so. In fact, the following verses tell us that his disciples came looking for him, and said, “Everyone is looking for you!” (verse 37).

As I sit here in my chair by the window of my home, I am alone. But I can hear my son playing a video game downstairs, and since I have sat down, my phone has buzzed several times to let me know that I have messages. These things distract me as I try to listen to God’s Spirit. If I had a lot on my mind that I wanted to talk with God about, I would have to go somewhere more “solitary” than this!

A day of ministry lies before each one of us. It may not be healing or casting out demons or preaching. It may be wiping little noses, washing dishes, fixing meals, caring for an elderly parent, or serving people in some other way, but just as Jesus knew his purpose for being on this earth, we also have work to do. And just as Jesus did, it may be necessary to find a solitary place to pray before the busy day begins, and “the whole world” comes looking for us!

Father, thank you for sweet times of solitude and prayer that help us prepare for a day of serving others! Help us to bring you all of our worship and concerns, as we head into whatever you have called us to do today. Amen.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Burnout

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

“Burnout” used to be a phrase that I feared. I kept hearing about others in Christian ministry who were “burning out” because they took on too much. I kept wondering how this could happen, and there still are times when there are a lot of demands in my life of ministering to others that cause me to be concerned whether I will thrive or even survive!

There are 4 “alls” in this verse and 1 “every” that promise everything that I could possibly need to avoid burnout:

God is able to make all grace abound to you: God wants to give me more grace, if I will just let him. What does that look like? The first step is accepting the fact that I don’t have what it takes to get the job done myself. I need God’s grace every day of my life!

So that: the reason that he is giving me his abundant grace is that he wants me to do something with it.

In all things: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians. 4:13) When God calls me to do something, no matter how difficult, I can do it as long as I rely on his strength and not just my own.

At all times: the offer for more grace is always there! Like filling up my car with gas, I just need to stop long enough to be refueled by his Spirit! Often this happens in the morning, as I wait on God before I start my day.

Having all that you need: If I have everything that I need, I won’t burn out. I might get tired, even exhausted, but all I have to do is to go back to Jesus for more grace!

You will abound in every good work: God gives me grace so that I can do good things for others in his name (not so I can just kick back and live the “good life” for myself). God has a good work for me to do that is specific to his call and gifting.

Father God, thank you that you keep on giving, and never run out of grace! Please fill me up today, so that I can do all that you have called me to do, in your name. I give you all of the burdens that I am carrying in exchange for your abundant grace! Amen.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

A Yoke of Freedom or Bondage

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Since I first became a believer, the tension between the freedom that Christ came to give me, and the weight of fulfilling the law has been a real struggle for me.

Each day, I actually have a choice between 2 yokes to wear. Christ spoke of another yoke in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

How do you know which yoke you are wearing? It is so easy to “be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” For me, it is when I am feeling weighed down by expectations or a sense of obligations: God’s, other’s, or my own. It is when I believe the lie that I have to “measure up.”

As I have once again revisited this choice of freedom or bondage, certain truths seem to “set me free” (John 8:32).

1. When you know who you are (God’s beloved child, loved unconditionally) there is a freedom that comes with that identity.

2 When you are clear in what Christ has done for you (redeemed and forgiven) there is a freedom to move ahead with clarity and assurance, freed from the slavery of meeting real or imagined expectations

Father God, I acknowledge that I don’t feel “set free” today. What is keeping me from experiencing the freedom that you want to give me? Please help me to consciously choose your yoke over the yoke of slavery. Amen.

Do you believe that you are free?

If not, bring this promise before God today, and ask him to show you why you are not experiencing the “life set free.” Perhaps something has enslaved you without your realizing it. Perhaps you have started believing a lie, like the Galatians did.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Giving Fear an Eviction Notice

Father, thank you for your perfect love that can drive out my fears!

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”1 John 4:18

Over the 20 or so years that my husband and I have owned our house, we have had quite a variety of tenants who have lived in our basement suite. While we have often tried to help people who were in difficult circumstances, we have learned by experience that it does not always work out for them to stay with us long term. We value a quiet lifestyle at this stage in our lives, so too much noise is a big factor for us, even though it is normal for families to harbor a certain amount of yelling, crying and banging. We realized recently that we are also stressed by tenants who stay up late at night, coming in and out of the house while we are trying to sleep.

