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Thank Ahead

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Promises, God's Provision, Hope, Patience, Perseverance, Praise, Prayer, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, Waiting on God, Worry, Worship, tagged , , , , , , on August 20, 2026| 38 Comments »

No, that’s not a typo in the title, although I can see why you’d think so. We’re much more accustomed to the reminder, “think ahead.”

But recently I came across that title-phrase in Debora M. Coty’s book, Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate [1].

She suggests we turn hindsight—for all God’s previous provision, guidance, and blessing—into foresight and trust his care for us in the future, to thank him ahead of time for what he’s going to do (pp. 115-116).

A doubter might say, “That seems a bit presumptuous. Everybody knows God doesn’t always give us what we want. Thanking him ahead of time for what we may not receive doesn’t make much sense.”

Our doubter is partially right: God doesn’t cater to our every desire, no matter how fervently we pray. But that’s a good thing. Surely all of us can think of a deeply held desire that seemed within God’s will, and we repeatedly asked him to supply it, only to be disappointed.

We’d do well to remember what Puritan minister John Flavel wrote long ago:

We might begin to thank ahead by expressing gratitude for such blessings as deeper confidence in God as we cling to him in trust, greater strength of character that’s growing within, and important life-lessons learned as we wait [2].

But that’s not all.

To thank ahead is a step of faith in what we know.

For example: God turns all things to good for those who love him. We may not see what that good is until we get to heaven, but we know our perfect God always works things out perfectly, in his perfect timing [3].

To thank ahead prepares the heart for what God will do.

Let’s say we need a new car. It would be quite impudent to expect a new Corvette ZR1X and thank God for it ahead of time. But we can be grateful he’ll supply our need of transportation and give us the patience to wait, if necessary, until his chosen moment for provision [4].

To thank ahead turns our minds from worthless worry to uplifting truth.

Why is it our minds love to whirl around anxious thoughts? The act of faith-fueled gratitude shifts our focus from our concerns and problems to God’s attributes and promises.

Psalm 145:7-8 offers a list of attributes to get us started:

Let’s celebrate, not agitate!

Many of you know of George Mueller . . .

. . . who built and superintended orphanages in Bristol, England during the 1800s. Over the sixty years of his ministry, thousands of children received loving care within those facilities and learned about Jesus.

Muller was known for his devotion to prayer. He never asked for funding or borrowed to meet expenses.

One morning there was nothing to feed the children. George instructed the housemother to seat the children in the dining room as usual. He then thanked God for the food–and waited. George knew God would not let the children go hungry.

Soon a baker appeared at the door. “I couldn’t sleep last night,” he explained. “And somehow I knew you’d need bread this morning. So I got up and baked three batches for you. I’ll bring it in!”

Minutes later a milkman knocked at the door. “My cart has broken down here on your street, Mr. Mueller. It’ll spoil by the time we get the wheel fixed. Could you use some free milk?”

And the ten cans of milk provided just enough for the 300 children.[5]

Notice: In this case, George did nothing to solve the problem. He simply trusted and waited.

George knew:

By thanking ahead, we’ll grow such unwavering trust in our own hearts.

[1] Another thrift store find, published by Barbour, 2013.

[2] Hebrews 12:11

[3] Romans 8:28; Ecclesiastes 3:11

[4] Philippians 4:19; Lamentations 3:25

[5] https://www.georgemuller.org/devotional/a-famous-story-about-mullers-faith).

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The Healthiest Fear of All

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Provision, God's Strength, Obedience, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on August 13, 2026| 25 Comments »

The date: October 31, 1991.

The place: Juno Beach, Florida–our home at the time.

The event: The “Halloween Swell,” when monstrous waves nearly twenty feet high broke close to the Atlantic shore and pounded the beach, generated by a powerful “perfect storm” off the coast of New England.

Our family stood on high ground with a gathering crowd, watching the surreal display of awesome power and strength. (Such waves can exert forces over 5,000 pounds per square foot.*)

[Watch a video from an observer on the beach that day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnQJHFEDxyo.]

About fifty yards north, one particularly large wave crashed ashore and washed over the dunes. Several cars parked on the beach road (A1A) actually lifted from the pavement and drifted toward the middle of the road. You’d think they were made of balsa wood.

Understand: by then the wave had lost most of its power, but it still packed a wallop.

We experienced a mix of serious respect and breathtaking wonder that afternoon. Those waves could have crushed us if we’d stood too close.

Yet there was mesmerizing beauty too as the water rose high in a graceful curve, formed a foamy crest, then glided toward shore to crash explosively into the sand.

