Featured

Triumphant in Christ

Dear friends, 

My writing has been at a standstill after some serious family news. My father, best friend, and hero passed away this past October after almost making a full recovery after a cardiac event. The whole process from him entering the hospital in August 2023 and going home to Jesus Oct 2023 feels like a blur and like any of you who have gone through such grief, I still find myself in a blur or a haze. God’s goodness has held us through it all and we are emerging triumphant through it all because of Christ. 

That is what today’s blog topic is: Triumphant In Christ. I pray that wherever you find yourself, friend, you will experience in its fullest capacity the love, compassion, and grace of our wonderful Savior. With Easter just around the corner, what a great reminder that He has conquered the grave and made us more than conquerors in Christ. 

May this blog post speak to your heart as it comes straight from mine. 

Triumphant in Christ

Definition of Triumphant= feeling or expressing jubilation after having won a victory or mastered a difficulty, elated, joyful, delighted 

My heart couldn’t have felt further from “triumphant” as my mom and I drove to say our final goodbye to husband and dad. 

“Please just keep trying!” I told the doctor over the speakerphone. “We are almost there!” 

In a sorrowful tone, the doctor said, “He is gone. I tried.” His voice broke. 

If I could have flown the car to my dad’s side I would have. It was just 60 minutes before that I had talked with my dad on Facetime. He’d told me to expect a call from rehab because they would be giving instructions for him to come home. I knew it was true. We were finally at the last step after over two months of hospital and rehab stays. 

Rehab had called. I answered optimistically to the call I thought would inform me my dad was going home. He had gone home, just not the home we were expecting. A pulmonary embolism had gone straight to his lung and caused him no pain but just ushered him straight to Jesus’ arms. 

I had never felt so defeated. We had worked so hard day in and day out to help him recover. The last thing I would consider myself at that moment was “triumphant”. But here, months later and still with a raw heart, I can see that in that moment, and every moment before and after, I was/am/ and will be triumphant in Christ. 

One of my previous blog posts (when things were still scary but looking better for Dad) Never an Underdog https://melanietalevski.com/2023/09/11/never-an-underdog/ was written from my heart to encourage myself and others who were going through tough days. I assumed we would be “triumphant” with Dad returning home, that we would win. But the truth of the matter is, Dad has gone HOME to heaven and we are triumphant. We are overcomers. We are the winners. 

How could you say that? Some might think. Because, when linked with the Savior God, we are never losers. We win no matter what. We expected Dad to come home and we would “win” here on earth. But you know what? We did win! Dad is in the place he has always wanted to be. He is with Jesus. It makes it hard to be sad sometimes when one of the people you love most in the world gets what he always wanted: to be with Jesus, continually in His presence. 

So, friend, I want to encourage you that God has equipped you with all you need for life and for godliness here on this earth. No matter what kind of situation you are facing, no matter what circumstances say, no matter how “final” things may be— WE WIN (Thank you for the catchy phrasing Harry Wilson and how you are always faithful to preach this when you come to visit).

It is true! 

The whole story of Easter is the story of a people who on their own could not come close to God. They were alienated from God with no way to get to him. No access. No amount of good behavior, sacrifice, or money would lead them to God. No, they needed a bridge… a way back to God, their maker. Jesus came as that bridge. The only one who could bridge the gap between God and his people had to be a blameless, sinless man. The only man who qualified was Jesus. God’s very own son. And he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  but instead humbled himself that we might be reconciled with Father God. Taking the whole of our sins, death, sickness, infirmities, and diseases on himself, he died. 

Who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,

but emptied Himself,

taking the form of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8

Already that would be a plot worthy of a movie, wouldn’t it? A hero coming to die and save God’s people and reconcile them back. But the story did not end there. No! Jesus himself went to the gates of Hades and took the keys of the kingdom back from the enemy. And he did a bang-up job humiliating and defeating the enemy. 

Then Easter morning….. 

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary the the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered his words.

Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12) 

Because He lives we are triumphant now and forever! 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because He lives I will see my Daddy again.

Because He lives we will never see eternal death. 

Friend, take courage— He lives! 

And because He lives we are triumphant conquerors in Christ! 

We are overcomers. 

And do you know what the Bible says about overcomers? 

“Every believer in Christ can expect to receive the promises in Revelation made to him who overcomes:

— To be unhurt by the second death (the second death is the judgment of being separated from God and sentenced to hell, as seen in Revelation 20:6, 14; 21:8)

— To receive manna from heaven

— To receive a white stone with a new name written on it

— To rule with Christ in His coming kingdom

— To be clothed in white garments

— To have his name permanently in the Book of Life, never to be removed

— To have Jesus confess the overcomer’s name before the angels and the Father

— To be a pillar in the temple of God

— To sit with Christ on His throne” 

https://www.gotquestions.org/to-him-who-overcomes.html

How to become an overcomer: 

1. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. https://agapelife.org/next-steps/

2. Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome by evil but overcome evil by good.” 

What are you putting into your spirit? What are you reading? Listening to? Watching? What are you allowing to speak into your spirit? 

When you overflow with good it drives all evil out. We are truly overcomers in Christ! 

So today, may you be encouraged that Jesus Lives! Jesus has Conquered the Grave! Jesus has caused us to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Nothing can take us down or out. We win every time! 

My prayer for you: God, we ask that you would take our limited perspectives and flip them right side up so that we may see from your eyes who we are! May we realize the power that was given to us as believers when we accepted Jesus in our lives. May we grasp and understand the fullness of Jesus’ death and resurrection and how it provides hope, healing, and triumph for those of us in Christ. May we tell others the good news too so they may triumph in Christ as well. 

Help us to see our circumstances and situations from your eyes. We win every time because we are in you. Thank you for the hope that you give us in this life and in the life to come. Amen. 

Enjoy making Easter memories with your loved ones and celebrating the triumph that came to us through Christ! 

Until next time, 

PS. Here are some of our Easter pictures from over the years! 

Featured

God’s Hand in our Ordinary Days

One of my favorite movies is Hallmark’s “The Magic of Ordinary Days”. Livy is an unwed mother in need of a quick marriage before the birth of her baby to avoid scandal in WW2 era. She travels to a small country town to marry a man she doesn’t know. As the story unfolds, we see “the magic of ordinary days” causes their hearts to soften towards each other and love comes softly in their hearts. What a wonderful love story!  

I don’t know about you, but upon first thought I do not associate “ordinary” with “magical” in most of my current life situations. Ordinary, for me, is usually something like this: get up & take the kids to school, go to work, interact at work, make dinner, walk the dog, help with homework, fall in bed and wake up to do it all over the next day again. It all seems extremely ordinary but underneath all the ordinary the miraculous hand of God is working. 

Yes, His hand is working in our ordinary days, whether we see it or not. He’s working, weaving, His plan and purpose into our days. We may not see it, recognize it, or feel it, but His hand, His invisible hand, is orchestrating all.

A good biblical example of this is the story of Ruth and Naomi (Book of Ruth). The story starts out with Ruth and Naomi having anything but ordinary days! They had both lost their husbands and then took the steps to move from the land of Moab back to Israel. Their days had been tumultuous, filled with sorrow. In fact, Naomi even re-named herself “Mara” which means bitter. Life had been sad, angering, and disappointing. 

Together, mother and daughter-in-law, they returned to the land of Israel and their lives began to take on more of an ordinary aspect. Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law, had probably been accustomed to being a homemaker when her husband was living. But since he had passed away and now she was in a new land, Ruth found herself rolling up her sleeves and getting to work in the fields of Boaz. It was quite an ordinary thing— this gathering of grain, especially as it was leftover for the foreigners, poor, and the widowed. She went to gather day after day. She did not see or understand the invisible hand of God working through her ordinary days until much later. In fact, it would be in chapter four that we see the reward of Ruth and Naomi, and how they were redeemed: 

Through Boaz, a man of noble character who was related to Naomi’s husband— a contract was made. He bought the land of a relative and it made him the guardian/redeemer of both Naomi and Ruth (Ruth 4:1-11). 

“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. She gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:13-17

It was through these ordinary days that God was working a miracle in Ruth’s life (Naomi’s too). God placed Ruth in the exact spot he wanted her to be. She could not see the plan of God unfolding around her. In the devotional, “Jesus Always” by Sarah Young, she says (from God’s perspective):

I can see the big picture from before your birth and beyond the grave. I know exactly what you will be like when Heaven becomes your forever home. I am continually working to transform you into this perfect creation. You are royalty in My Kingdom!

October 16

Take heart, friend— God sees all! He sees the big picture from beginning to end. He uses the ordinary days— when it seems like nothing new is happening or perhaps it just feels like the same-old struggles where there is no help or no plan— and He forms and uses those days for His glory. God uses those days to sweep His invisible hand into our lives working, orchestrating, weaving a beautiful tapestry in our lives. This “weaving” cannot often be see as it’s in process, but it is one that we will look back on and realize— as love fills our hearts and perhaps even tears fill our eyes— that the Lord’s hand was in the ordinary days. 

He is faithful! 

 I encourage you to recount and recall the Lord’s faithfulness in your life. Allow faith to be built up in your heart by this practice. Remember the days, the situations that God’s faithfulness has shone through! Perhaps you did not see it until that chapter of your story was closed but there it is shining bright. Recall those things. Thank God for those things, worship God for those things, knowing that He is coming through for you. He is working all things together for good.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 

His Spirit is working, weaving in and out of our lives— in and out of every moment. He is making a beautiful tapestry of His love and our lives. 

Here’s my prayer for us today: Lord, I ask that you would open our eyes to the beauty of these ordinary days, even in the midst of challenge and great circumstances. I pray that we would cling to you knowing that your faithfulness is true, that your invisible hand is weaving and orchestrating and working all things together for good. We put our trust in you. We know that you are good. We know that you are faithful. You have pulled us through time and time again. And we know that you are working to pull us through this time as well. We hold on to you and we thank you for your hand in the ordinary days. In Jesus’ name Amen. 

Until next time, 

P.S. Here are some pictures of some of our ordinary days this fall. There’s been great challenge and circumstances but God is working His plan in our lives! His Holy Spirit is weaving His love into our hearts at every turn just as he is doing for you!

Featured

Never An Underdog

This time of year is just glorious for a baseball fan. The postseason race is just around the corner and the teams are giving it their all to clench their spot.  Rival meets rival and each and every game and at bat matters. 

In matters of baseball, my dad and I like to root for the underdog. Is there anything more inspiring than seeing the “little guy” win against the huge, overfunded bully? I think not. 

One of my favorite “underdog” Bible stories is, you guessed it, David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17).  In physical appearances, David was the “under dog”. Do you have some situations that cause you to feel like the underdog? Is there a situation you are facing that makes you feel like the weaker little guy? I want to encourage you to see yourself with the eyes of God like David did. 

David would have chickened out if he took in the size of his muscles in comparison to Goliath’s. He would have backed away in fear if he estimated his height against the giant’s. He would have given up hope if he looked at the odds. But did David do that? No! He kept His eyes on God!

The passage (1 Samuel 17:32-37) says: 

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

David was not looking at himself or his physical situation at all. He was looking at it all through the eyes of the spirit. He saw a giant bullying God’s people and speaking against God Most High. In David’s spirit rose up his champion, never-an-underdog attitude. In his spirit rose up the truth of the matter: Goliath may have had every physical advantage but God was on David’s side and that was what was going to lead David to victory. 