Home should be a haven for all who live there. In the same way that two very different people often cannot be roommates, fear and love cannot live in the same house. I know, because they have both lived in me! And while I have tried to evict fear many times in the past, I know how difficult it can be to make fear move out! It sneaks back into my life at the most unexpected times, and if I am not careful, it soon takes over my life again!

As I have puzzled over how to make fear go away for good, I have come to realize that I have to choose God’s perfect love as my only tenant on a daily basis. If my life is full of God’s perfect love for me, that love actually is what evicts (or drives out) fear, because there is no room for it!

Who wouldn’t want to trade fear for love? Allow God’s love to fill you, and refuse to let fear back in each time it knocks at your door, because if you have asked Christ to live in you, your house is already leased for a lifetime!

Father, thank you for your perfect love that can drive out my fears! Please be the ideal tenant in my life and continually evict any scary feelings I may have of being punished or stalked by evil.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Sleepless Nights

For a few years now, I have been learning to deal with sleeplessness at night.

“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-6

For a few years now, I have been learning to deal with sleeplessness at night. There have been several reasons why I wake up and then cannot get back to sleep. Often, it is anxiety that keeps me from the rest that I need. At first, I was angry each time I woke up in the middle of the night because sleep re-energizes an introvert like me!

As I have gone through a very stressful time dealing with the death of my father, the emotional frailness of my mother, and my brother being in hospice with terminal cancer and mental illness, I have found myself “socially distancing” from God in my grief and concern.

So when I read this portion of Scripture, the fact that Paul had sleepless nights drew my attention. Now, I do not pretend to know about what Paul was going through as he penned the words in 2 Corinthians, but he does mention going through hardship, distress, and trouble!

My attention was drawn to how he dealt with sleepless nights, among his other challenges: his secret was to dwell in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. He chose an attitude of sincere love, purity, understanding, patience and kindness in response to his challenges!

I find that praying and listening to worship music helps me. This leads to surrendering control to God, no matter what happens, believing that he is a GOOD God.

A song that has really ministered to me is “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin. I invite you to sing it as a prayer to God today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBmwwwiHrOk

Remember that we all need to deal with anxiety and sleeplessness at times, but God is faithful and will never leave us or forsake us! Trust him to give you the rest that you need!

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Wait on God

Aren’t you glad that when we call out to God, we know that he will answer? He DOES care!

“Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.” Psalm 38:15

I recently had the opportunity to experience “extreme waiting.” For anyone who has had to phone a 1-800 number, perhaps you will identify with what I went through in trying to change the date on a return flight.

There is always repetitive music to soothe the anxious heart. I found this prerecorded message (which was played over and over again) very interesting as a comparison to waiting on God in prayer:

“All agents are still assisting other callers. Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line for the next available agent.”

While waiting for an actual person to answer, I found myself questioning whether someone would actually come to help me with my problem. I also wondered whether someone really did care. Was my call really important? I was tempted to give up, but would continue to wait, hoping that I would actually hear a human voice if I just persisted a little longer.

After spending over 5 hours over 3 days, I did get through and was able to change my ticket. I have heard of others who waited a lot more hours than I did. For me, the key was to phone in at the beginning of the day. This makes me think of another verse David penned in Psalm 5:3:

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Aren’t you glad that when we call out to God, we know that he will answer? He DOES care! We are important to him! We do not have to “wait for the next available agent”!

Father God, I confess my unbelief. I sometimes doubt that you will really answer me. Teach me to hope in you and to pray with confidence. Amen.

Waiting is hard. David was really hurting when he wrote this prayer. Can you identify with him? Pour out your heart to your heavenly father, affirming as David did, “You will answer.”

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

A Reason for Tears

“Why do we cry? Tears are therapeutic. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!

“I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears:” Psalm 6:6

Why do we cry? My new granddaughter usually cries because of hunger, tiredness, a dirty diaper, or teething pain. Most of us cry because we are frustrated, hurting, depressed, weary, or unhealthy.