The waves we witnessed that day were much taller!

Such imagery may help us understand a phrase used over one hundred times in the Bible: the fear of God. One example, Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Such fear does not mean terror for a Being with infinite strength, but rather serious reverence and respect for who he is: the all-powerful One of the universe (just as we respected the power of those waves that day).

On the other hand, the fear of God also includes awe and breathtaking wonder.

Think of the heart-swell while gazing upward at his innumerable stars . . .

. . . downward into clear, tropical waters where brightly-colored fish and coral dazzle . . .

A parrotfish feeding on algae

. . . into the eyes of a newborn baby . . .

. . . or outward upon his immense and powerful ocean (especially as it heaves tons of water on the shore).

In such moments we can’t help but cry out to the Maker of all wonders, “God, you are so incredibly magnificent! There are no boundaries to your greatness” (Psalm 145:3 MSG, not a direct quote).

Some might think God directs us to fear him as a means of self-gratification, as if he takes prideful satisfaction in our admiration and praise. No, scripture makes clear: his instruction that we fear him leads to blessing for us.

The book of Proverbs alone lists at least twelve benefits:

  • Wisdom and understanding (9:10)—because these qualities originate with God (Job 12:13)

  • Strong confidence (14:26 ESV)—in the character and promises of God

  • A fountain of life (14:27)—a continual prosperity of spirit

  • God’s trustworthy instruction (15:33) as we grow in our relationship with him

  • Avoidance of evil (16:6)—under the influence of God’s grace and goodness

  • True [fulfilling] life, contentment, and ultimate deliverance from evil (19:23)

  • Riches [of mind and spirit] and honor [from God himself one day] (Proverbs 22:4)

  • Happiness (Proverbs 28:14 HCSB)!

And consider this:

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

–Oswald Chambers

So how do we cultivate such a strong fear of God?

Possibilities include:

  • Feeding our confidence on scripture each day
  • Centering our thoughts frequently on God’s attributes, including his love, forgiveness, power, wisdom, and goodness
  • Looking for evidence of his gracious involvement in our lives and expressing continual gratitude
  • Spending time with God-fearing people and learning from them
  • Seeking to obey his wise ways

Forest Landscape by Peter Monsted, 1908

As we stood on the beach that day in 1991, a healthy fear made us choose a safe distance from a power that could have killed us.

As we contemplate the truths about the healthiest fear of all, the fear of God, we’re also faced with a choice. Only this time it’s a decision to move in close with reverence and awe, toward a Power that gives us life (John 10:10).  

*https://www.sky-chaser.com/perfstrm.htm

Image credits: http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.pickpik.com (2); http://www.commons.wikimedia.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.publicdomainpictures.com; http://www.picryl.com.

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Finding Calm and Quiet

Posted in Bible Study, Faith, Hope, Maturity, Meditation, Obedience, Peace, Prayer, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 30, 2026| 34 Comments »

King David Playing the Harp by Gerard van Honthorst (1622)

(Psalm 131, personalized)

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty” (v. 1a).

O God, King David’s firm assertion that no pride lurks in his heart stirs up envy within me. I wish I could say no pride ever lurks in my heart.

Pride is such an ugly attribute.  Just like mold on bread causes ruin, pride causes ruin in me.

A bent toward self-aggrandizing—even in my thoughts—spoils my connection with You, Father, as much as pridefully choosing to do things my way instead of Your way. And when my feelings are bruised by the words and actions of others? It’s really pride masquerading as “hurt.”

I’d like to say with King David, “I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance” (v. 1 GNT), but the mold of pride still forms in my spirit from time to time.

I ask Your help, O God, to help me cut it off the moment it begins to appear. Remind me that apart from You I am nothing and can do nothing (1).

“I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me” (v. 1b).

David also asserts he doesn’t concern himself with matters outside his control or things too profound for him and beyond his understanding.

In years past and much too often I allowed my mind to circle around distressing situations and worrisome what-ifs, even though such thinking accomplishes nothing.

You’ve taught me, Lord, (and continue to give me opportunities for practice!), to affirm what I know about You and Your ways instead of fretting, including such encouraging passages as Psalm 145:8-9:

“But I have calmed and quieted myself” (v. 2a).

You are the Almighty Sovereign One, the only wise God, my faithful and loving Father. How silly I am not to rest—every moment–in Your power and peace.

David states matter-of-factly he’s calmed and quieted his soul. Since his days as a shepherd boy he’d been one to affirm what he knew to be true about You. Psalm 23 is one eloquent example. 