Some of you who know my family know that currently we are facing our own fight of faith. In physical terms it may have first appeared like we were a full out underdog. Are we entertaining those thoughts? No way! The physical realm tries to intimidate, but God, in His mercy, continues to help us open our eyes day by day and see ourselves as the victors in Christ! We see ourselves not from the natural standpoint but from the eyes of the spirit. We see ourselves not as the under dog but as the champion- the overcomer! We will receive the full victory just like David did, because we have the God of the universe on our side. 

I want to encourage you friend to see with the eyes of the Lord in any situation you are facing. You may be in the middle of ‘the fight of your life” and looking at yourself you may think you measure up as lesser, weaker, or unknowledgeable or capable of dealing with the challenge that is before you. That is you in your own strength. I want you to shake off the “underdog” mentality and realize that you:  

  • Are more than a conquer in Christ (Romans 8:37)
  • Can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13)
  • We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) 
  • He set the world into motion (Isaiah 45:18)  and he backs you up when you step out in faith
  • He is not going to leave you hanging
  • He is not going to fail you or leave you begging for help (Psalm 37:25) 
  • He is the God of the universe and when you go “up to bat” it is actually him backing you up. 

Yes, maybe your past put you in an underdog position. Maybe your lack of schooling, experience, money, or position tries to put you down. Or a sickness or problem has tried to rise up and bully you. All weakness stand aside when God comes up to bat. It is His power in you that causes you to overcome. 

Here’s the passage of David overcoming Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-51): 

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.

It’s vital that we rise up with an attitude like David! It’s of the utmost importance that we get our eyes off of how small or incapable we may “appear” to be and get so centered on the truth of who God is that we step out as a champion in Christ, backed by the full out spirit of him who raised the dead (Romans 8:11)! This situation, this victory is not up to you, your talents, or abilities. It is up to God.  

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:57

Jesus Christ, Number #1, all position player, with the perfect track record is up to bat. 

He has never known a loss and never will. 

And we are on His team! 

Hooray! 

So that means we can start marching around, yes even though we may appear in the physical to be the underdog, we can march around with an attitude that is big! It’s an attitude that says: My God is coming through for me. Just wait and see! 

And it is with those words that faith rises in your heart. 

I encourage you today— say it to yourself when you rise: 

I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!

He is working all things together of my good! 

My prayer for you today: God, I pray for my friends, that they would rise up like David this week. I pray that you would help them surrender their physical “limitations” and get their eyes on you and realize that in you, they are the overcomers! They are champions! Holy Spirit, rise up in each one of us this week. Help us see ourselves according to the spirit, according to our position in Christ. We claim victory in each and every situation we face this week, not because of our strength or abilities, but because you, the God of the Universe are on our side. And according to the Word, you have already given us the victory! So we stand and enforce that truth even when the odds look against us or when discouragement tries to enter in. We are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus! The enemy must run away! He is already defeated. So we bless your name, God, and thank you for leading every battle we fight, knowing that You have already won! Amen. 

Until next time, 

P.S. Here are a few of my pictures from softball days growing up. Did you play any sports growing up? 

Featured

Constant Watering

Although I’m neither a homesteader or a backwoods country person part of me likes to imagine I might be. So each quarter a magazine is delivered to my mailbox with my name on it, with  secrets to survival and living on a homestead. This month’s message was “your survival depends on water”. It proceeds to tell how to dig a well no matter what kind of property you live on. Because with water no matter what comes our way, we can survive. 

 It’s funny that this message came across my mailbox just as I was thinking about how essential the water of God’s Word is in our every day lives. Without watering ourselves constantly in the Word, we will become dry, brittle, barely surviving, definitely not thriving. 

This past week with the extreme heat my garden has been craving to be watered more than once, so I find myself turning on the hose both in the morning and evening. The water is so refreshing to the plants especially on a hot day. One day as I watered I actually saw the leaves and flowers of my purple petunias instantly perk up! They physically stood taller, stronger, and more beautiful than before. What would a constant fresh watering do? It would further those results, causing the garden to overflow with new buds and become bigger and healthier. 

The same is true of our spirits. We need constant watering in the Word. Not just a sprinkle here or there or not just relying on a little rainstorm that comes our way. No, we need a constant source of perpetual water of God’s Word  in our lives. Without it we become dehydrated, brittle, hard hearted and immovable. In a state like that it is hard to serve God and follow His voice. 

Let’s allow God to “take our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh”(Ezekiel 36:26). An important part of receiving that heart of flesh and keeping our heart soft is to stay constantly watered in the Word of God. I’ve seen it true in my own life. I’m especially am thankful for all the scriptures I was taught as a kid. Whether through memorization or through memorizing songs, I find certain songs and verses coming to mind automatically even after all these years just getting stronger year by year especially when facing difficult situations. I’m so thankful for parents who planted the Word in me as a young child. And I’m thankful for a good youth group and a good Bible program that I stuck to in a good school as a teenager and as a young adult. And now as a parent, and as a 40 year old, it’s still true: The Word of God is essential. Essential as water is to our survival.

It’s our responsibility to get into the Bible each and every day. I am old school and I love the literal opening of the Word of God and sitting in reading it with my coffee in the morning. Or if the morning takes off at a busy pace then I make sure to do it before bed at night. Each and every time the Bible speaks to me, especially as I prepare my heart before God. “Speak to me today, God” should be our prayer as we open the Word. Keep reading until the Holy Spirit drops understanding or revelation and a heart from what we have read from the Bible. 

As for real life application—whether you’re new or even a seasoned pro— it’s a good idea to couple a book of the Old Testament with a book from the New Testament or Psalm each day.  It will keep things fresh and to keep your heart watered according to the word. It will keep you fresh, sharp, and growing more than ever before! 

How alive my purple petunias were after a good watering! We too, whether we realize it or not, become full of life, health, encouragement, praise, gratefulness after a time in the Word. The things that seemed too big, too challenging in our lives now shrink down in comparison to His mighty love and grace. 

Through reading the Bible our thinking is adjusted: 

So I encourage you to start today! Open your Bible and ask God to speak to you. Read it verse by verse (I like to encourage friends to start in the book of John).

You will be amazed at how refreshed and renewed your spirit is after a time of watering in the Word! And we know that true refreshment comes from the inside out, starting with our spirit man and working outwards to our body and mind. 

My prayer for you: God I ask that my friends find the true value of watering themselves in your Word each and every day. Speak to them as they read the Bible. Holy Spirit, we invite you to be present with us as we read your Word. We want your knowledge, your revelation, your understanding your guidance in all things. “Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:105). Watering ourselves in the Word each day is essential not just to survival but to thriving in your Kingdom. We pray we would become so immersed in the Word that when we come away from time with you, we realize that the situations that seemed impossible are now shrunk in comparison to your mighty love and grace. We pray that as we read the Bible hope rises in our hearts. That we would become refreshed in our spirit, soul, and body.  We thank you for your life flowing through us as we read the Bible. And we thank you that it causes us to thrive in your kingdom and to be well watered, strong and have roots in your kingdom. We thank you for this in Jesus name, Amen. 

Here’s other blogs I wrote about the importance of the Word: 

Further Up, Further In
Want to Flourish? Start to Nourish

And another about His faithful promise: www.melanietalevski.com/2023/03/18/his-faithful-promise/

And a blog I wrote on “Benefits of the Word” for my church: https://mailchi.mp/cfff8739382e/agapes-encouragement-blog

Happy Bible reading!

Until next time, 

P.S. Here are some pictures of our garden this year. We kept the garden pretty simple with flowers, a row of carrots and lettuce and spinach one tomato plant, a pepper plant and several strawberry plants. Something about being outdoors and watering these plants is just so calming and of course reminds me of exactly what this blog was all about: watering myself in the Word each and every day. And can you tell who my gardening buddy is? 😉

Featured

Adventuring Out

On the rollercoaster, I found myself lifting my hands and screaming in pure enjoyment! Our trip to Disneyland earlier this summer included many rollercoaster rides and I found myself enjoying the thrill (Well, all but one but that is a different story! And is the “Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout”  really classified as a rollercoaster anyway? I think not… anyway I digress). 

Something is so freeing about riding a rollercoaster. Perhaps you find your thrill in a different way: Hang gliding, hiking, overlooks at the mountains, kayaking, etc… The truth of the matter is, life is meant to be lived and felt and while there was a time I could not tolerate the rollercoasters as well because of how my body was handling stress, now I can again and am thoroughly enjoying it. 

As for a natural “adventure” I enjoy walking in the rain. No, it is not usually something I purposely seek out… but if an adventure was to be ruined because of a storm, I would rather be out in it experiencing it. Some of my best times and memories and magical moments of life have happened in storms. Something is so amazing about conquering/weathering the storm and the reward you find in the midst of it. Take our latest Estes Park trip as an example: 

The radar said a storm was moving in hard and fast up in the mountains but we had just arrived and knew that at Sprague Lake, at night fall, and especially around a storm, is an optimum viewing time for the rare seen moose (and it is not too far of a walk from the safety of our parked car).

My oldest daughter and I hopped out of the car, donned our sweatshirts and umbrellas and even when the rain started to sprinkle, then pour, we continued our trek. We met up with my dad with his weatherproof lens on his camera and sure enough— we got to see the moose! 2 of them! It was majestic and wonderful. To top it off, on our walk back the sky was alight with the most beautiful double rainbow I have ever seen in my life! We were soaked and cold but that was definitely a moment that I felt fully alive. 

God wants you to feel fully alive too. I know we like to be safe. I know we like to be comfortable. But sometimes when the storm comes, it is a time not to hunker away or worry away, but instead go out and face it. With God, we can make what was going to ruin the day into an adventure. If you need to hunker, know that that is fine too. I have gone through my own seasons of hunkering down and God is so good to bring us through to our adventure state once again. 

The truth of the matter, whether rollercoasters and rainstorms, we have a chance to lay it all on the line. We can hunker away and worry or we can stand up and realize we are on this ride of life and we may as well enjoy it and make the best of it (All while trusting the Lord!). 

I know for a lot of us life has not happened as we have planned. Perhaps a main friendship has gone awry, or our a marriage relationship is struggling, or our children have challenges or behavior or needs that seem too much for us to bear. Or it may be your job, family, social interactions, housing, finances. God wants us to know in this moment that we can fully trust in Him. We can quit the hunkering, list making, and worrying for a moment and lean into Him. He’s holding us safe through the rollercoaster. He’s shielding us through the storm.

He is the miracle worker and even when things in life seem to be going wrong, He is the one who causes what the enemy meant for evil to be turned around and used as good. 

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.”

(Genesis 50:20, Joseph was talking to his brothers)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 

John 10:10

God’s goodness and love is behind us, before us, all around us. His mercy, grace, kindness,  love, faithfulness follow us all our lives. 

There are plenty of ups and downs, all arounds, even lightening strikes nearby at times but He, in His goodness, stands beside us, holding us firm. 

He beckons us, “Stop worrying and look to me. Trust me.” 

Trust me. 

It’s such an easy yet complicated thing isn’t it? 

We don’t know what it is like to be able to trust fully… we have grown to learn that even those closest to us have not been perfectly trustworthy (what human is?). He is the only infallible One, He is the only truly faithful One. 

