He Meets Us Where We Are

One of the things that I love most about the Lord is that He meets us where we are. He understands everything we are going through. Even when we don’t understand ourselves or our situation, He does. Every step we take is a part of His greater, magnificent plan for our lives. Even when we may feel He is distant, He is near. He knows exactly what we need to get through each new day He allows us to see.

Psalm 145:18 NIV, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

He doesn’t give up on us, or the purpose He has for us. We’ll go through times where our faith may be weaker than other times. We’ll have to endure unexpected tests and overcome trials. However we’ll also learn many valuable lessons, and experience victories along the way. Regardless of what we go through, our Lord meets us where we are. His grace will always be sufficient to carry us through.

Forgiveness: Making Allowances For Others

Colossians 3:13 NLT, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Remembering the forgiveness God has shown us through Christ, is definitely a way to stay humble and forgive others. He has forgiven us of so much, over and over again. Walking in humility means that we will be more willing to remember that everyone is human. Being human means we will all have bad days and sometimes make mistakes. When people do make mistakes, showing mercy and forgiveness to them will promote an atmosphere of love and peace.

Having a forgiving spirit keeps our souls healthy and strong. It also frees us up to keep moving forward in Christ. Unforgiveness holds us back and keeps us in bondage. We must push past the temptation to hold a grudge against others. Instead we must forgive, and then we too will be forgiven by our Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:14).

Celebrating Father’s Day With Prayer

Happy Father’s Day!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT, “Never stop praying.”

Praying for God’s…

Love and Joy for everyone as we celebrate the Dad’s in our lives.

Praying for God’s…

Peace and Comfort for those who are mourning the loss of their Father.

Praying for God’s…

Strength and Healing for those who have never known their Father and/or desire to build better relationships with their Father.

Praying for God’s…

Justice for Father’s that are wrongfully being kept from their children (parental alienation).

Praying for God’s…

Wisdom and Guidance for Father’s as they raise their children.

Enjoy your day! ❤️

Psalm 103:13 NLT, “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.”

June | Honor The Father Tag

Thank you Stu @ Something To Stu Over for nominating me for this June Honor The Father Tag. Thanks for sharing about your Dad. Praying that God would continue to bless your family and work in your relationship with your Dad. 🙏🏿

Here are the links to the original authors of this unique tag: Dollfaced Writer and Purple Rose

From Dollface…

The Meaning of this Tag:

A father is someone who loves his child unconditionally, provides for them, protects them always, teaches them values, disciplines them fairly, and wants the best for them. For that, we should always, ALWAYS have respect for our fathers. They are created to bear the responsibility of caring for and protecting their families just as God calls them to do. Father’s Day is about reminding your father how much you appreciate him, but I hope this tag will perhaps remind you this month how blessed you are to have a father at all.

As I said before, this is a very hard day for me every year. My father and I have a very complex relationship. In fact, it is the polar opposite of my relationship with my mother. Growing up I felt abandoned, rejected, unloved, forgotten, and neglected because of his behavior that stemmed from alcoholism and what I believe could have been other mental health issues (don’t quote me, I’m not a doctor XD).

I will always love my father. He is a part of me, half of me to be exact. However, mustering the strength to honor or respect him at all has taken a long time to do. We talk sometimes over text, but not a lot. Some days he responds and I feel like we’re getting somewhere, then he vanishes like he always did. It has helped living a thousand miles away from him since finishing high school, but I have come to accept the pain I feel from my childhood will never go away. Recently, in the last week actually, he said something that has proven he’ll never change. I was trying to gain closure, but he continues to blame me for things that I may talk about in another post. Anyways, he may move on in his life, which is painful for me to watch, but that doesn’t change the past he continues to deny and blame me for.

If you have a similar situation, whether you have been abused, manipulated, abandoned, or rejected by your father (even someone else in your family), can I give you some advice that has helped me cope with such a toxic relationship?

You have a choice. You can walk away. You can block a number. You can say no. You can cut them off from your life. That doesn’t mean you don’t honor them, that just means you have enough respect for yourself to protect your heart and enough respect for them to love them at a safe distance. You can pray for someone every day and never talk to them again. Isn’t that better than subjecting yourself to more pain and building up further resentment that could become the poison of unforgiveness? I think so, because no one deserves to be abused in any way. You deserve love. If you don’t/didn’t receive that love from your father, always know you have a Father in Heaven who loves you more than your father ever could.

I hope you do have an awesome father though. If you do, give him a bear hug and be grateful to have the best protector you could have on this earth. If you don’t, pray for him, friend.

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you to participate.