But David also prayed concerning his needs, trusting that You’d provide:

Thank You, Father, for teaching me the power of prayer and praise to quiet my soul. I have only to present my requests before You—with thanksgiving—to experience your peace [2].

“I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content” (v. 2b).

In fact, the calm and quiet of Your peace is like that of a weaned child, contentedly nestled on his mother’s lap [3]—no longer demanding immediate gratification.

What a sweet image of the rest I can experience in the assurance of Your provision, in Your time, while reveling in the closeness and companionship in Your presence.

I know Your goal for me is emotional and spiritual maturity. You sometimes choose to wean me away from good things, to bring me to better things. Help me to remember: painful losses can give way to wonderful gains [4].

“Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore” (v. 3).

And so, Father, I put my hope in You, now and forevermore. This is not wishful thinking but confident expectation based on the perfections of Your character. My hope is strengthened by Your glorious promises, including Your assurance never to leave me or forsake me.

I can joyfully anticipate what You will do in the future, knowing You have my best interest at heart. This day and every day I place my trust in You afresh, my good and gracious God!

____________________

[1] 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; John 15:5 

]2] Philippians 4:6-7

[3] Psalm 131:2

[4] Warren Wiersbe, Be Exultant, 174.

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Outgrowing Illusions

Posted in Blessings, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Maturity, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, Wisdom, tagged , , , , , , , on July 16, 2026| 33 Comments »

New York Museum of Natural History

New York’s Museum of Natural History

Sometime in the 1940s New York’s Museum of Natural History created a living room space–from the perspective of a small dog. Table legs rose like tall pillars, chair seats hovered overhead, and the mantel of the fireplace loomed higher still.

Now any human museum-goer would instantly know this was an unrealistic representation from our point of view. But if we were all Shih Tzus, we’d bark to one another how accurately the decorator had appointed the room.

Which view of the museum display is correct—that of people or Shi Tzus? Our instinctive response is: the way it appears to us as humans is the accurate view.

And we think, The poor little pups—living their whole lives with the illusion that furniture is almost always gigantic.

No doubt that museum space provided plenty of entertainment. But perhaps an important lesson was hiding among the over-sized furniture and features.

What if we compared Planet Earth to that room? Then we are the small creatures gazing upwards—at towering mountains, high plateaus, and tall waterfalls.

Angel Falls in Venezuela, 3,212 feet tall

Oh, but our view must be expanded further—far beyond Mount Everest even.

We must consider what Planet Earth looks like to God, who made the numerous planets, spinning in billions of galaxies. On a map of the stars, our tiny planet isn’t even represented.

Yet it’s so easy to lose sight of this reality.  Our sphere of contacts–family, friends, and coworkers –becomes our entire world.  

The pursuit of happiness within this microcosm becomes our whole focus, fed by the illusion that living life “my way” is the ticket to happiness and satisfaction.  

Then there’s God’s point of view, as taught by Jesus:

Which view of reality is accurate–our view or that of our sovereign Maker (who sees, understands and controls everything)?

Logic supports the latter. The real world-view is God’s view.

And if we’re ready to accept that reality, then we must also agree it makes sense to follow his instruction manual, the Bible, for living in the world he created.

My self-serving, egocentric side says, Wait a minute. I have my own ideas of what’s best for me. I oughtta know what’ll make me happy. Doesn’t my viewpoint count for anything?

Such thinking exposes my lack of understanding, putting me on the level of a little dog in that museum living room! My world view is flawed.

No, I’d be much wiser to embrace God’s point of view as revealed in his Word, and learn about reality—the reality of his invisible, spiritual kingdom and its benefits:

His foundation of security:

His way to happiness:

His treasure of truth:

His gift of peace:

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Thank you, Father, for these benefits and more, lovingly bestowed as we seek to live within the spiritual reality of your kingdom. Yes, it’s invisible to our human eyes, but no less real than the wind.

And as we follow you and obey your Word, the more real your transcendent world becomes, the more wonders we experience. Help me outgrow the immaturity of illusions and embrace the truths of your reality!

(Information about New York’s Museum of Natural History room-display from Ralph Sockman’s The Higher Happiness, Abingdon Press, 1950, 14.)

Image credits: http://www.commons.wikimedia.org (2); http://www.dailyverses.net (2); http://www.universe.roboflow.com (sahal); http://www.publicdomainpictures.com; http://www.pickpik.com.

(Revised and reblogged from July 21, 2016 while we prepared for and enjoyed the 3-day visit of old friends.)