We can take refuge in that fact, and whether it is a moment to hunker down with the truth of the matter and let it absorb in your heart or whether it is a moment to get on “the ride” and let His faithfulness be proved in your life— you can count on Him. You can lean on Him. 

Here’s the verse that is quoted all the time, but please look again and let it sink into your soul: 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

We make that our prayer today. Lord, we don’t know how to fully trust or lean on you. Our own thinking, the world, the scary challenges that arise— they try to cause us to look to ourselves for the answers instead of you. May we keep the channel of communication open with you and not allow anything to clog it up: unforgiveness, strife, anger, disappointment… but instead let you carry those things away as we trust in You. You are the trustworthy One. You are the only infallible One. We want to trust you more. Holy Spirit, would you come up beside each one of us today and show us the pathway to trusting our Lord Jesus more and more? We thank you for that. We also thank you for the adventure of life and how we can know, with you, God, we can throw our hands up, smile, and adventure out because of your faithful love towards us. Amen. 

Friend, may you be blessed this week with His presence as He shows you how to trust Him more. May your heart be opened to hearing and receiving and doing what He shows you. His path may not look safe (remember the C.S. Lewis quote? “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course Aslan isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King”) but because of the trustworthy One on our side we will adventure out and see the miracles even in the midst of what feels like mayhem. May your trust go down deeper than ever before, on the solid rock of God and His word, and may you adventure out like never before. 

Until next time,

PS. Here’s some of the shots of our “adventuring out” whether it was the rollercoasters at Disney or the stormy hike at Estes. Looking forward to more spiritual and physical adventures with Jesus by our sides! 

Featured

Brought Near

It seems like I’ve been seeing it everywhere: license plates from different states parked on neighbor’s driveways, the smell of freshly grilled hamburgers, laughter floating over the neighborhood, even the pictures on Facebook are overflowing with family reunions and visits to friends.  It’s summer and the sense of gathering, community, and welcoming of friends and family from afar is abundant. 

Is there anything greater than being together? Summer ushers in a special time of those who are close in our hearts but far in location being brought near for enjoyment, friendship, quality time and connection. 

A couple weeks ago we had the privilege of having my dear friend and her family visit us here in Colorado. There is nothing like the time to visit with a friend and family who live far away. We found ourselves surrounded by laughter,  dinners on the patio, swim times, and walks at sunset to the park. Our hearts were knitted together fresh and anew, and for the first time the kids met each other in person and formed an immediate connection. Being near to one another brought feelings of the Kingdom and how life should be. Saying goodbye to such friends of our hearts is always heartbreaking.  I’m thankful one day we will be able to be near those we love all the time! No distance or time will separate us. 

In reading my Bible this morning a verse stuck out to me: Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the precious blood of Christ.” 

Isn’t that awesome news? We were brought NEAR near by Christ. 

We had once been so far away, so lost. 

Our hearts knew we needed the Savior but there was nothing we could do on our own. No plane to board, no roadtrip to take that would bring us close. 

No, it was only by the precious blood of Christ that we were brought near. 

His blood was the only thing that could reunite us to Him. 

And when His blood was shed, He was declaring, “Come home. Come sit with me, laugh with me, eat with me, be with me.” 

What an invite. 

He’s inviting us near, casting off all our sin, shame and guilt. 

He’s saying, “Come be with me. Forever.” 

The blessing of His presence is that He is always with us and we can know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are never alone. We are brought near (link to a guest blog I wrote on this subject: https://mailchi.mp/a99cf8d6cc55/agapes-encouragement-blog?fbclid=IwAR01ECk6_yXTn49HyQHGPhICimpHoeLgCZiwUO_vb6Q9gLPGEq-8_m56HUY ) .

Friend, perhaps you have never realized all Christ has done for you, I invite you today to say this prayer to accept all he offers, to be brought near to him for eternity: 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have done wrong, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn away my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. Because of your sacrifice I am brought near to you eternally. Thank you for that! I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, Amen.

Or perhaps you have already accepted His sacrifice— may you draw comfort from the fact that He is near, never to leave. No matter what we face He is near and forever will be. 

Let His lavish love rest upon you today— soak it all in like a good summer gathering with family & friends— He loves you! He has done all to redeem you, bring you back to Him, and call you friend. Our job is to accept Him, draw near to Him, linger in His presence and be filled with the love of God. Once filled up, He will show us how to share this love with others. 

My prayer for you:

Lord, fill my friend’s heart and summer with your lavish love! May he/she walk in the nearness that you have made available through the gift and sacrifice of your son. May he/she fully accept you as Savior and Lord and continue to walk in the blessing of your presence all our days here on this earth and for all eternity! Thank you for bringing us close, never to let us go. May the truth of that sink into our hearts, into our minds and bring your peace that passes understanding no matter what season or challenge we face. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Until next time, 

PS. Here are a few of our summer adventures! California vacation, swim days, mountain hikes, and the list is just starting! Enjoy your summer, friends!

Featured

Keeping Pace with the Holy Spirit

Anyone who hikes, runs, or walks knows the importance of “keeping pace”. Yes, timing and challenging yourself to “achieve more” is a hallmark of such sports but even more vital is the ability to keep pace as to avoid burn out.

In these days it’s not unlikely to face burn out or a fizzling of physical or mental conditions because of the constant hurried state and busyness of the world. The Holy Spirit wants to help with that!

How do we “keep pace” in this life to avoid burn out? I may not be the best example of this as I have always been an achiever, happiest when I get things done and get to put a check mark on my to do list. But God is teaching me, changing what I thought was “productive” and gently teaching me by the power of the Holy Spirit what a “productive” life looks like with Him and how to “keep pace” with the Holy Spirit.

I was hesitant in using this phrase “keep pace” because the first thing that can spring to achievers minds is: I need to hurry up, do better, and go faster! Raise your hand if you thought that, I know I did. But what if all we know about “hurry up, strive, and achieve” was not exactly right? What if we allowed the Holy Spirit to turn that limited mindset on its side? I believe we would experience freedom.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 8:14

So today would you open your heart and mind to see things from a different perspective? We ask the Holy Spirit to help facilitate this process as I know He definitely is with my own process too.

What if instead of achieving more, hurrying more, we took a look at what the Bible says is to be our focus…

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38

That’s right the best thing we can ever achieve in this life isn’t (gasp) working ourselves for the cause of Christ (a healthy version of that comes later) but the first goal is to: LOVE THE LORD.

How does that change how your day would look? how would that alter your “to do” list?

What about the second command (which actually houses 2 commands)?

And the second (command) is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:39

I think that we often get carried away with the “hurry up, strive, serve, check those to do’s” and fail to fill up with the main thing: the Love of God. It is only in constantly receiving this love that we can give this love both to others and to ourselves.

So to “keep pace” with the Holy Spirit– to stay in stride with the Holy Spirit– it may look a bit gentler than you and I think.

This “keeping pace with the Holy Spirit” more than likely will be a bit more slow, gentle, and restful than you first thought. It may be less of “hurry up, go go go” and more of a
“rest, recharge, soak”. If we are to continue on this journey that eventually leads us to our eternal home we got to “keep pace” with the Holy Spirit and His gentle way.

I don’t know about you but slowing down or surrendering can be one of the hardest things. I remember even as a young child fighting rest time with all I was, so much so my mom would often have to bear hug me until I finally gave in and slept. It’s something about our nature: do more, be more, have more.

But God’s nature, and through the giving of His son, He says to us, “I have done all. I am all, I have all.” And when we have Him, we can rest.

I hope this message speaks to your heart today, especially as the summer season is upon us. It is naturally a time we allow more rest and more activity alike, but in all your summer ventures may you ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in His pace this summer, which may very much in fact be a slower pace than you expected. I know it is for me!

When we slow, make room for the Lord and loving Him more fully– great adventures, avenues and doors can open for us. Things we didn’t even see on the horizon come into play in a great way. Things will emerge that will cause us to go “ah-ha! that’s why the Holy Spirit encouraged me to clear my schedule or say no to the regular hurry scurry.” We will never regret listening to the Holy Spirit and following His way. It’s the best way!

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21

So I encourage you friend to keep gentle pace with the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to be the Guardian of your time, energy, and life and show you His paths for you this summer.

Lord, we invite you into our lives this summer. We want to hear your voice. We want to see your pathways. We make room for you. We tune our ears to the Holy Spirit and say yes to His pace, His way. Gentle our busy hearts. Still our busy minds. Help us to focus on the greatest thing we could ever do: love you with all our heart. And when we are filled with your love help us to show that love to others (as we do to ourselves). It’s going to take discipline on our part to say no to the hurry and yes to you. May your Holy Spirit gently nudge us, close doors not meant for us, and lead us on your pathways we pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Until next time,

Want to read more encouragement on this topic?

Living the Gentle Life

PS. Gentle pathways are some of the best adventures! The absence of hurry and “do more” allows space for the moments life is really made of. Here are a few pictures of our gentle God-led adventures over the years.

Featured

Living the Gentle Life

How do you cope when burned out? Withdraw? Control? Anger? Anxiety?
At times of extreme burnout I become “Sargent Melanie” and it is not very pleasant. It’s often a fruitless grappling at control and nobody is happy when this mode gets activated (me included). Thank God, He’s teaching me to rely more on His Spirit and less on my very ineffective “Sargent” mode.

What about you? What’s your mode you default to when stressed or burnt out? Regardless of how we cope, one thing we have the same as children of God is: gentleness is truly at the root of who we are. Whether it is buried under a deep forest of problems, or thorny briar situations—We have this character, the gentleness of our God, ingrained in each one of us.

There are many passages in the Bible that talk about gentleness and compassion in regards to Jesus:

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed the sick.

Matthew 14:14

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Mark 1:41

And Jesus saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:34 

God has always been full of compassion and nothing has changed.

Jesus says the same yesterday today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

He was compassionate then and He is compassionate now.

There are those who use this character trait of God’s to try to take advantage of Him. “Oh, because He’s so kind and compassionate, I don’t need to serve or I don’t need to change my life” they may think or say. No, the opposite is true. The goodness of God leads people to repentance (Romans 12:4). His gentleness leads them in a deeper walk with Him.

When we truly experience His gentleness and goodness, we crave more and more. And when we crave for more and more, we spend time with Him more and more. And when we spend time with Him more and more, we’re transformed. And when we’re transformed, we are changed into the likeness of our Savior.

It’s a process that many have abandoned or forgotten– “what we behold is what we become”. Who we spend time with is who will be like! What we focus on will become a major source of our life.

The enemy’s plan is to distract the Christians of this age until Jesus’ coming. They may not be deep and dark distractions (although those do occur as well) but these distractions are more of a general low hum of distraction. He’s tricky and is trying to distract followers of Christ from the gentleness of God which leads to repentance and transformation in our lives. To absorb, understand and delight in God’s gentleness takes quietness, peace and rest, and ample time in His presence. This, my friends, will take prioritizing.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

For where your treasure is there your heart is also.

Matthew 6:21

It’s time for us, as followers of Christ, to push away distraction and prioritize the Kingdom. It is in this prioritizing of Jesus and His gentle love towards us that we find transformation for our lives.

Have you found the gentle love of Jesus? Have you accepted it? Have you allowed it to transform and change your life? Have you allowed it to rock your world and turn everything right side up?

