We do not Lose Heart!

By Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska Family Times

(from Google Images)

Several months ago in a post titled "Lifting Up in Prayer"  how my prayer list just seemed to grow longer and longer. Since that time God has answered several of those prayers; several people had follow-up tests to see if cancers had spread and they had not, and one very specialized scan found absolutely no tumors, when the symptoms indicated the worst. There were many prayers of thanksgiving on the days of those positive results!  

However, since that day more people have been added to my prayer list and the lists of  many others. Friends and acquaintances continue to experience medical problems, financial problems, and personal problems. It is difficult to see others suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and it’s very discouraging to realize life isn’t turning out as we had planned, especially when we can’t see how things are going to work out.    

I know that I am not the only one to grow disheartened by a growing prayer list and circumstances that affect friends and family members. As Paul told the Corinthians (and therefore, us), “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (1 Corinthians 4:8-9 and 16)

Life is unpredictable. But these words tell us that we do not need to despair; we won’t be crushed, we won’t be abandoned, we won’t be destroyed…we do not lose heart, because we are sure of our faith. We can be absolutely positive that our Father in heaven will never, ever leave us!

(from Google Images)

Although we may be wasting away—literally or figuratively—inside, our heart and soul and mind are being renewed every day (2 Corin. 4:16) through our Bible study, prayer, and worshiping with other believers. The things we are facing today are “momentary”—lasting only while we are here on earth. When we believe that Jesus died and rose to forgive our sins, we know that through His grace, we will experience “the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corin. 4:17).

                                                                                                      

Renew yourself today. Read a few chapters in your Bible. Pour your heart out to the Lord in prayer. Know that He is with you and hears your words. Feel joy that you will experience eternal glory beyond all comparison.

“Give ear to my words, o Lord;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my king and my God,

for to You do I pray.”

Psalm 5:1-2

Lord, You know what we each are experiencing today. You know our troubles and our worries. Thank you for your promise of eternal life! Amen.

I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.

Check out today’s post, titled “Teach Your Children Well.” 

"And they recognized that they had been with Jesus"

“And they recognized they had been with Jesus”

by Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska Family Times

(from Google Images)

I am currently reading through and studying the book of Acts, which records the history of the early church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven. It is called “Acts” because it gives an account of the acts of the apostles as they spread the Good News.

In Acts 3, Peter heals a lame man. Many witness the healing and run to hear what Peter has to say. Peter uses the opportunity to attribute the healing to God, and proceeds to tell the people that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. Peter and John were arrested for what they were saying and “put into custody” over night.

The next day they were taken in front of the leaders who asked them how they healed the lame man. The Bible tells us that Peter was “filled with the holy spirit” and began to speak. He attributes the miracle to “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” and explains the plan of salvation. The leaders knew that Peter and John were “uneducated, common men” and were astonished by what they had to say. The leaders “recognized that they [Peter and John] had been with Jesus.” (Excerpted from Acts 4)

That phrase stood out to me: “And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13b)

And then I wondered: 

• Do people recognize that I have been with Jesus? He is not here on earth bodily, as He was when Peter and John were alive, but I can spend time with Him through prayer, Bible study, and worship. 
•  Do I, like Peter and John, answer calmly when I’m challenged about my beliefs or actions (or just really annoyed by someone else's actions)?
•  Do I give credit to the Lord when He does something through me?
•  Do I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the right words when I’m not sure what to say (or to put His hand over my mouth when I should keep it closed)?
•  What have I done today, to show people that I have been with Jesus?

 What are you going to do today, to show that you have been with Jesus?

Lord, please be with me in all I do and say today. Let me show others that I have been with You. Amen.

Shelly Burke is also the author of Home is Where the Mom Is; AChristian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home.

Stormy Thoughts and Stormy Skies...and God's Promise

Stormy Thoughts and Stormy Skies…and God’s Promise

By Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher, Nebraska Family Times, and author, Home is Where the Mom Is

These pictures were taken
outside of our home this
afternoon.

As I pulled weeds this afternoon I had stormy thoughts. Too many friends are facing serious health problems and personal difficulties. I heard news that promises turmoil in my own family’s life over the next few months. There’s no way around these problems; our friends and our family will just have to go through them.

This afternoon we had a nice, much-needed rain shower. After the shower I went outside to see where the storm was moving. I was awed to see one of the most beautiful double rainbows I’ve ever seen. It stretched all the way across the sky and I could see the whole thing, which is very unusual.

Seeing the rainbow reminded me of God’s promise to Noah, as he and his family came out of the ark after the flood.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making

 between me and you…Whenever I bring clouds over the earth

and the rainbow appears in the clouds…I will remember my covenant

 between me and you…Never again will the waters become

 a flood to destroy all life.” Genesis 9:12-14

My friends and family and I are not facing a literal flood, of course. But the circumstances in each of our lives could be devastating. I was reminded of God’s promises to each of us; that He will walk beside us through any and all of the troubles we experience. That He is only a prayer away. And that, at the end of our lives, no matter how stormy, as believers we will spend eternity with Him! 

Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of Your promises to each of us. We are not alone; You are always with us. 

Tired

Tired
by Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher, and author of Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home

(from Google images)

Are you tired today?

I don’t mean physically tired, I mean tired of enduring challenges, emotional and spiritual.

Tired of being hopeful in the face of financial troubles.

Tired of setting a good example for your kids, an example which, at almost every turn, is contradicted by the world.

Tired of praying for a spouse or friend to become closer to God.

Tired of working so hard for what seems to be so little.

Tired of praying for a long-time difficult situation to change.