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Lillian Trasher: Mother to Thousands

Posted in Courage, Excellence, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Provision, God-Given Abilities, Godly Character, Heroes of the Faith, Perseverance, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on July 9, 2026| 36 Comments »

“Please come—a young mother is dying!” cried the young man at the door.

Twenty-three-year-old missionary, Lillian Trasher, grabbed her medical kit and followed him to a dirty hovel. The poverty and stench that greeted her didn’t surprise Lillian. After three months in Assiut, Egypt, she was growing accustomed to the deprivation.

Lillian had no means to save the young woman. Her sickly, scrawny infant mewled with hunger.

“You must keep the baby,” family members insisted. “There is no one here who can care for her.”

So Lillian took the infant back to the mission house. A few days later the director insisted Lillian return the child, explaining, “Her incessant crying keeps everyone awake at night.”

“I can’t take her back,” Lillian protested.

Her only alternative: spend the few rupees she had to rent a little house and purchase a bit of furniture.

But living on her own meant no further support from the mission station. Lillian prayed for God to supply, and begged from her neighbors. Day by day God provided.

Before long, other orphans were brought to Lillian and the Assiut Orphanage came into existence. The year: 1911. Lillian must have smiled to trace the events God had orchestrated, leading to this outcome.

Lillian Trasher

Four years earlier she’d traveled from home in Brunswick, Georgia to Atlanta, to interview for a newspaper job as a sketch artist. On the way she just happened to meet Mattie Perry, an orphanage director from North Carolina.

Mattie described the work and “how they lived by faith, believing each day that God would supply all their needs”[1]. Mattie invited the would-be sketch artist to come work with her. Lillian declined.

But it just so happened the sketch-artist position went to someone else by mistake, after Lillian had supposedly been hired. She decided to work at the orphanage after all.

For five years she handled all sorts of tasks and learned the many facets of orphanage administration. She also attended Bible School, pastored a church for a short time, and even traveled as an evangelist.

In 1910 Lillian became engaged. But, as it happened, ten days before the wedding, she heard a missionary from India speak passionately about his work. Lillian felt strongly God was calling her to mission work–in Africa. Her fiancé, however, felt no such call, and Lillian broke off the engagement.

Next, Lillian just happened to attend a Christian conference where she met a missionary working in Assiut. He invited her to join their team; Lillian accepted.

Assiut, bottom right corner

Her family expressed concern, but older sister Jennie volunteered to go along, just until she was settled. Jennie never left.

By 1915, the two women were caring for fifty orphans and needed more space. Miraculously, a large property was supplied across the river in Abnub for just $250. She and the older children made a kiln and baked their own bricks to construct the needed buildings.

Lillian and her children, 1920

1919 brought political unrest and British authorities required everyone at the orphanage to evacuate. The boys were sent to a Presbyterian school in Assiut, the girls to a hospital.  

Lillian and Jennie returned to America and spent the year raising funds for the work. When they returned in 1920, Lillian began taking in anyone in need, including widows and the blind. They helped with the work of the orphanage, and by 1923, 300 lived on the compound.

God continued to meet their needs, sometimes in spectacular ways. One time an anonymous donor sent a truckload of foodstuffs. And when Lord Maclay of Scotland visited the orphanage, he gave Lillian $5,000 for her work. Later he sent another $25,000 [2].

As World War II began, the Assiut Orphanage housed seven hundred people. Once again, food and supplies became scarce.

In April of 1941, the American ambassador shared incredible news. A Red Cross ship had been enroute to Greece when that nation fell to the Nazis.

The captain had received orders to dump the supplies and return home. But a soldier on board knew of Lillian and persuaded the captain to unload at Alexandria.

“Believe it or not,” announced the ambassador, “you have a warehouse full of clothing, blankets, and towels, hundreds of kegs of powdered milk, many sacks of rice, and more! It’s all waiting for you”[3]!

By the 1950s, the orphanage included sixteen buildings: dormitories, a hospital wing, chapel, school, nurseries, bakery, sewing rooms, carpentry workshop, gardens, and more. Over a thousand children resided on the grounds [4].

Of course, throughout the years, Lillian and Jennie made sure their charges knew about Jesus. Thousands committed their lives to him [5].

Now, 125 years since its founding, the legacy of Lillian Trasher (and Jennie) lives on in the still-functioning facility. However, in 1961, shortly after Lillian’s death, the name became the Lillian Trasher Orphanage.  