David’s sorrow led him to be worn out with weeping, to the point of “flooding his bed” and “drenching his couch with tears”. Can you identify with this kind of weeping? I can. At one particularly low point in my life, I cried every morning for a week!

Tears are therapeutic for preventing dryness and infection, supplying oxygen and nutrients, and healing damage. I would like to propose that they also have spiritual purposes: preventing spiritual dryness and sin’s infection of our spirits, supplying spiritual oxygen and nutrients to our soul, and healing our spiritual wounds!

The overall purpose of tears is that we might see better, both physically and spiritually! There is a song that came to mind as I was reflecting about the reason for the tears I’ve shed over the years of my life:

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see the broken heart I had was good for me. He tore it all apart and looked inside. He found it full of fear and foolish pride. He swept away the things that made me blind, and soon I saw the clouds were silver-lined. And now I understand ’twas best for me he washed my eyes with tears that I might see. (Lyrics by J Swaggart)

Father God, thank you for tears and for the way they bring me back to you! Help me to trust you when life does not go the way I wish it would, and please use my tears to keep me spiritually healthy and responsive to your Holy Spirit’s work. Amen.

If you find that you are crying a lot lately, here is a final encouragement from Psalms 30:5b: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Trust God to bring healing and health from your grief and sadness, but know that he is also using your tears for his good purposes.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

Hardship

“They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Acts 14:21-22

The hiking boots were brand new, a gift from several girlfriends who knew about the honeymoon that had been planned. The time came to put them on, in anticipation of our first hike as a married couple.

As we expectantly headed towards the summit, blisters began to form on my feet. The hike was hard. Rain clouds began to gather, and by the time we neared the top, it was obvious that we would be drenched by a downpour on our way down. Our plan to stay in a tent that night was also a “no go” because campsites were flooded. The only good news was that my husband had packed rain ponchos which we wore on our descent, and we were able to find a hotel where we could get warm and dry that night!

How many times has a day started out so wonderfully, only to be “dampened” by circumstances beyond our control?

Blisters, tiredness, and a storm kept me from reaching the summit that day and surveying the view, but I learned valuable lessons from that hike (like breaking in boots and conditioning myself ahead of time, and accepting rain and mud as a reality of life!). Later in our marriage, a week-long hike along the West Coast Trail (5 days of rain!) proved to be equally challenging, but I was more prepared for how hard it would be!

The Christian life is like a life-long hike! And we should not be surprised by difficulties, but instead learn to embrace hardship as a friend throughout life’s journey to heaven.

Father God, we are your children, and we don’t know what lies ahead of us, but we know that you travel with us! Please help us to see our daily hardships as an important part of the journey! Amen.

Today confess your disappointments to God. Ask him to help you accept them and learn from them, allowing him to develop a more prepared and positive spirit in you.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

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The Blame Game’s Source

Published May 5, 2021

The Blame Game’s Source

“Then the man said,

“The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”(13)

And the Lord God said to the woman,

“What is this you have done?”

The woman said,

“The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:12-13

This is the blame game! Adam is blaming Eve, and Eve is blaming the serpent for deceiving her. What is not as evident is that God is also being blamed, because God gave Eve to Adam.

It’s interesting to note that in the creation story, Adam is so delighted to have Eve in his life. But now, when God is holding him accountable for his bad choice, he is only too happy to throw Eve “under the bus.”

Although from my point of view, the serpent truly was to blame, I find it interesting that God gives each of them (Adam, Eve and the serpent) their “punishment” for the bad choices they made.

As a parent, this story reminds me of when my children were young. They would be playing well together, but then a choice would be made by one of them that would cause a “domino effect” of bad choices, ending in a fight. Coming into the disagreement, I would ask what happened, and each child would blame another for the conflict. This is human nature, even from a young age!

Who is responsible for the choices that we make? Is it fair to blame God or someone else when we make wrong decisions, even if we felt pressured or influenced by another?

Spiritual maturity hopefully teaches us that we all make bad decisions, so when we do “give in to temptation,” we need to own those choices and not blame someone else for our unhappiness in the consequences that come as a result.

Father God, I am your child! When I make a wrong choice, please help me to “own it” and not blame you or someone else for the trouble I get into!

