Tag: God’s promises

How to Find God’s Blessings in New Seasons of Life

Jeannie Waters28 Comments on How to Find God’s Blessings in New Seasons of Life

 

Weeks ago, I noticed tight flower buds had popped out to decorate the bare limbs on my Bradford pear tree. A glance out my kitchen window days later revealed one cluster of newborn blossoms bouncing in the breeze.

Like God’s blessings in the Bible, the tiny flowers offered hope of more than I could see—more growth and beauty to come. More of God’s blessings. More opportunities to honor my Lord and serve others.

Around town I noticed purple flowers on Japanese magnolias and clumps of sunny daffodils. But I enjoyed the signs of spring in my yard and neighborhood the most. I thought of them as personalized gifts from God to my neighbors and me.

Examples of God’s gifts fill the pages of the Bible and offer hope for the ever-changing seasons of our lives.

Every season.

Hard ones and easy ones.

Those we choose and those that surprise us.

Examples of God’s gifts fill the pages of the Bible and offer hope for the ever-changing seasons of our lives. Share on X

Whatever our challenges in this current season, God’s presence and His gifts assure us of His help and guidance and His promise to meet our needs. They also speak of spiritual growth and opportunities to serve in His kingdom’s work.

As buds and flowers decorate your yard and neighborhood with the hope of spring, notice God’s blessings in your life. When you study your Bible and pray, list His gifts you find especially dear in your current season. Ask God to let them blossom in your heart and offer the hope and help you need as you determine to honor Him each new morning.

That view from my kitchen window prompted me to stare in wonder. My Bradford pear stood covered in white, lacy blossoms like a bride anticipating her walk down the aisle.

In this season of my life, the tree’s beauty represents to me the assurance of God’s presence and the promise He will meet my needs as I seek Him first (Matthew 6:33). When we behold bouquets of His blessings in nature, let’s embrace the gifts in His Word as we walk into each new day with praise and service.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

Your Turn

Please share a dear-to-you verse or blessing in your current season or an encouraging one you held close during past challenges. Let’s encourage each other.

 

Which Promise of God Does Your Heart Need Today?

Jeannie Waters30 Comments on Which Promise of God Does Your Heart Need Today?

We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them. Two symbols of promises touched my heart last weekend.

Here’s my story.

Late Friday afternoon, Ray and I drove twenty-five miles to our favorite restaurant, a quaint, upscale café. As we held hands to pray over our anniversary dinner, I noticed our wedding rings—symbols of the promises we’d made years ago.   

After a delicious meal and dessert, we recalled and laughed about our early marriage misunderstandings. The first occurred several months after our wedding.

Ray had promised this ready-for-Christmas-in-September girl we’d get a Christmas tree when he returned home from work. Filled with seasonal cheer, I watched for his car. When he arrived, I climbed into the passenger seat. He looked puzzled. “Why did you get into the car?”

“You promised we’d buy a Christmas tree today. Aren’t we going into town to find one?”

He chuckled, opened the car door, and called me to follow him. We walked through a pasture on his family’s property where we lived and stopped at a fence. He pointed to a row of cedar trees. “I didn’t say buy a tree. I said get a tree—one of those.”

“Get a tree” to this city girl meant traveling to a store or Christmas tree stand. To my raised-in-the-country husband, the translation was “cut a tree we already have.” We finished our coffee and laughed at the memory of a promise made and kept before our first Christmas season.  

We paid our bill and left the restaurant. A gentle rain quickened our steps to the car. Soon, my husband navigated a sharp curve in the road, and we spied the evening’s second symbol of promise.

Clouds obscured part of the rainbow’s arch, but the visible portion looked as if God painted one broad brushstroke of the spectrum’s colors onto a rain-soaked sky canvas. A striking sight.

After the flood, God described the rainbow to Noah as a symbol of His promise.  

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Genesis 9:14-15 ESV

The rainbow represents one of God’s promises, but His Word contains many. As we admired the beautiful streak of color for several miles, we thanked God for His faithfulness. No translation is needed for His promises.    

When I fret about how I’ll accomplish my to-do list or which choice to make when decisions arise, God’s promises calm my heart and turn my eyes toward Him. He shows me whether I’m trusting Him or myself. Concerns about the future that trouble my heart, shrink in the light of His Word.  

Here are truths about life with God I’ve studied lately.

We don’t walk alone. He promises His presence, strength, and help.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 Isaiah 41:10 ESV

He assures us of wisdom for trials.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

James 1:5 ESV

Jesus offers supernatural peace in a troubled world.  

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:27 ESV

Our wise Father knows our needs and provides for them.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.”

Psalm 84:11 ESV

Do you need a promise from God today?

On a card, write one of these promises or another you find in the Bible. Keep the card handy to read and pray when troubling thoughts arise. God’s Word is a symbol of His faithfulness you can cling to as you trust Him.

Ray and I noticed two symbols of promise last weekend—our wedding rings and the rainbow. Symbols are important, but they are only reminders of God’s faithfulness. We don’t place our faith in signs or in life events. Our heavenly Father asks us to trust Him.

We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them.

We can trust God’s promises because He’s faithful to keep them. Share on X

How has a promise of God sustained you? What’s your favorite? Perhaps one of us needs the one you’ll include in your comments today. Let’s brighten each other’s day with God’s words.

A heart-felt thanks to each of you, reader friends, for reading and leaving a comment.  

The Bossy Wren

Jeannie Waters8 Comments on The Bossy Wren

Incessant chirping signaled the urgent need for food. The infant bobble-head birds were crying for Mrs. Wren’s beak-to-beak deposits. They were desperate.

Mother Bird was perfectly willing and able to provide for her babies. She flew with winged efficiency from the nearest “supermarket” to her nest inside her  birdhouse. (Ahem . . . OUR birdhouse) The only hindrance was me! I was sitting at the deck table, minding my own business, when she started fussing at me. (Warning: I like to put words in the mouths, I mean beaks, of our feathered friends.)

“Get off of this deck and go back inside where you belong,” she yelled. “You are an imminent threat to my babies and I won’t have it! Move this instant from my property!”

Well, I never! I turned my back hoping that this bossy little diva would think of me as less threatening. She quickly darted to the worm “aisle,” retrieved a juicy bit of meat, and perched even closer to me. Now, because her mouth was full of medium rare worm burger, I anticipated a silent stare. But I received much more than that. She cocked her tiny head and proceeded to chortle choice words in my direction. “I’m warning you, you big human intruder. For the last time, get off of MY deck! I’m trying to feed babies here.”

I reluctantly left my outdoor sanctuary and headed inside. The tiny “David” had conquered “Goliath.” She won. After all, she had babies to feed.

In addition to creating amusement, that feisty little wren illustrated a biblical truth, that of provision. With instinct and skill, the mother bird provided sustenance for her wide-mouthed fledglings. She knew their precise need and how to meet it. The only requirement on their part was to display hunger by “asking” for food and staying in a position to receive it.

The wren family interactions remind me of how God promises to meet our needs. Our heavenly Father knows what we require and longs to provide for us. In fact, one of His names is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. Not that His responses always come in the time and manner we prefer, but we can trust Him. Isn’t that an encouraging thought? Our responsibility is to talk to Him in prayer, remain in a posture of faith, and read and obey His Word.

Do you know someone who needs to focus on God’s promises? Perhaps you could share a Bible verse in a card or speak an encouraging word to that person this week. Let’s tuck God’s promises into our heart and be prepared to share them. Like the industrious wren, we can use our God-given gifts for the benefit of someone else.

Please share below a time when you were reminded of God’s provision or when someone met a need for you. Thanks for reading.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:19 ESV