[1] https://oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/60957/student/?section=19

[2] https://christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/heroes-of-the-faith-lillian-trasher/

[3] https://oercommons.org/

[4] https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/story-lillian-trasher/

[5] https://oercommons.org/

Other Sources:

She Pursued The Purposes Of God
Lillian Trasher

https://www.gc.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/2021-12/Beth-Baron%2C-22Nile-Mother-Lillian-Trasher-and-the-Orphans-of-Egypt-22.pdf

Image credits: http://www.look and learn.com; http://www.commons.wikipedia.org; http://www.itoldya420.getarchive.net; http://www.digitalgallery.bgsu.edu; http://www.canva.com.

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Food for Thought This Independence Day

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Faith, Generosity, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, Independence Day, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on July 2, 2026| 34 Comments »

Ask a number of people what we celebrate on July 4th, and many will surely mention FREEDOM or LIBERTY.

Rightly so.

They’ll likely agree with Rev. Robert J. McCracken (1904-1973) who wrote:

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.

–Rev. Robert J. McCracken (1904-1973)

But, we need to remember, with FREEDOM comes responsibility.

Freedom is like a coin. It has the word privilege on one side and responsibility on the other. It does not have privilege on both sides. There are too many today who want everything involved in privilege but refuse to accept anything that approaches the sense of responsibility.

–Joseph R. Sizoo (1884-1966), pastor and professor at George Washington University

And former chaplain for the U. S. Senate, Peter Marshall, (1902-1949) would have us understand:

Even though Christianity is not as prevalent in our society as it once was, most Americans have a sense of what’s right, naming these qualities as important to them: respect, trustworthiness, kindness, integrity, and fairness [1].

Would some be surprised to know all of those qualities are set forth in the New Testament? In fact, since the founding of our nation in 1776, FAITH in God and respect for his commandments has provided a strong foundation for our nation’s ideals.

The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.

—Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States

Imagine a country where most people couldn’t be trusted, kindness was rare, and hardly anyone treated others with integrity and fairness. Such circumstances would severely limit “the pursuit of happiness,” and the opportunity for prosperity.

Now consider America, where most of us (!) show respect to others most of the time. We can be trusted to stop at red lights, for example, and stay on the right side of the road. (If you’ve visited a third-world country, you’ve likely witnessed disrespectful driving.)

In America, it’s not unusual for strangers to kindly help someone in trouble. And we’re still among the most generous nations in the world [2], with our time and resources.

Volunteers help with clean-up after a tornado

In America, most of us pay our taxes, because it’s the right thing to do. And in America, most jury-members seek fair decisions in the cases they hear.

Yes, America has its flaws and problems, but she’s still a great place to live. Just ask the enthusiastic Europeans visiting here for the World Cup!

America is worthy of our PATRITOSIM.

Patriotism is not about blind loyalty, but about recognizing the greatness and potential of your country.

–Charlie Kirk

As for the flaws and problems, it’s been asserted that Christianity is part of the solution to our difficulties—by a man well-known for his wisdom and discernment:

As Lincoln walked the streets of Richmond (the capital of the Confederacy) shortly after it was captured by Union troops, a slave ran to meet him and fell to his knees before the president.

“Don’t kneel to me,” Lincoln responded. “Kneel to God only, and thank Him for the liberty you will enjoy hereafter” [3].

We’d do well to do the same, and to pray for God’s holy protection of our nation.

“Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;

And this be our motto: In God is our trust.”

(Francis Scott Key, from the fourth verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner”)

[1]  https://news.gallup.com/poll/691964/family-top-value-americans.aspx_, April 2025.

[2] https://johnsoncitypress.com/news/73107/americans-are-the-most-generous-people-on-earth/

[3] https://www.deseret.com/2015/5/4/20563998/lincoln-saved-a-nation-but-deflected-credit-to-a-greater-power/

Image credits: http://www.printerval.com (Letitia Grasshopper); http://www.commons.wikimedia.org; http://www.picryl.com (George Armstrong); http://www.pickpik.com.

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How to Jump-Start Your Joy

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Provision, God's Salvation, Joy, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on June 25, 2026| 34 Comments »

Most of you who read this blog accept the Bible as truth. You’ve considered the evidence, including:

  • thousands of archaeological discoveries, giving evidence of the people, places, and ancient civilizations mentioned in the Bible. Nothing has been found to disprove scripture.
  • such ancient manuscripts as the Dead Sea Scrolls, dating back to 150 BC to 68 AD, that include at least excerpts from every Old Testament book except Esther.

These factors and others support your Christian faith. As a result, you’ve accepted the reality of such scripture as John 3:16:

You’ve believed in Jesus and accepted him into your life. You love him for what he’s done for you and continues to do, including forgiving your sins, encouraging your spirit, granting peace of mind, as well as providing the gift-of-all-gifts, eternal life.