2. Use the original featured image.

3. Copy and paste the introduction and meaning of this tag at the beginning of your post, along with the links to both creators’ original posts. *This rule is very important. Please, please link this post and Purple Rose’s post so that as authors we may be alerted when a tag is published. It also gives us proper credit, which is much appreciated. Thank you ❤

4. Answer the questions.

5. Nominate one or more people to participate.

6. Enjoy the rest of your month! 🙂

Here are the questions for this month’s tag:

1. What is your relationship like with your biological father, if anything at all?

My Dad actually passed away back in 2001. I was 24. He was only 55. I’ve lived a lot of years without him, but we had a pretty good relationship.

2. What is one thing you would change about your father if you could? What is one thing you wouldn’t change?

My Dad struggled with alcoholism and I feel that stole from his life in many ways. But thankfully he gave up drinking the same year he died and made a decision to accept Christ into his heart.

I wouldn’t change his work ethics. He was always a hard worker. He was great at yard work, and great at fixing things like cars and stuff around the house.

3. Who do you celebrate on Father’s Day (your father, step-father, grandfather, uncle, etc.)?

I usually call or text some of my family members who are Dad’s.

4. What was the most valuable thing he taught you?

I would have to say I got my work ethics from him (and my mom). They both worked really hard. He was a welder (He would always say 1st Class Welder lol) and worked at the shipyard. I can still hear the sound of his car starting up early in the morning to head to work. I admire him for working hard.

5. What is one thing he does that you would never do?

I choose not to drink. It’s a personal choice that’s not always easy because alcohol is so celebrated in society. However, I believe it’s God’s way of protecting me. So I just ask God for strength to stay on course.

6. How do you honor him on Father’s Day?

I don’t do anything since he’s no longer living. But I always remember him.

7. How has your relationship with him impacted the person/parent you are today?

I don’t mind assembling things so I guess I got that from him. He also liked to help people when he could, and I’m the same way. As far as parenting, I do remember he wanted me in the house by the time the street lights came on. (I grew up in the days where kids played outside and rode bikes.) I realize now this was his way of protecting me. I always try and protect my daughter too. Thanks Dad!

I am tagging…🤔🤔

FYI: There is no pressure to participate, but looking forward to reading your answers if you do…🤗

Contemplations

God’s Love

Imago Dei

Joy Cottage

Jesusluvsall

But Jesus

During the workday me and my coworkers usually discuss things that are happening in the news. The news can be scary because the world is becoming scary. It’s terrible what so many people around the world, and even in our own neighborhoods and families are going through. Jesus says in the world we will have trouble, BUT to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Psalm 20:7 NIV, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

BUT we trust in the name of the Lord our God. This is our hope. No matter what comes our way, we can say, “BUT, I trust in the name of Jesus.” When we trust in Him, we know that He will take care of our every need. His name is the name that saves. His name is above ever other name. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

I’m thankful that in Christ Jesus regardless of what we see or hear, we have a BUT. Even when we close our eyes and take our last breath someday, it’s not truly over. We will leave this world behind, BUT we will spend eternity seeing Him face to face in all of His glory.

Just remember these two words…

BUT JESUS.

Keep Climbing Higher

Colossians 1:11 NLT, “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,”

I admit there have been many times that I have questioned how God was working in my life. I have had days where I worried over rather or not He would answer my prayers. I have often let fear creep in and cause me to doubt His provision.

Worry, doubt, and fear have always worked together to try to keep us from enjoying God’s peace. I’ve discovered many times that the things I allow to steal my peace, have already been worked out by God. Reminiscing about His past goodness, will help motivate us to walk by faith right now in the present.

Even if we make mistakes along the way while trying to follow the will of God, He will still take good care of us. Being quick to repent keeps us in close fellowship with Him. When our hearts are devoted to Him, He will work out what is best for us.

His grace and mercy extend far beyond our difficulties. As we persevere through the challenges we face, we are getting stronger in Christ Jesus, and helping to make a difference in the lives of others. If we make Him a priority, He will give us strength to keep climbing higher.

Be Still And Know

Being still is not usually something that is heavily promoted nowadays. We have to be intentional about deciding to be still. It’s such a privilege to be able to let go and trust God. He will take care of our needs.

Psalm 46:10 NIV, “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

This verse always gives me comfort, because it calls us to rest and let God be God. It encourages us to just exhale, and relinquish our concerns and troubles to Him.

Things get hectic at times. We won’t always have everything figured out. We won’t always know why certain things happen or why some people do the things they do. But we don’t have to.

We can just be still in the midst of it all and know that He is God. Since He is God, we don’t have to worry. His love will cover us and protect us, and His eyes will faithfully watch over us day and night.

Take time out each day to be still, and listen as God speaks to your heart.