Oh friend, how He wants to touch and change our lives so we are living the Christ-following life, the “good life”. It’s the life full of the gentleness of Jesus as the root of all we do, of all we are. Would you allow Him to touch your life today? All you need to do is whisper your “yes” and the door is open for Him to come in (https://agapelife.org/next-steps/)

God calls us and leads us by His Holy Spirit. His gentle Holy Spirit leads us further into the gentle love of Christ where we experience His love. This love transforms and changes us and we become like Him.

Before we finish, would you let me pray for you?

God, I lift up my friends in Christ today. May you encourage them and fill them with your love and gentleness this week. May they begin to know, like Ephesians 3 says, “How wide and deep and long and high is your love”, God. May you speak to them by your gentle Holy Spirit and show them your path to living a gentle life. I ask that you would help them break out of burnout mode and ways they used to cope and instead lead them in your gentleness that transforms their lives as they prioritize you. May they behold you and become like you this week. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

So friend, I bless you as you begin to live the gentle life. Live gently, not of your own strength or determination– but as you link arms with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill your life with God’s love.

Until next time,

P.S. Read more about “The Love That Was There All Along”: https://melanietalevski.com/2022/06/18/the-love-that-was-there-all-along/

or “The Night Love Lit the Sky”:

https://melanietalevski.com/2021/12/24/the-night-love-lit-the-sky/

Also, you can access all of my other encouraging blog posts anytime at https://melanietalevski.com/blog-2/

Let them speak to your heart today!

Featured

His Faithful Promise

My all-time favorite attributes of God are: His faithfulness, His love, and His generosity. I think this verse sums it up nicely: 

Often we think about the goodness of God (another favorite attribute) or the mercy of God—but the faithful, loving generosity of our Lord is completely amazing when we take the time to fully absorb it into our spirit and everyday life. 

This morning I took a moment to look out the window just as the sun was rising (and that is not super easy to do on this daylight savings time week!) But to take a moment to acknowledge another day has dawned, is amazing to say the least. We often become susceptible to just accepting the miraculous events that happen each day, but when we take a moment to truly see that moment for what it is, we realize the amazement that comes with the start (and close) of each day. 

Something about sunrises, sunsets, star gazing— it all takes our focus off the world just beyond our nose and puts our focus on our amazing creator God. He’s been faithful, loving and generous since the beginning of time and He always will be (Heb 13:8). 

Not only does God say, “I am a generous, loving, and faithful God” but He says that His promises will extend to us as we become like Him— generous, loving, faithful. 

Just like planting seeds to start a garden, the promise is true. What we plant is what we will reap. 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7

My husband knows this principle well as it applies to the garden. In previous years when preparing for a garden, he does not simply plant a small variety of seeds, no he plants expecting a huge harvest! Partly he realizes that only a certain amount of seeds will make it to be a large plant, but he also realizes the promise in the Bible of sowing and reaping. 

Our generous God not only promises us we will reap what we sow, but He also demonstrates it to us through His own actions. He doesn’t just say “this is my promise” but His character and actions show us His promise every day. The main faithfulness, love and generosity of God came through His selfless giving of His son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sin. May our eyes to be opened daily to His faithful, loving, generous promises to us (wake up with the sunrise tomorrow— I promise you it will help your perspective during the day). 

Our God is faithful, loving and generous and He draws us to Himself. He provides, protects, and fulfills His promises for our lives. What an awesome God! And now, as we continue to walk with Him on this discipled life, we become more like Him. We reflect Him— we become generous, loving, and faithful. 

I encourage you, my friend, plant the seeds today that you want to see harvested in your life. Plant the seeds of God’s faithfulness, love and generosity in your children’s lives, grandchildren’s lives, friendships, and relationships. You won’t regret following after God in these areas! 

What are you sowing? Is it matching what you want to reap? Often times we have heard in regards to friendship “looking for a friend? Be one!” The same principle applies to what we sow… looking for love? Sow love! Looking for friendship? Sow friendship! Looking for an abundance in finances? Sow finances into the kingdom! It works with any and every principle. 

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Malachi 3:10 

Let’s take the challenge this spring to: 

1. Acknowledge and thank God for His attributes of faithfulness, love and generosity! Ask God to open our eyes so we can see this daily! 

2. Follow Christ’s footsteps and grow as His disciples by becoming like Him: faithful, loving, generous. (Remember the saying about “who you surround yourself with is what you become?” Surround yourself with God and godly friends. Soak up more of God’s faithfulness, love and generosity by fellowshipping with Him and it will begin to transform you!) 

3. Sow in our own lives and the lives of others. Ask ourselves what we want to reap and plant that. Plant as God speaks to us and be generous in all things knowing we can never out give God! In fact, He is waiting for us to put Him to the test. 

So, get those seeds ready and start to prepare the soil. It is time to plant and sow generously! 

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

2 Corinthians 9:6

My prayer for you this week: God, I pray for each of my friends here. May you speak to their hearts. If they have not seen or experienced your faithfulness, love or generosity lately, I pray their eyes would be opened to you and your love for them. Speak to them about who you are and how you love them. Rub off on them as they spend time soaking in fellowship with you. Help them transform into followers of Christ and take on your attributes of faithfulness, love, and generosity. Help them not just see these attributes but to experience them, become them and to sow them into your Kingdom where they will affect many and plant a wonderful garden that will spring forth to produce a beautiful harvest! We entrust all this to your care. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Get ready for a wonderful garden & bountiful harvest my friend! 

Until next time, 

P.S. Here are a few snapshots of our gardening over the years. 

Featured

Strength in Surrender

Surrender. Gosh, that is a scary word isn’t it? I don’t know about you but in my generation we were taught to fight, to not give in, to be strong. Surrender seems to be a word we never ever would want to utter from our lips. Am I right? 

But today I want to talk to you about the STRENGTH that comes through surrender. 

Believe me, this is a very personal topic God has been teaching me full time for awhile now. As a first born, (mostly) type A American girl, I like to have my list. I sometimes think I came out of the womb several weeks early only to get a head start on my list and productivity for the day. There is no slacking around for this girl. 

While being organized, having a to do list and achieving goals can all be good things, they can also stand in the way especially when a difficult season comes around. I’m talking about the kind of season that, no matter how you try, no matter what angle you go at it, you just simply cannot control or change it.

This type of season has occurred for me in different ways and different forms over the years, but the most helpless I ever felt was after the birth of my third child. My body basically “wigged” out (for lack of a better word). I was constantly facing panic attacks and wasn’t able to control one thing about myself or my health. I learned very quickly, that I was not in control; the control I always thought I had over myself was an illusion. 

Thank God, I have since recovered mostly from that season and now am in a season of trusting God with other matters in my life that I am finding I have no control over. 

How helpless we can feel when the “control” we thought we had manages to show up as a smoke screen, just an illusion of control. It happens to all of us in one form or another: lack of control over a loved one’s decisions, lack of control over health of ourselves or someone in our family or friend, lack of control over our world and what it is coming to, lack of control over work situations, and the list could go on and on.

But friend, we have the ultimate strength of God on our side when we surrender in prayer. 

I have been finding myself more and more praying in my prayer language (Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:2, Jude 1:20). Sometimes it is so hard to find the words to pray over situations. But the Holy Spirit knows how to pray every time! I also use this book as a good resource: “Prayers that Avail Much” by Germaine Copeland.

Seriously, get a copy! It will change the way you think and pray.

When we surrender, yes even sometimes full out kneeling down in a submissive pose before the Lord, we are able to receive strength to go on. 

We know trying to control and grip tight isn’t working, but neither do we want to be passive and give up and give in. Surrender, especially to God, is actually a great in-between compromise and coping mechanism… no, this surrender is not a waving of the white flag, but rather, an acknowledgement with hands lifted high “this is out of my control— I am spinning my wheels and getting no where. I have to lay this down”. And how we as Christians lay it down is through PRAYER. 

Here is a simple example of surrendering all through prayer (although I also recommended prayer from book and also prayer in the Holy Spirit!):

Also, we have all heard the serenity prayer, which can be a good place to get started. 

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr

When we come to the place that we realize we are not able to fix a situation, a person, in our own might, it is humbling and also can be very helpless feeling and anxious producing. But, like in the words of a friend of mine:

This friend of mine and I were talking about two family members of hers that she has been praying years for. She selected a promise from the Word and just prayed it over and over no matter what things looked like at each family gathering or meetup. She continued to pray and pray. With tears in her eyes she told me about how one has come to the Lord and the other family member has been delivered from an environment of darkness and is coming towards the light again.

Hallelujah! What an example she is to me of the strength that comes from surrendering in prayer. When we pray, it’s a surrendering of our control, our agenda, our plan and putting our faith in the one who is worthy and able to carry it all: our Savior God. 

My prayer for this week: Lord, may we never cease to remember you are the one in control. May we continue to keep our eyes on you and your promises no matter what situations, people, health, etc. may look like at the moment. May we be encouraged to know you keep your promises and your power is at work in our lives and situations and you can change things! Help us to continue to wait on you, surrender to you, and pray to you. 

Three things to remember in the time you feel a debilitating lack of control: 

1. Keep yourself submitted to God. Let go of trying to maneuver, change or dictate what needs to be done.

2. Prayer! 

3. Keep eyes focused on Him not the situation. 

Friend, I encourage you… as I encourage myself: do not give up hope! Continue to receive His strength for your situations by surrendering to Him in prayer daily, moment by moment. Hold onto His promises— write them out, pray them, declare them over your situation. Stand strong upon the word. Be willing to put in the work. Stay patient and wait (this is often the last step before BREAKTHROUGH comes). You will receive the BREAKTHROUGH. Keep holding fast. Not in your own striving, determination, work, but in deep soulful surrender to the Lord. 

Just think of the testimonies we will have to tell as we continue to hold fast! 

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Hebrews 10:23 

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Before you go… here are some of my other articles to encourage you on this topic:

All About Holding onto Hope in the midst of a dark season:  https://melanietalevski.com/2020/04/21/a-tiny-steady-light/ 

Encouragement and Infusion of His strength https://melanietalevski.com/2020/12/26/an-infusion-of-strength/

Leaning into God and receiving His grace in our time of need https://melanietalevski.com/2022/03/12/pockets-of-grace/ 

Until next time, 

Melanie 

PS. An inspiring song to encourage you in your surrendering in prayer: 

And an old time favorite hymn:

Featured

The Precious Blood of Christ

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

1 Peter 1:18-19 

The blood of Jesus paid for us to become alive in Him! And this precious blood never loses its power! Amen!

Growing up at our church there was hardly a Sunday that went by that we did not mention or sing about the blood of Jesus. Remember some of the old songs? “Oh the Blood of Jesus” and “Power in the Blood of the Lamb”? Those songs are chock-full of the power available to us who believe!

Sure, it’s easy to sing or casually mention, but may we never cease to remember the power in His blood, the power in His name. I don’t know about you but I want to fully tap out the benefits in His name (although they are unlimited and never run out)!

In Exodus 12, God’s people, the Israelites, quite literally covered their homes and doorframes with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. God gave them specific instructions to do this to be protected from the plague of the death of firstborn. If they wanted their firstborns to survive, they were to follow this command. And follow it, they did!

The godless people in this story, the Egyptians, did not have the power of the blood of the lamb in their lives. They faced every plague, illness, problem imaginable including the loss of their firstborn sons. But none of these things touched God’s people, the Israelites, as they tapped into the protection given to them by the blood.