Yet sometimes the joy Jesus promised (John 15:11) seems elusive.

Perhaps you’re overworked and underpaid by your employer. Tension within the extended family causes constant stress, or your teenager argues against every boundary like a relentless, prosecuting attorney.

Each of us needs to jump-start our joy some days—to defy the discouraging circumstances we face.

But how do we do that? Three simple actions can begin the turn from upset to uplift.

You’re no doubt familiar with them, but:

See if these three actions seem good to you:

REFLECT ON GOD’S GOODNESS

Joy starts to percolate when we identify the gifts and favors God continually bestows, as a result of his holy character. For example, we might see:

  • His devoted care (Psalm 145:20a), expressed through the compassion and support of family and/or friends
  • His undying hope, as the sun breaks through thick clouds, reminding us that he specializes in turning darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29)
  • His loving attentiveness (Psalm 34:15), in the kindness of a stranger who “pays it forward” at the coffee-shop drive-thru
  • His incomparable strength (Psalm 27:14 ISV), enabling us to wait with faith for his perfect plan to unfold
  • His tender encouragement, often bestowed through such scriptures as Psalm 118:6a; 7a:

REST IN GOD’S PROMISES

Perhaps like me, God has led you to a perfect Bible promise during a season of challenge.

I remember fighting heavy fatigue when our third baby seemed perfectly content with intermittent power naps–even at night. The promise of Isaiah 40:29 became especially meaningful: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

However, God didn’t infuse me with miraculous energy. Neither did our youngest begin sleeping from sunset to sunrise.

God’s way was to give me just enough strength for each day. His promise held, and in the process I learned deeper reliance on him and greater perseverance.

REJOICE IN HIS BLESSINGS

Spurgeon’s statement above raises the question, how many blessings do you suppose we’ve missed because we’re distracted by our dilemmas?

Author John Eldredge would have us “drink in beauty wherever we can get it—in music, in nature, in art, in a great meal shared. These are all gifts to us from God’s generous heart. Friends, those things are not decorations to a life, they bring us life” (from Wild at Heart).

So drink in the blessing of that worship song, that majestic tree, that inspired painting, those delightful moments at the family dinner table, chattering and laughing together.

These represent just a smattering of gifts that God bestows every day, demonstrating his goodness which he promised long ago:

And by reflecting on that goodness, resting in such promises, and rejoicing in God’s blessings, we can surely energize our spirits and jump-start our joy!

What joy-starters work for you? Please share in the comment section below!

(Image credits: http://www.worldhisotry.org (Keven Eng); http://www.canva.com; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.freerangestock.com (Paul Morris).

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Keeping a Prayer Box

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, Prayer, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on June 4, 2026| 43 Comments »

Blogger friend, Linda Stoll, concluded a recent post with the following prayer:

“Holy Spirit, please do what You do best –

comfort, refresh, convict, prompt,

guide, protect, calm, and strengthen.

Delight us with an abundance

of Your refreshing presence.”

–Linda Stoll

https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/come-hungry-porch-221

Those verbs could provide helpful prayer-starters, I thought, and told Linda in the comments I’d be copying those verbs on a 3 x 5, to add the list to my prayer box:

She responded, “I love that you have a prayer box . . . Please write a post on this someday, ok, Nancy?”

Well, Linda (and all my other friends who visit here), today is the day!

Some of you will remember previous references to this practice:

https.//www.nancyaruegg.com/2024/10/7/a-quiet-time-notebook/

Below you’ll find the rationale behind keeping such a box and suggestions for preparing one.

Why a prayer box?

Some people keep a prayer list; I transitioned to a box of 3 x 5s more than twenty-five years ago. The reasons include:

  • More room to write, as needs change or progressive answers unfold.

For example, an undiagnosed illness might be followed by eventual determination of the problem, then improvement, and finally healing. It’s encouraging to see God at work through the process, as well as in the final outcome.

  • Cards can easily be organized. For example, if the child of parents I already pray for suddenly needs prayer himself, I can slip a new card for him behind the parents’ card and pray for the family together.
  • Viewing one card at a time improves my focus. Staring at a long list can be overwhelming.
  • Prayer cards contribute freshness to prayer time as I rotate through the cards, concentrating attention on just ten to twelve per day.

How to Start a Prayer Box

Find a box to accommodate the cards you choose to use. (You may wish to use decorated cards, for added beauty to your prayer experience. Many options are available online.)