Tired of struggling with illness.

Tired of an ever-growing prayer list that friends and relatives facing serious illnesses or devastating situations.

Today my Bible reading was from 2 Corinthians 9. I tried to pick just one verse that represented the “tired” theme, but I quickly realized that verses 6-11 all represent encouragement for the tired in spirit.

This section starts with these words: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” We usually think of this verse as meaning to “sow” with money, but it also refers to our spiritual gifts like love and encouragement. When we give generously to others--of our love, our encouragement, our patience--we will then reap bountifully.

The next verse says, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” As a writer, I try to avoid repetition of a word in a paragraph or sentence unless I want to emphasize a point. Paul repeated the word “all” four times in this single verse, so I think he wants us to focus on the fact that God is truly gives us His grace in all of our works, all the time.

A verse later we read the promise that God “will supply and multiply your seed for sowing…You will be enriched in very way to be generous in every way” not just financially, but with our time, our encouragement, our love, our patience, our work.The more we give, the more we will get, so we can be even more generous! I am so thankful that when I am tired of praying, tired of struggling, tired of just enduring…I don’t have to do it by myself. I can know that God’s grace is sufficient, know that He will multiply what I want to give, that He will enable me to meet the needs of others.

Thank You, Lord, for enabling me to endure when I am tired. Please continue to give me Your grace so that I can sow generously in all ways, to those around me.

(I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is. Read

today’s post, titled “It’s not Written in Cement.”)

Prayer in School

Prayer in School 
by Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher

From iStockphoto.com

I'm so thankful that Lakeview High School is standing up for the rights of the kids to have a prayer at their graduation ceremony! THANK YOU to the administration, teachers, Graduation Committee, and students for being firm in their faith. Read one of the stories here:    Lakeview to Pray at Graduation.     

One of the things that angers me the most about this whole issue is that there has NOT been a SINGLE complaint about having prayer at graduation this year (according to the article there was a complaint filed in 2001--11 years ago). The ACLU  is simply trying to stir up trouble. It was shocking to me to learn that even here in Nebraska in a small town we're facing an attack on Christianity.            

As I've followed this story I've learned a lot about the Constitution and our rights--did you know the words "separation of church and state" are not even in the Constitution? Please educate yourselves about these issues so you can discuss the FACTS and know your rights.

Gateways to Better Education has a mission of "Keeping the Faith in Public Schools." Check out their website to find out how religion can legally be shared in school. 

Please pray for all the kids who are graduating from high school and college this spring, as they move on to the next stage in their lives. May God bless them! 

A to Z Blogging Challenge "Zebras and Other Evidence of God's Love for Us"

“Zebras and Other Evidence of God’s Love for Us”

By Shelly Burke, Author and Editor

WOW—I can’t believe today is the last day of the A to Z Blogging Challenge! It has been a lot of fun! I’ve found some great new blogs and made some new online friends. The Challenge forced me to write and blog every day—on two blogs! After doing it twice a day (except for Sundays) I’m getting very good at posting on the new Blogger format and on Facebook as well. I’m thrilled to have more followers, too! I prayed that the A to Z Challenge would be successful for me and my businesses and it has been. I plan to continue to blog on a regular basis (not every day, but 2-3 times a week) so check back often or sign up for e-mail notifications whenever a new post appears.

This fun (and fake!) photo
is from www.jokeroo.com

The letter “Z” gives me the chance to write some thoughts I’ve had for a long time.

Anyone who has read this blog knows how much I love nature—sunsets, sunrises, the changing of the seasons, animals.

These things make me so grateful to God for His love for us.

Think about it: God could have given us one kind of tree. Instead, we have many different kinds, with different size, color, and shaped leaves.

He could have given us one kind of flower. Instead, we have flowers of many kinds, with different sizes, colors, shapes, and smells.

We could have just one “big” animal to look at, or one breed of dog, or one kind of cow. Instead, we have hundreds of different species.

He could have made the weather the same all over the world, every day of the year. Instead we have hot, warm, cool…rain, sleet, snow. Very dry areas, and tropical rain forests.

He could have made every sunrise and sunset look exactly the same…yet I’ve never seen two that are exactly the same.

We have almost endless variety in almost everything, throughout the world!

To me this is proof (as if I needed more proof!) that God loves us and wants us to enjoy life!

Today, take some time to enjoy the variety of nature…and thank God for loving us enough to give us such beauty and variety.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky…Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds; livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:1, 20, 24

Thank You, Lord, for creating such variety and beauty in our world! Amen.

I’m also blogging today at Home is Where the Mom Is.

Today’s post is titled “Zoo…and Other Ideas for Summer Fun.” 

A to Z Blogging Challenge "You in 6 Words"

“You in Six Words”

How do you describe yourself? Today I challenge you to describe yourself in six words. I thought it would be easy to do so but it was not, at least for me!

I’ve read funny peoples’ funny descriptions of themselves or their life philosophy:

o      * Still fit into high school earrings.

o       *Might as well eat that cookie.

Type “You in six words” into your search engine and you’ll find plenty of examples to get you started.

Here are several I came up with to describe myself. This is a fun exercise--try it!

            Facing the empty nest. Opportunities abound.

           

            Sings loudly…if no one hears!

Love spending time with my daughter! (Morgan and I had a great day together today! The photo at the top is of our pedicures.)

            God’s child. Loved no matter what.

            He knew me before my birth. (Psalm 139:13)

What describes you in six words? Share in the comments.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made!

Psalm 139:13-14

I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.

Today’s post is “You, as a Mom, in Six Words.”