The sacrifice of lambs and animals in Old Testament ceased to be necessary when Jesus, once and for all, the only truly spotless and pure one, died and shed his blood for our sin. His blood COMPLETELY COVERED us. Then. Now, Forever. 

I encourage you to study what the Bible has to say about it! Here are some verses for further study:

Scriptures on the Blood of Jesus:

1 John 1:7, Revelation 12:11, Colossians 1:20,

Hebrews 9:14, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 10:19

Scriptures on the Name of Jesus:

Luke 10:17, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:13

Scriptures about the power given to us as believers in Jesus Christ:

Luke 10:19, Matthew 16:19, John 14:12, James 4:7, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20 

This protection, deliverance, peace is available to us as believers. It’s here ripe for the taking! Just like the Israelites who applied the blood on the doorpost, there is an action involved with applying the protection of blood of the Lamb to our lives. 

We have an enemy who would love to render us ineffective, powerless, distracted. No! We will not stand by and be stolen from. We are to apply, even plead, this blood of the Lamb over our lives in His authority (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to proclaim it no matter what storm rages in our lives. We must know and believe deep down, without a doubt, that God’s protection is there for us, whether we feel it or not. 

Believe in His promises. Speak it aloud. Remind yourself and your family daily. They are covered. No matter what evil comes their way, ultimately they are safe and secure, protected by the precious blood of the Lamb. 

Pleading the blood of the Lamb can sound like this: Lord, I plead the blood of Jesus over myself and my family. I ask for your protection, peace in our bodies, spirits, souls. We plead the blood of Jesus over our property, children, everything belonging to us. We believe your promise that we are blessed, protected and healed. We believe that we are above and not below (Deuteronomy 28:13) and everything we put our hand to propers because of the Spirit of Jesus in us and the authority Jesus has given us in His name. We will see miracles happen in our lives as we follow you, God, and your provisions and protection are with us all our days. 

There is no magic or secret code to say to “activate” the protection of the blood in our lives, but we must SPEAK OUT IN FAITH to the situations that come against us. We must speak from the authority given to us in Christ. 

The good news is these promises, this protection and blessing of the Lord, is ours. A favorite missionary friend of ours says, no matter what things look like at that moment we can hold on, be confident and secure because “WE WIN!” We know that is our destiny with Christ and can truly be a part of our day to day living. 

A blessing for you…. I bless you, dear friend, with courage that comes from walking with God and the Holy Spirit. I ask God to make you confident and secure in proclaiming His promises, the truth and power of the blood of Jesus, in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. I pray that you would fully experience the Power of the Blood and how it redeems us from sin and spiritual death. I pray that in times of the storm you would not grow weary but look to His strength and protection provided by His precious name and precious blood. All you need is completely covered in Him. May you see yourself like the Israelites… They were not exempt from living in this land, but they lived in the light and protection of Almighty God and He showed up for them and delivered them just as in fact He is doing for you. Continue to believe and speak out the power of His blood into your life daily. May you be protected and blessed in every way. I bless you in your coming, your going, everything you put your hand to will be blessed (Read more of the Blessing in Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

Until next time,

P.S. One of my favorite singers about the blood of Jesus is Nick Blount, also known as “Nicodemus” in “The Gospel Bill Show”.

Here’s a more recent favorite song about the blood of Jesus. It speaks to me every time I give it a listen.

Featured

Completely Covered

What I am about to tell you is the grandest news that has the power to transform your life! Ready for it? You are covered.

The phrase “I’ve got your back” originated from a time of war: “I got your six” was a phrase used during WW1 between pilots who flew the biplanes. When a pilot would advance upon an enemy to attack (and often would have to attack from the back to shoot out the pilot) the other nearby pilot would tell him “I got your six”, with “six” describing the position behind. So it would quite literally mean “I got your back”. The comrade would cover the pilot as he went in to shoot the enemy. 

Did you know the Holy Spirit has a message for you as a believer today? He whispers to you “I got your back”. 

And unlike the mere human form of “covering someone’s back” when the Holy Spirit covers us we couldn’t be in a better place!

When we live for God and aren’t afraid to be bold and stand up for Truth it can often make a target on our back. The enemy would like nothing more than to shoot us down. Remember John 10:10?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

But don’t forgot the second part of the verse–

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This life is provided by His Son– by the sacrifice of Jesus’s blood for us. 

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

We, friends, are brought close by the blood of the Lamb. If we belong to Christ, if we have accepted Him as Savior and have confessed our sin, He completely covers us. Completely hides us. Keeps us safe. 

No, that doesn’t mean we won’t hear the storm raging. It doesn’t mean the rain won’t pelt down. It doesn’t mean that we are instantly delivered from the horrors of this world… but it does mean we are COVERED. We are safe in the ark, much like Noah, when the rest of the world scoffed and followed their own pleasures, those who chose the Lord (Noah and his family) survived and rode out the storm. They still were “in the storm” but they were completely covered, safe, and protected, delivered (see Genesis 6-8).

The same is true of us. This world sure can get stormy, can’t it? Values and morals have been thrown to the wayside and it seems sickness, lack, and devastation has hit everywhere. Come quickly Lord Jesus! But as we await our Savior, we do not need to live in fear, worry, or terror… we are covered by the Blood of the Lamb. 

During a difficult season of my life I remember thinking, “Why didn’t God spare me from that?” In my own limited mindset I believed that “true” deliverance or protection would mean not even having to walk through pain or hardship, but the truth of the matter is, even when I felt terrified, alone, and like I would not make it through, God was protecting me, faithfully delivering me.

I was scared by the storm all around, but truthfully, I was safe and secure inside the “ark” where no thing was able to steal, kill or destroy me. It sure felt like I was being destroyed at the time, but in actuality, I was feeling the effects of this world and terrified by it, but I was truly in the Father’s hand and He would not let anything separate me from Him or His power. I was, and am, completely covered! And you are too!

Let the Holy Spirit minister to your heart through the word about the power of Jesus’ blood and how you are, without a doubt, covered by God’s protection. He will bring you through— just like Noah who, with his family, arrived safely on the dry ground after 40 days and 40 nights in the storm.

You are protected. 

You are completely covered.

He’s got your back.

There is more available on this topic in my blogs:

He Will Bring You Through
Safe, Secure, and Held

My Prayer: God, we thank you that we are completely covered in you. You have our back! I pray for my friends, that in the times of the storm they would not grow weary but look to Your strength and protection. May they know and believe without a shadow of a doubt that all they need is completely provided in you and through your Holy Spirit. May You help us be inspired to be like Noah, who lived in the light and protection of you, Almighty God, and You showed up for him and delivered him just as in fact you are doing for us. We look to you for our deliverance and protection! Amen.

Be encouraged this week- you are completely covered! You are His!

Until next time, 

Featured

More Than Meets the Eye

In the winter I find myself taking some of the most breathtaking walks. Lately, getting our puppy out on a walk happens just as the sun is setting, turning the skies to brilliant hues of pink and light purple.

In its own way, winter is beautiful and becoming, while also frigid and bare. But underneath ground, especially beneath the tall trees that lay against the backdrop of pure white snow, much is going on. Roots are stretching, deepening, growing. They are doing the vital work for ultimate growth for spring. Perhaps there is no visible, noteworthy growth to be seen… but it is happening in a deep and wonderful way in which spring soon enough will show.

Often there is more going on than meets the eye, isn’t there?

That sure was true of my tenth birthday party! Like any kid I was thrilled to be entering the double digits. I was excited to hear of birthday plans (my parents always threw great parties at our home) but somehow we hadn’t quite gotten around to talking about it that year.

So imagine my shock when “SURPRISE” was yelled and all my friends and family jumped out from their hiding places at our home one evening. I hadn’t seen it coming! They pulled off a grand surprise (and yes, I think everyone should have at least one surprise birthday party)!

The last thing I expected that night was a party at my home. It had been a routine Sunday with church in the morning, a playdate in the afternoon and then coming home. But so much more was going on under the surface… from the playdate “distraction” to the returning home “just on time”– everything had a purpose. It was just more than my eyes could see!

The same is true for us, friend. There is so much going on behind the scenes spiritually! So many wonderful plans and purposes, better than we ever could imagine!

Don’t let your eyes deceive you. What is going on in the natural and what you can see with your physical eyes is not the ultimate truth.

Scripture says,

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

It’s true! What we can see with our eyes is fading, ending, short-lived. What we see with our spiritual eyes is permanent, indestructible, timeless.

So how do we train our eyes to see more than just what meets the eye? We sharpen and train to see with the eyes of the spirit. The Holy Spirit can help us “see” the things to come (John 16:13). He will guide us and lead us in all truth. We keep our hearts tender towards Him, walk in His path, and we will have those spiritual glimpses into what is going on behind the scenes… where the real truth is!

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.”

John 16:13

How can we actively participate with what’s going on behind the scenes spiritually? 1) Prayer! Prayer gives us insight into God’s plan. 2) God’s Word! It is through His word our minds are renewed and we are able to know His will (Romans 12:2). 3) Walk by faith! When we walk with the Father we can see things not as they are but as they will be (Hebrews 11:1).

So I encourage you this week, friend, to look BEYOND what your natural eyes see. Look beyond the situation that tries to press up close and intimidate. Look beyond that situation that tries to tell you you won’t make it, you aren’t worth it, it’s not going to work out. That situation, no matter how stark, scary or real it feels is temporal. What God is doing behind the scenes is what is eternal. His answer is being released to you! It may be “behind the scenes” right now, but you can count on His faithfulness showing up for you, no matter what these physical eyes see. Let’s keep our faith placed in Him: He’s the Sure Foundation (Psalm 62:2).

My prayer for this week: Lord, I ask you to help us see with our spiritual eyes. Help us tune into the Truth– the “behind the scenes”– and know no matter what tries to present itself in front of us, Your words and Your answers are eternal. All else is falling away. Help us to see beyond what these natural eyes can see and see “more than meets the eye”. We know you have great and glorious plans for us. “If it’s not good, then you are not done” *. We center our faith on you today. We believe that you are alive, you are working, and you are causing your will and plans to come to pass. Amen.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory.”

Ephesians 3:20

Until next time,

*this phrase is from the song “Joy in the Morning” by Tauren Wells.

PS. My husband and I made a specific and long prayer list when we were first newly married covering topics from starting a family to owning a home to his eventual American citizenship, etc… and we prayed and agreed on these things for several months, even years.

Some of the things we prayed for seemed not to be “budging” (specifically my husband’s quest to stay in America and become an American citizen— read about that here: https://melanietalevski.com/2021/09/26/peach-promises/ ) but we were amazed in 2009 when one thing after another was pouring into our laps from God! Each and every thing on the list started coming to pass. It seemed like things would not change, would not move, but when we kept praying, great things happened by God’s power. I encourage you to make your own list! There is so much going on in the spirit…. so much more than meets the eye.

Featured

He Goes Before

Do you remember the childhood game “Follow the Leader”? One of the group will be the leader and the other children would do what he would do, balancing on one leg, hopping on one foot, running in a zig zag…

I don’t know about you, but I have always appreciated being the “leader” not only in the game but especially in my own life. I like to be able to figure out solutions, make a schedule, accomplish goals, and “lead” my life. It sure can get rough though when things pop up in our schedule, or a challenge appears out of the blue and suddenly, our “leading” is not feeling very effective. We have no idea what to do, or perhaps we have done all we know to do, and we just hit a wall. What then? 