You can use the box as is, cover the lid in wrapping paper, or decorate another way. Make it a pleasure to pull off the shelf.

For each card, you’ll want to include the name of the person(s) or ministry at the top, with the date you’re starting to pray for them.

Names concealed to protect privacy.

If there’s a specific need, write a short summary statement. Include the date if it’s different than the one recorded at the top of the card.

We can also pray for: the health of their spirit, their strength of faith, a life of integrity, daily awareness of God’s love in palpable ways, rest in his shalom, and a wide ripple effect from their life.

Let’s not forget Linda’s helpful verbs either.

When possible, include a scripture that relates to the request.

The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to Him and saying to Him, ‘Do as You have said.’

–Charles Spurgeon, from The Secret of Power in Prayer

Record evidence of progress; praise God for his involvement.

Include request-cards for yourself—especially those concerns that impact your relationship with God and with others.

You may wish to intersperse cards of inspiration as well.

Record the answers as they come. Enjoy the delight of citing evidence of God’s attentiveness, creative solutions, miracle-working power, and more.

Of course, sometimes the answer isn’t what I asked for. But I record those too, knowing that everything God does somehow serves divine purpose.

When God says “Yes,” he increases our joy. When God says, “Wait,” he increases our patience. And when God says “No,” he increases our trust in his higher ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Keep the cards of answered prayers in a separate place as proof of God’s involvement. Boost your confidence in God and the power of prayer as the stack grows (Isaiah 25:1).

And remember:

A praying saint performs far more havoc among the unseen forces of darkness than we have the slightest notion of.

—Oswald Chambers, Biblical Psychology, 1912.

Perhaps a faithfully-used prayer box will help create more havoc!

Image credits: Nancy Ruegg; www. commons. wikimedia.org (2); Nancy Ruegg (8).

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Choosing to Remember

Posted in Appreciation, Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, Hope, Meditation, Obedience, Peace, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on May 28, 2026| 46 Comments »

Mom, Dad, and great-granddaughter, about 2011

As he got older, my dad would occasionally quip, “My memory is so good I can remember things that didn’t even happen!”

Actually, Dad remembered accurately many past events, numerous jokes, a plethora of interesting trivia, and an impressive amount of Bible knowledge—well into old age.

Some years ago I happened to recall a fun song from my childhood, but a few lines of lyrics had escaped my memory. Dad was in his upper-eighties by this time, but I asked anyway.

“Do you happen to remember the lyrics to “Cheer Up, Cheer Up?”

He remembered them perfectly, and we enjoyed reminiscing about the Scottish pastor who’d taught us to sing the chorus with a Scottish accent.

Delightful memories are one of the joys of getting older.

In fact:

But God designed our memory-capacity for more than just enjoyment. He had in mind important purpose as we use this ability to foster our relationship with him.

For example:

Remembering God’s interventions contributes to our hope.

Looking back over our lives, we all can remember how God has brought us through challenging times, miraculously supplied urgent needs, and guided us in difficult decisions.

As a result, we can affirm: if he took care of those situations then, he can certainly take care of this situation now. And we find hope beginning to bloom.

Remembering God’s mighty deeds bolsters our faith.

Like the psalmist Asaph wrote: “I will ponder all your works and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?” (Psalm 77:12-13).

Remembering is a form of worship. And as we rehearse with him the miracles we’ve witnessed and experienced, our fears subside, doubts shrink, strength increases, and our confidence in God expands.

Remembering God’s faithfulness fosters gratitude and peace.

Brain research has confirmed that “engaging in gratitude rewires neural-pathways, combating anxiety.” 

That means, with every remembrance of God’s faithfulness, we’re taking advantage of the ability he’s given us, to calm our stress and hard-wire pathways to peace. *

Remembering the past encourages personal and spiritual growth.

We find wisdom for the present from the lessons learned in the past.

One lesson I’ve learned along the way was actually proclaimed eons ago by a Greek playwright, Aeschylus: “Happiness is a choice.” 

I can choose negativity and spiral downward into discouragement, or I can look for the blessings in my life and give my heart a good dose of cheer (Proverbs 17:22).

I’d rather do the latter.

Remembering the past contributes to obedience.

  • As we consider how God has provided throughout our lives, we’re more able to obey the instructions:
  • As we praise God for what he’s accomplished in the past, we’ll sidestep complaining about a difficulty in the present.
  • As we remember the joy of liberal generosity (Acts 20:35), we’ll avoid tight-fisted possessiveness.
  • And as we strengthen our faith by remembering God’s amazing deeds, we fight against spiritual complacency.