Today ask God to show you if you are blaming him, the devil, or your spouse today for any situation in which you find yourself. Release your defensiveness and pride, and let God restore you to a right relationship with him and those around you. Accept his loving discipline and learn from it.

By Karen Woodard
Used by Permission

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Abundant Life?

Published March 21, 2021

Abundant Life?

“I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it abundantly!” John 10:10

In a recent conversation, a woman I’m mentoring honestly confessed that she did not feel like she was living the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10. In order to figure out what Jesus might have meant by the phrase “abundant life”, we went back to the context of this verse.

It’s all about sheep!! (And their shepherd, whose loving care of his sheep is described in so many ways throughout the chapter.) As she and I discussed her lack of abundance, it really came down to the question, “As his sheep, do you trust the shepherd, or are you trying to do life as a wayward sheep?”

Unfortunately, the tendency of most sheep is to stray from the shepherd (Isaiah 53:5-6).

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way. . .” This leads to a lack of abundance.

Are you a weary sheep? Are you tired from trying to do life on your own? Surrender and allow the shepherd to find you and carry you back on his shoulders to safety! Acknowledge that you are “prone to wander” and choose instead to stay close to the shepherd each day, allowing him to carry you when you are fearful, hurt, or confused. Don’t run off, because as stated in Psalm 23, there are so many benefits of staying close to him that lead to the abundant life that Jesus promised: lacking nothing, resting, peace, restoration, his presence and comfort, just to name a few.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it!
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above!

(Prayer taken from hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson)

Read through John 10, noting everything Jesus does for his sheep. If you have time, also go to Psalm 23, and see if you can add to my list of what the abundant life is all about. Resolve to stay close to the shepherd and experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give you!!

By Karen Woodard
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Walking Through Storms

Published March 11, 2021

Walking Through Storms

“They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41

From my childhood, I have always loved watching storms out the window of a dry and safe home, mesmerized by the boom of thunder and by lightning flashing across a dark sky. But there is no way I would want to be out in a boat in the middle of a storm! In fact, while one of my favorite past times is fishing on a sunny day, lulled by the waves rocking my boat, I am ready to head for shore when storm clouds roll in!

All of my life, I have also been an avoider of anything unpleasant, if I have the choice. For instance, my husband and I have avoided conflict as much as possible in the 43 years of our marriage, hoping that problems would just eventually go away. (Needless to say, that has not been a very successful strategy!)

There were some seasoned fishermen among the disciples in the boat with Jesus! But all of them were terrified by this storm. They were also equally amazed by his control of the wind and waves. In our lives I believe that God wants us to get used to and even to welcome the “lightning, thunder and rain” as well as a rocking boat in order to also understand his power over them!

There is a song that my parents used to play on one of their LP records when I was a child that still goes through my head, even as an adult:

When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm there’s a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone!

As we all walk through the storms of life, there is someone walking beside us who controls the “wind and the waves” and who gives us a reason for hope!

Father God, I know that you have promised to walk with me through the storms of life. Help me not to be so afraid of what I cannot control, but to rest in the knowledge that I am not alone! Amen.

Let Jesus be the one who brings you peace even in the midst of a storm. Trust him even though you are afraid, and watch him bring calmness as only he can!

By Karen Woodard
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“But be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you!” Ephesians 4:32

FURTHER READING

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

Allow God to carry you. Rest in him, trusting him to work in ways that surprise you!

FURTHER READING

It’s hard to know what is true anymore!

Choose to focus on what is true today.

Refuse to buy into doubt and to listen to the ridicule of our culture when it comes to what God has done in your life!

Further Reading

Giving is not easy for me!

Further Reading

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

Further Reading

Further Reading

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Do you believe that you are free?

Further Reading

Father, thank you for your perfect love that can drive out my fears!

Further Reading

For a few years now, I have been learning to deal with sleeplessness at night.

Further Reading

Aren’t you glad that when we call out to God, we know that he will answer? He DOES care!

Further Reading

Further Reading

How many times has a day started out so wonderfully, only to be “dampened” by circumstances beyond our control?

Further Reading

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FURTHER READING

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“I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it abundantly!” John 10:10

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As we all walk through the storms of life, there is someone walking beside us who controls the “wind and the waves” and who gives us a reason for hope!

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