We must remember, He Goes Before Us. He’s the Leader. 

When we focus on this truth, all the heaviness we have been carrying shifts away. All the “leading” and planning, and organizing, and failing… it all falls to the side. We are reminded of HIS GREATNESS. His Lordship. His plan. His purpose. 

Our God, He goes before.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Our God, He sees all.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:13

 Nothing catches Him by surprise.

“God saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalm 139:16 

God gives us license to become the ultimate follower. He gets to be the leader. And unlike the children “leaders” in the game, the actions He does are purposeful, planned, and produce the result He has in mind. Even if an “action” of His does not make sense to us, we can trust fully in our hearts that He is opening the ways meant for us and closing the ways that are not His way. 

If we could get a feel of how much He cares for us, how much compassion and love He has for us, then we would feel so secure and safe in His love (read more here https://melanietalevski.com/2021/03/13/safe-secure-and-held/ ).

Here are a few of the passages in the Bible that show clearly the love and compassion He has for us: 

“He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain…Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” 

Isaiah 53:2-5

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matthew 9:35-36

I encourage you to meditate on these verses and others like it: Deuteronomy 31:8, Deuteronomy 1:30, Psalm 139:5, Isaiah 52:12, Isaiah 45:2, Psalm 136:16.

Meditate on them and let His continual, unconditional love wash over you. When we start to grasp even just the edge of that love, we realize He would not forsake us or leave us to our own striving or making our own way. 

It is time to wait on the Lord. It may seem quiet, it may seem off the beaten path, it may seem unproductive or too slow. But God’s way is always the best way. 

So the verse we’ve heard time and time again. It speaks to our hearts and inspires us once again…

My prayer for this week: God, thank you for being our Savior and going before us. Thank you for the compassion you feel towards us: your deep love that never leaves us no matter what. Please give us a glimpse of this love and let that love wash over us and take out the striving, the intense over-responsibility and help us lay these things at your feet.

We ask you’d open the doors meant for us, close the others. May your ways come to pass in our lives. We submit to you once again as Lord and Savior. We give you control. In this process help us trust you more.

I pray for my friends who have been holding out for your answers, your plans to the things they are facing. Give them strength and fortitude to keep trusting you. Show up big for them, and help them to not grow weary but continue to wait on you. Amen. 

Blessings on your week, dear friend. ❤️🥰

Until next time, 

Featured

Life & Light To All He Brings

This fall found us working to put a wood burning stove in our living room. After much talking over the years, plenty of research, the purchase and self-installing of the stove– we can now say our stove is up and running and boy, we sure are enjoying the warmth it brings! There is nothing like sitting next to the fire with the flame roaring, the crackle of the wood, the warmth coming from it as I sit in front of it with my rocking chair.

No matter how cold it gets outside or how much snow flies (and yes we often get quite the snowstorm here in Colorado) with just a few proper placements of newspaper, cardboard and firewood followed by a flame, the stove is up and running and warmth will soon ensue. No matter how dark, cold or dreary it is, there is LIGHT & LIFE where the fire glows.

It reminds me of a phrase from the song, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”:

“Life and Light to all He brings”

“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” Charles Wesley

What an accurate representation of what happened that great night, so many years ago, when God’s own son was born into the world. Upon His wondrous birth there was IMMEDIATE LIFE & LIGHT available for all mankind. It was like the instantaneous lighting of a “stove”: igniting light, warmth, and life to what had been darkness before.

“The Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:4-5, NLT

or in another version:

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

John 1:4, KJV

It had been like a “long, cold, dark winter” for the people who waited for the Messiah. They were eagerly looking for the light and warmth of their Messiah to appear. And it was a long wait… at least 700 years since the prophet Isaiah had said:

“For a child has been born to us, a son given to us, and the authority is upon his shoulder, and the wondrous adviser, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, called his name, “the prince of peace.””

Isaiah 9:6,7

I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to live in that gap between the prophecies and knowing the Messiah would come! They looked faithfully for their Savior to come not knowing when or how He would arrive. But arrive He did (Luke 2:1-20)!

Often times the retelling of the Christmas Story does not include one very important part: the merriment and celebration that happened over the baby Jesus when He was presented at the temple (Luke 2:21-40). Like the parents of any newborn, Joseph and Mary visited the temple to make their sacrifice. While they were there the faithful Simeon and Anna recognized the baby for who He was- the Messiah! They had seen many many babies over the year but this one was undeniably the true Messiah– God had spoke to Simeon to go to the temple (Luke 2:27). This Jesus, this baby who was God’s own son, was recognized as the One who– not so unlike the light of a warm fire after a long cold winter– would light up their lives with salvation. Through His birth, He immediately brought life and light to the believer’s hearts who had so faithfully and patiently been awaiting His arrival. 

When seeing the Messiah Simeon prophesied:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:29-32

And Anna praised God and rejoiced (Luke 2:38)!

Can’t you feel the satisfying of their long wait? The fact that the LIGHT, the LIFE they had been waiting for in the Messiah had come and they could now go on in peace knowing they had met Him, the Savior of the World.

As modern day believers we do have something in common with Simeon and Anna: we are awaiting Christ too! While they were awaiting the Messiah’s first coming– we await His second coming. May we be like Anna and Simeon… faithful, trusting, and patient as we wait for His second coming. May we be found faithfully serving Him, loving Him when He returns again… this time not as a baby but instead as a King, coming to gather His own. 

My prayer for this week: Lord and Savior Jesus, please help us to never grow weary in our journey of waiting for you, our Messiah’s, 2nd return. May we be found faithful and trusting like Simeon and Anna. May our hearts be filled with your light, the warmth of your life and love. Oh how we long for the day you will come to gather us and take us home to you where you “will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). We faithfully wait on you. May we be found faithful when you return. In the mean time, help us to cherish the warmth of your light and life, and love and share it to those in the world who are still out in the dark and cold. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Until next time,

PS. King Jesus will return again! Read more about it here:

Hope of His Return

P.P.S. Speaking of “long, cold, dark” winters here are two of my posts on hope even in the hard times:

A Tiny, Steady Light
A Spoonful of Hope

P.P.P.S. Here are my favorite Christmas blogs. Enjoy the encouragement they bring! Also, please remember you can look under my blog archives at any time for encouragement!

The Night Love Lit the Sky
An Unexpected Gift
Featured

My God, Savior, King & Friend

The song echoes from our stereo as we pull into the driveway. It’s been echoing during school drop offs, pickups and everything between this week: 

“My God, my Savior, my King & my Friend…”

Phil Wickham, “Away in the Manger/Forever Amen” 

Like all the Christmas carols that play this time of year, I find I’ve been singing it easily and perhaps a bit absentmindedly. But one day my heart was ready… and the words hit their target: The baby Jesus came not just as God, but to be Savior, to be King, to be our friend.  God sent Jesus to become all of these things (and more) to us. God. Savior. King. Friend. My heart soaks up that message hungrily. ❤️

Yes, we may have heard this, plenty of times, but to allow the Holy Spirit to weave this truth into our hearts is a powerful thing indeed. I started to meditate on the words… ask God to reveal more about these attributes of Himself to me. 

It’s so wonderful that our relationship with Jesus has no boundaries. His relationship with us could be sung in a thousand lyrics for a thousand years and we would still not begin to cover the beginning of who He is to us. 

Let’s dive into these four specific attributes and let the Holy Spirit weave His truths into our hearts today: 

GOD. We know Jesus is one of the Trinity. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 

Yes, He came as a human baby in the manger but He is the true and living God. Creator God, the One who made the universe, came to earth in human form, as an infant — nothing special immediately noted about Him that would rouse our attention or draw us to Him (Isaiah 53:2). Creator God actually came as a baby and was reliant (lenient) on others to grow and get by. God came to human form. What power in that statement! There is not one thing we have been through that Jesus has not felt or experienced. Wow, the God of the universe stepping down into human footsteps… could there be any greater sacrifice? 

Yes, yes there could actually… for that Son didn’t just walk as a man here on earth, He died and rose again becoming our…

SAVIOR. A Savior saves/redeems people from their sins. The name of Jesus or Joshua means “Jesus saves” or “God saves”. The angel, Gabriel, told Mary to name the baby “Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31). This name was selected by God for His son, and what an accurate representation of who He is for us! Only Jesus could become the true Savior to save us from our sins. He is the only one without sin who could take our place as the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our sin. 

We who believe in Christ have called on Jesus as Savior. We did this at the beginning of our journey with Christ— calling him both Savior and Lord. We admitting that we have sinned, that we cannot help ourselves. There is nothing we can do to get ourselves out of the mess/challenge/trial we find ourselves in. Only God in His mercy, through sending His son, our SAVIOR can come rescue us now (John 3:16). He rescued us when He died on the cross and rose again. He will come to the rescue for us each and every day no matter what the situation. Call on His name now. He is here. Haven’t done this yet? Here’s a great resource to help you get started (https://agapelife.org/next-steps/).

KING. The legal throne of David actually belonged to Jesus Himself through His lineage. He is the eternal king: He will never die and pass on the throne (Luke 1:32-33). When teaching about the Christmas story in a kids class recently, I took time to explain about the Messiah’s long awaited arrival and how many people were looking for Him to be found/born to an influential place like a castle or royalty. Yet. Here came our Savior King born in the most lowly of places. Did God have an “oops” moment forgetting to secure a place for His son’s birth? No way! It was all apart of the plan. For by being born in a lowly stable, it was communicated that Jesus, the Messiah– was here to save ALL from their sins. Not just the wealthy, strong, or educated. No. He came to be the Savior and King of the world. Amen! What great news! 🙌

FRIEND. Again, this is an aspect of God that NEVER grows old and is the character I am calling on Him for today specifically. Because we have Him as friend He knows and loves our hearts. We will never be alone again. He is a constant friend. Let’s build our friendship with Him today. Not sure how? Start by connecting with Him on a daily basis! Take time to talk with Him, read His word, listen for His direction in your life. He will meet you there and the depth of relationship you experience with Him there will meet your every need spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and become one of the greatest treasures of your life. Go deeper today! (My blog https://melanietalevski.com/2022/11/27/further-up-further-in/ helps get you started on going further with Him in His word!)

Everyday, I end up needing Him in each of these capacities! God, Savior, King, Friend. Are they true to your life today? Are you allowing Jesus to be your God, your Savior, your King, your friend? Oh how he wants to, Friend.

Let’s be like the shepherds, who left all they had and relentlessly ran to meet the newborn King. Let’s be like the kings, who left home and comfort to search for the new King. Nothing mattered more to them. Let’s ask God to reveal the depth of what Jesus is to us. Jesus is the gift that we so desperately need! It’s the perfect time to fully accept Him as God, Savior, King and Friend.

The gift of Jesus is just getting started with these four descriptions but wow, they are powerful and more than enough! It’s just the “tip of the Christmas tree” though. Dig in the word and find who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that means to you. I promise you you will be inspired and filled to overflowing with God’s love for you! 