With the psalmist we can affirm:

We have no need for wishful thinking, remembering things that didn’t even happen. Pondering all the wonders God has performed for us will keep us happily occupied into eternity.

* https://cfc.sebts.edu/faith-and-culture/why-remembering-matters-and-how-it-shapes-our-lives-and-our-brains/

 Image credits: Nancy Ruegg; http://www.easy-peasy.ai; http://www.canva.com; http://www.heartlight.org; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.canva.com.

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Impact

Posted in Encouragement, Excellence, Faith, God-Given Abilities, Godly Character, Holiness, Obedience, Perseverance, Service, Success, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on May 7, 2026| 45 Comments »

Chances are you’ve never heard of Dixie Thompson. She was the music director for one of the churches my husband pastored. Descriptors for Dixie would include:

(We performed “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in 1998. That’s me on the right.)

  • Gifted; directing all aspects of a musical (instruments, choir, players, narrator, stage crew, sound technician, etc.–and making it look easy)
  • Talented; bringing the best out of each participant
  • Good listener; not interrupting, seeking to understand
  • Unflappable; calm under fire
  • Encouraging; often writing notes of appreciation

When I happened to be with Dixie at a restaurant or store, we’d always run into people she knew. And everybody wanted to talk to Dixie. She made each person feel important to her.

Much sooner than we would have liked, God chose to take Dixie home to heaven. She died of a brain tumor several years after my husband had been assigned to another church.

Hundreds of people attended her funeral. And the numerous stories told that afternoon gave indication of Dixie’s widespread impact.

Does that sound appealing—to influence for good the people around you?

In fact, that’s a normal desire:

“The drive to significance is a simple extension of the creative impulse of God that gave us being . . . We were built to count as water is made to run downhill. We are placed in a specific context to count in ways that no one else does. That is our destiny” [1].

But to accomplish our destiny requires determination. Determination to:

Accept who we are and where we are (Psalm 138:8)

‘Feeling ordinary? Insignificant? Unseen? Your feelings are lying to you!

“There is no such thing as an insignificant person or an insignificant place or an insignificant position” [2].

Granted, some people are like Waterford crystal, refracting the light and drawing praise. Others of us feel as forgettable as a compost bin.

Just remember: Crystal can be fragile, but that unremarkable compost bin offers “rich possibilities for fertilizing the lives of others” [3].

Pray to be prepared (Psalm 143:10)

“God’s recipe for significance is to get low, not high, to commit our plans to the Lord in prayer, not to move ahead without a sense of his blessing and guidance ”[4].

We can pray each day that God will work and speak through us to benefit those we encounter.

Invest in others (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

“A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives” (Jackie Robinson).

And impact occurs as we help and support, share and give, listen and encourage, challenge and celebrate those around us.

Cumulate words and deeds (Zechariah 4:10a)

“Never underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness or an encouraging word” [5].

Sometimes what seems like ordinary conversation and ordinary gestures actually add up to far-reaching impact.

I think of my grandmother, whose steady faith over the course of her life, her consistent kindness, overriding serenity, and more still inspire me, more than fifty years after she went home to her beloved Jesus.

Model / Be an example (Matthew 5:16)

An impactful example can occur even when we’re unaware.

“With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see.”—Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

Words are seeds too. Even an overheard conversation might be just the catalyst to turn a mind toward Christ.

[Be] Tenacious of faith (1 Corinthians 15:58)

We can determine to be tenacious, faithful, and watchful people, always attentive to those persons God puts in front of us, and seeking to honor him by honoring them. Then “we trust there will be fruit whether we see it or not” [6].

Stir these actions into your life . . .

  • I nvestment in others
  • M odeling / Be an example
  • P rayers of preparation
  • A cceptance of who we are and where we are
  • C umulation of simple words and deeds
  • T enacity of faith

. . . and you will indeed provide IMPACT in this world, an impact that extends into eternity.

No doubt people are still entering heaven’s gates who were impacted by the legacy of Dixie Thompson, and even of my dear grandmother.

[1] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, quoted by Sara Hagerty in Unseen, 40.

[2] Anne Graham Lotz, The Vision of His Glory, 77.

[3] illustration from Maggie Wallem Row, This Life We Share, 15.

[4] Dane Ortlund, In the Lord I Take Refuge, 359.

[5] Dorothea Shields, https://liviingmagazine.net/a-life-of-significance

[6] Hilary Yancey, contributor to A Moment to Breathe, 135.

Image credits: Steve Ruegg; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.pick.pik.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.canva.com.

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