My prayer for you this week: God, I pray for revelation right now for myself and my friends around the aspects of your love and character. Thank you for coming to be our God, Savior, King, Friend. I pray that you would open our eyes and reveal to us the depths of who you are. May we come not to just see you as a mere man, or as a “far away” or distant God (nothing could be further from the truth)— may we come to know you as God, Savior, King, Friend. Thank you for your Holy Spirit’s help in revealing this to our hearts, especially at this wonderful season of your birth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Until next time, 

PS. This is the video of Phil Wickham’s “Away in the Manger/Forever Amen”. Take a listen! It will bless you! 

I know I also mentioned this in a previous post (https://melanietalevski.com/2022/11/27/further-up-further-in/) but this is Phil Wickham’s new book. It’s on my Christmas list! I imagine it is just filled with the presence of Jesus as his songs. I encourage you to check it out or add it to your own Christmas list.

P.P.S. I would love to hear what your favorite Christmas carol is! I always love the good alto ones… “Away in a Manger”, “O Come all Ye Faithful”, and “Noel”. I love how the purity of the Christmas story is conveyed in each one of these old songs. Enjoy listening and being inspired this season. 🙂 

Featured

Prepare Him Room

I always remember the church Christmas play I was assigned the role of the “Innkeeper’s Wife”. Innkeeper’s wife?! I thought. What an unimportant role. She wasn’t even mentioned in the Bible, maybe didn’t even exist. I wasn’t even the main innkeeper himself, but just the lowly wife!

But thankfully, the woman who directed the program had a plan. She didn’t say in so many words, but implied: obviously a busy innkeeper needed the sensitivity of a wife to offer hospitality and care for the new couple settling in at the stable.

I remember after being given a bit of insight into that knowledge, I realized I would be the one to offer baby Jesus a room! I acted my heart out in that position that year:

“Knock, knock!”

The innkeeper moved the cardboard door open. “Yes?”

“Do you have a room for me and my wife? She’s going to have a baby!” Nine year old Joseph gestured to eight year old Mary who was holding a batch of clothing by her belly.

“No room.” The innkeeper said with a trace of regret (and a lisp as he had just lost his front tooth).

The couple began to walk away.

“Wait,” The innkeeper called, “We do have a stable out back. My wife will show you the way.”

It was my turn! Edging past the cardboard door, I silently showed Joseph and Mary to the area decorated as a stable. Children dressed as sheep baa-ed and cattle mooed as Mary and Joseph settled in the hay.

“Thank you,” they said and the play proceeded with me going back stage. No lines for this little actor, yet so much was said.

Perhaps in the Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20) the innkeeper did have a wife. While he was busy serving guests, refilling drinks, answering the door, gathering wages, perhaps she scurried away for a moment to show a couple the last room left… in the stable. Perhaps she brought them extra bedding, a towel, or warm water for the birth. It’s not told to us in this version of the story, but I am willing to envision a lowly, busy, frazzled innkeeper’s wife (or lady of the house) who took a moment to prepare room for the Messiah.

What about us, friend? We, like the innkeepers that night, have busy full plates this holiday season. We are overflowing with events, presents, parties, and everything that is a part of this great season. But when the knock comes at our heart—it’s the Messiah, He’s waiting to meet with us– will we take a moment to “prepare Him room” in our hearts? We will take time to sit with Him, listen, cast aside even for a few minutes all the busyness that constantly calls our names? I’d like to think so.

The key to a meaningful Christmas is to daily prepare Him room in our hearts.

If we make space in our schedule for the King of the Universe (the one this holiday is truly all about) we will find ourselves fulfilled, peaceful, and enjoying a pleasant, meaningful Christmas.

The original meaning of “merry” when spoke as “Merry Christmas” came from a word that meant “blessed, peaceful, pleasant,” expressing spiritual joys rather than “merry” as joyous, silly.

So when wishing a friend or family member a “Merry Christmas” our true wish for them is to experience more of Christ’s spiritual blessings, peace, and pleasantness of His presence. 

This is the kind of Christmas we seek in our hearts, isn’t it? A Christmas that is full of the presence of God- peaceful, pleasant, full of Christ’s spiritual blessings in our heart.  That sounds like a meaningful Christmas to me!

This holiday season, Jesus says to you and me…

Peace Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Pleasantness of His presence “…in God’s presence is fullness of joy: at God’s right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11)

Spiritual blessings Col 1: 12-13 the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

I know for me, a lot of this depth of blessings, pleasantness, and peace can go missing if I don’t intentionally make space for it. How about you?

So how do we make space when our schedule already feels jammed packed with events and holiday fun galore? Become intentional.

It takes a bit of heart searching, but look for what really is a priority to you and your family this holiday season and schedule and do that. Let the rest fall to the side.

But what about my elementary child’s choir concert or classroom party? You may say. That’s not my priority but it sure has to go on my schedule.

I hear you. I am right there with you (yes look down the aisle at the concert and I will be there)! While there are certain things we can’t miss or adjust, I think if we look at things clearly, there truly is a lot we just feel “obligated” to do  or feel as if it is “tradition”. But traditions lose their enjoyment if everything becomes a “tradition”. Soon our kids, who perhaps are yearning for a quiet night next to the Christmas tree once and awhile, may see “traditions” as exhausting. We often do, if we are honest, don’t we? So how about this year we do an experiment, and find the top 2-3 priorities or “traditions” we want to do and let the rest fall to the side?

I know when we allow more SPACE in our schedule for the Lord and our families—great things happen!

Let’s ask God to guide us and help us with our priorities this season. Let’s ask Him to help us prioritize Him and “prepare Him room” in our hearts this Christmas. May this be the Christmas we soak in time with Him—our Messiah, our King of the Universe— soaking in His peace, His pleasant presence, and His spiritual blessing for our lives. 

Until next time,

P.S. Here’s a few snapshots of our Christmas season so far.

P.P.S. Here are a few resources I used to help me prioritize what I wanted my Christmas to look like!

“Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year” by Beth Kempton https://bethkempton.com/calmchristmas/

“Less Doing More Meaning One Hour Planner” free download at https://www.dianakokku.com

P.P.P.S. Some of the authors who have researched the Bible (Angela Hunt being one of my favorite) find it is actually inferred that Mary and Joseph stayed in the lower level of the house where the animals were (regular housing) and that Jesus was born there. She researches and writes about this in her fiction book “The Shepherd’s Wife” (https://www.angelahuntbooks.com/books/the-shepherds-wife/).

(picture by: lifeandlitblog.com)

Here is a picture of what a typical house may look like in Bethlehem. Interesting tid-bit for those of us who love history in the Bible!

(source: http://www.worldhistory.biz/uploads/posts/2016-02/22q-701.jpg).

Featured

Further Up, Further In

 “Come further up, come further in!” (C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle, pp. 195-197) is the whisper of the whole series of “The Chronicles of Narnia”—one of my ultimate favorite book series. “Come further up, come further in” was what the children experienced (especially Lucy) as she stepped into a new land and heard of and eventually met the wonderful “but not tame” lion, Aslan. It’s what Edmund experienced after he was forgiven by Aslan after his betrayal. It’s the voice of the Maker calling to each of the creatures of the magical land of Narnia. His desire is for them to “come further up, come further in” to all He had for them. 

The same us true of us today. Our Maker whispers to each one of us, yes, even in the midst of Christmas busyness, activities and preparations galore… “Come further up, come further in!” It’s time for the next level with our Savior. 

Wait, you may be thinking. It isn’t the new year yet. Shouldn’t all advancement wait until the ball drops and the clock strikes midnight? Well, sure it works then too. But I think one of the most powerful and proactive things we can do is to challenge ourselves now, even in the middle of the season, to finish the year out well and start the new year out strong. 

How do we do this? Dwell in the Word. The Word is what propels us deeper into our relationship with the Lord. In His Word, we see and hear His heart for us and all mankind. We get to know Him, His love, His kindness, His character deeper. Our hearts glow inside of us when we dig into the Word. 

Yes, friends, the Word works. 

When faced with obstacles that seem they have no answer? 

The Word works. 

When faced with a lack of peace, depression or anxiety? 

The Word works. 

When faced with illness, lack or loneliness? 

The Word works. 

In any situation… the Word works. 

His Word is always true. It never changes. It never shifts or ceases to apply to our lives. 

The Word will stand the test of time. It never fades or loses its power. 

Right now the Holy Spirit is whispering to each of our hearts “come further up, come further in”- come dwell on the promises He has given us in His Word!

Here are 30 Truths for us to dwell on from the Bible. Let’s meditate on them, remember them when the going gets tough, even the days get busy or when it seems there is no change. The Word works! 

 I challenge each of us… let’s find our favorites- the one that speaks to us in this moment, Let’s write it down, look it up in our Bibles, speak it and believe it. “”For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

So without further adieu, here are 30 promises to propel us “further up and further in” in our relationship with the Lord: 

  1. He is for you! “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
  2. His love can never be separated from you. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39.
  3. God knew you before the earth was formed. “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” Psalm 139: 15-16.
  4. He made you- you are wonderfully and fearfully made! “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” Psalm 139:14.
  5. He’s your shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1.
  6. God is more than enough! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20.
  7. He has all we could ever need. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness” 1 Peter 1:3.
  8. He is provider. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.
  9. His love reaches to the sky! “Lord, your faithful love reaches to the sky! Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds” Psalm 36:5.
  10. God casts our sin from us. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” Psalm 103:12.
  11. He gives us a new heart. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” Ezekiel 36:26.
  12. His kindness never fails. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
  13. Great is His faithfulness! (verse above) 
  14. His presence never leaves us. “If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.…” Psalm 139:8-10.
  15. God gives peace to our minds. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27.
  16. He gives healing to our bodies. “He heals all your diseases” Psalm 103:2-3.
  17. He strengthens us by His Spirit. “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” Ephesians 3:16.
  18. God’s grace is more than enough. “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9. 
  19. His Spirit is inside of us. “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” Romans 6:10-11.
  20. He cares deeply for us. “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t He more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” Matthew 6:30.
  21. He is the burden bearer. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” Psalm 68:19.
  22. God delights in us. “The Lord your God …will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.
  23. He sends us a helper (the Holy Spirit). “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth” John 14:16-17.  
  24. We are never alone. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5.
  25. His mercy is new every morning. “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.
  26. He forgives us time and time again. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
  27. We are safeguarded by Him. “And into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” 1 Peter 1:4-5.
  28. God has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11.
  29. He is our living hope! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3.
  30. He redeems our lives from the pit. “He redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” Psalm 103:4.

Did you find your favorite? I know I did! (If it is even possible to pick just one?!) I encourage you… write it down, pray it, meditate it, speak it over your life this week. 

The things we meditate on during the week is what will begin to grow in our hearts. I want to have more of Him and His Word planted in my heart. How about you? 

My prayer for this week: Lord, may we be empowered by your Word to come “further up and further in” with you this week. May you propel us forward in our relationship with you as we hold onto the Word, mediate on it, and believe it. We believe we will see your promises come to pass in our lives by the help of your Holy Spirit. Show us how to go to the next level, the deeper level  with you (much like Aslan whispering to Lucy— further up, further in). Help us not to compromise and live with our minds absorbed in this natural world, but instead “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (in the Word)–Romans 12:2. Thank you for revealing more and more of yourself to us. We love you, Amen! 

Until next time, 

PS. We have close to 30 days until the start of 2023 which means one promise a day to meditate on. Now that’s a good way to end the year well and start the new year off strong! 💪

P.P.S. Here’s some of the books I am adding to my TBR (To Be Read pile) or I already use daily! (links under pictures)

Book 1 “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus”. I’m just starting this for Advent with my family!

Books 2-4: On my TBR pile! Looks like some great devotionals for the New Year.

Bibles (pictures 5 &6): Two of my favorite Bibles!

https://www.amazon.com/Unwrapping-Names-Jesus-Advent-Devotional/dp/0802416721/ref=sr_1_5?crid=MIWTTAUUFUCJ&keywords=names+of+jesus&qid=1669519309&s=books&sprefix=names%2Cstripbooks%2C120&sr=1-5

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Knees-Living-Boldly-Prayer/dp/1954201281/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2NMLPW185LJZ6&keywords=phil+wickham+book&qid=1669519481&s=books&sprefix=phil+whick%2Cstripbooks%2C121&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNU9EWDJUN0MzRTVHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzkzMTgyMlZUTkpQTk5UR0ZYSiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjg5NzkwSjRSTVZZSDgwRVJTJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Days-God-who-Speaks/dp/1462776345/ref=sr_1_31?crid=2V6O8B61WX6DA&keywords=spirit+filled+devotionals&qid=1669519369&s=books&sprefix=spiritfilled+devotionals%2Cstripbooks%2C110&sr=1-31

https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-40-Days-Jesus/dp/1424557852/ref=sr_1_1?crid=73V87N67L8MX&keywords=chosen+devotional&qid=1669519426&s=books&sprefix=chosen+devotional%2Cstripbooks%2C129&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/New-Spirit-Filled-Life-Daily-Bible/dp/0718020774/ref=sr_1_6?crid=27B6PLO69J2Q3&keywords=back+hayford+bible%27&qid=1669519058&s=books&sprefix=back+hayford+bible%27%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-6  

https://www.amazon.com/Application-Study-Bible-Letter-LeatherLike/dp/1496455169/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2O94S26CPV1UW&keywords=nlt+application+study+bible&qid=1669519233&s=books&sprefix=NLT+application%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.08f69ac3-fd3d-4b88-bca2-8997e41410bb&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNzMxOEw0RlM5MTU4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODI1MTc3MzcwUFBLT1NXUENQMCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTI4OTk2MTRPOVlFUEozOFUzRSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

May you “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16).  🥰

Featured

Godwinks & Favorite Moments

I like playing a game with my kids called “Favorite Moment”. It’s about as straightforward as it sounds: list a favorite moment in your day and reflect on all that is good. We especially like to play this right before bed, causing us to think about good things as we drift into sleep. We’ve done this since the kids were little and is one of our traditions each night. Just recently, our game morphed into a slightly different question. I guess the best of games grow with us, don’t they? Instead of “Favorite Moment” we find ourselves asking each other, “How did you see God’s love today?” Or even better yet, “How did you share God’s love today”? 

One of the major “Favorite Moments” God showed me His love this fall was a couple weeks ago. Last minute, my dear friend, Susie, came for a visit to Colorado. She’s never been this far out west and we have never met in person. God brought her into my life: the friend my heart knew I needed. We exchanged letters five years ago this fall through our love for a Hallmark show, “When Calls the Heart”. Before we knew it, we were chatting on Facebook, calling each other, and finding we had so much more in common than just a love for the show. Of course, we have always wanted to meet in person but it has always been something we have trusted to God. Several times we made our plans, but things changed it or situations happened, but we knew when we would finally meet face to face it was going to be God who worked the details out. And here she came! I am a planner (and she is too) so it was just funny when the opportunity arose and seriously it was only a week or two before she was setting foot in the Mile High City. It all happened so fast and was all God. 

Here are a few of our pictures (thank you, Susie!).

It was amazing how this weekend was ordained by God— all the way from the weather (the fall can often be brutally shortened by a winter storm here, but this fall— graceful!) to other “Godwinks” God supplied for her time here (a cabin rental available last minute, beautiful colors, help for her camera, a family gathering to meet everyone, church family, the list goes on and on). God knew we needed this special visit, the break from normal life, the encouragement, the beauty. He’s sure good at letting us know we are loved by Him! 

And I’m not His only favorite 😉… He wants to show you His love, too! I encourage you, whether it is a big thing like my friend’s visit, or a small thing like fall’s beauty, a friend’s call, a verse spoken at church… I encourage you to see them as the Godwinks that they are… God showing His love to you. It is not just a coincidence. It is not just a “nice” thing that happens. Each and every act that makes your eyes light up and your heart soar… your Heavenly Father is the author of that.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

James 1:17

It’s amazing when a friend shows love towards you- a coffee meetup, a walk and talk in the midst of a busy day, a note or a small gift that shows they have been thinking of you. But imagine, God, the Creator of the World taking time to show His love to us? In the biggest action known to mankind, He sent His Son to save us.

“Here is how God showed His love for us, while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Can you imagine the love it took for our God to send His own Son to die for us, even before we knew Him? Even though He knew some of us would reject Him or walk away? Extreme love right there, I tell you. 

Let’s make the choice this week to purposefully observe, with our spiritual eyes, the things that God blesses our lives with. It can be even the smallest of things! My mom was so blessed by God’s showing of love towards her through the small gift of an avocado! Ha ha! It’s amazing how even in the smallest of things, God shows His love for us. He knows our hearts desires, or even just the smallest of thoughts we have (like my mom’s thought of how good an avocado with lunch would be) and He shows us His love through the biggest and the smallest of things. What a sweet Savior we have. 

My prayer for you: God, may you help each of us see the special ways you sprinkle your love into our lives daily: through a friendship, beauty in nature, a Bible verse, a special show of your favor in an intimate way only you could know. Help us to enjoy these “Favorite Moments” knowing they come from you. You’re so good at showing us love, time and time again. Thank you for all the Godwinks you give us, all the small and big blessings alike. Open our eyes to realize the small ways you show us each day you are here and you love us, and in turn share that love with others. Thank you for your loving presence in our lives! Amen. 

Until next time, 

PS. I encourage you to start this “Favorite Moment” tradition yourself, with a friend, or family member. It’s amazing how even just a small little game like this can help us see that God shows His love for us each day! I love how this tradition causes us to look for the good in the day and acknowledge how God was there for us. I like to think that when we do this it is one of God’s “Favorite Moments”. 😉 

Here’s some of our puppy’s “Favorite Moments” so far this fall. 😆

Featured

The Gift of Life’s Canvas

My grandmother, Vivian, had an interesting way of celebrating her grandchildren’s birthdays. For most of my growing up years, Grandma was not content just to give a little gift, or card or money. Instead a birthday celebration meant a special shopping trip with grandma. This shopping trip would not result in something that we could quickly pick out, put on, and move on. No, this shopping trip was more than likely a trip to Michael’s, the craft store in their small town, to select items for a project. My memorable project was a painting the year I turned nine years old. 

On this particular trip, Grandma, being a painting artist, already knew what we needed. She knew the right size canvas. She knew the colors of paints that she perhaps had run out of in her own supply and a new paintbrush or two. We picked up the supplies which to be honest, it was a bit anticlimactic. She paid for the supplies and we gathered up the yellow grocery bags.

We went to the farmhouse and set up in her studio— that is where all the magic began.

It’s funny now thinking about how impatient I was to complete the painting and how I just wanted it to be perfect and I wanted it to be done. Doesn’t that sound typical of our human nature? Let’s hurry up and get it done! Oh, but there is so much more to be found in the journey, in the process. 

And a process it was. I first had to prime the canvas, paint the background of the canvas, then work the background of mountains. Paint the background landscape. Then the trees began and those were a favorite- their spindly pine trunks reaching into the sky. But the clouds— the wisps of white— they were the best part.  I had to learn from my ever patient grandmother to loosen my tight grip on the paintbrush. I thought I had loosened enough but then she would reach over and shake my wrist. Still too rigid! To make the best clouds around I had to have a loose grip, let the paintbrush flow.  That was hard…what if I made a mistake? I made the cloud too big or what if I messed up the whole canvas? But to Grandma there was no mistake that couldn’t be fixed. 

I remember a few times her expert hand coming in on top of mine and helping me form the wispy clouds. I was in good hands yet I still felt tempted to control the process— to hurry the process. It felt as if was taking FOREVER for the finished product! But really the process of painting itself was grandma’s gift to me. Now I look back fondly on that time spent together and cherish it. I still have the painting and I always will. It’s not really about the finished product or how it turned out. 

Here is a picture of my wonderful grandmother, Vivian and I a few years ago. And the finished product from all those years ago:

The lesson I found in painting that day, my special ninth birthday gift, was it’s more about the process. It’s less about the control or the finished product.

So when I feel like I need to go into Sargent mode in life (you know what I mean, right? Trying to adhere to rigid expectations- control, hold tighter when faced with what feels a loss of control or a change happens in life— Sargent mode is not a nice place to live— for us or those we are around!) I try to remind myself of my painting gift with Grandma. I’ve just recently taken it out of my memory box and put it out where I can see it and remember this that God is the ultimate craftsman. He is the one overall, He’s in control. He’s the One who has given us this life canvas. He bought bought it for us by sending Jesus to die in our place (John 3:16).

He has all the supplies, all the paints, paint brushes, everything ready for us to paint our life’s picture.

“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2 Peter 1:3

He doesn’t leave it at that. He doesn’t just say “Great, you can use my studio have fun. I’ll check in on you later.” No, He’s like my doting grandmother who allowed me creative process, but was also there to direct and help lead. He’s leading us into making a masterpiece, His hand is upon ours. His expert brush is able to correct any mistakes. His advice and wisdom are available as He helps paint the picture of our lives.

Friend, I encourage you to spread out the canvas of your life to our loving Father God. He’’s the ultimate craftsman. He’s the one who knows our days from beginning to end. He’s the one who is Lord over all. I encourage you to release your rigid grip on the paintbrush of life— release the urge to try to control or do things perfectly (even just one imperfect moment at a time. Believe me, I am right there with you). Instead, let His wisps of grace, His gentle expert hand lead and guide you. That’s how we end up with a masterpiece! May we realize that the process is the reward. Being with Him, trusting him learning from Him, growing in Him, letting him open our eyes of faith to a new perspective letting His presence minister to us is the main goal, the main thing.

Here’s my prayer this week— may you feel free to echo what resonates with your heart in your own prayer time too:

Lord, You are the ultimate craftsman. Thank you for designing, planning and laying out my life. I want to work in cooperation with you to create this masterpiece. Help me to relinquish, to release my tight and rigid grip on life. Help me let go of perfectionism. Instead, I yield to your gentle hand guiding me in the beautiful wisps of grace. Help me to remember that you are Lord of all. You are guiding, designing, perfecting in a way that only you can do. I’m not capable of that. So I give it all into your hands. Like John Eldredge says, ‘I entrust everyone and everything into your care’ (https://www.pauseapp.com) . Thank you that we do this process together. I want to journey together. Thank you for speaking to my heart in your gentle and peaceful and wisps of grace type of way. I’ll follow the nudges of the Holy Spirit this week. To continue moment upon moment situation upon situation, to surrender control to you. I know that you are the ultimate craftsman, you will lead me in the ultimate journey, your journey for my life. In Jesus name, amen. 

Until next time, 

P.S. Picture 1: This is another one of my grandmother’s paintings that is now hanging in our house. She had a gallery of paintings all around her house, and was always willing to part with one if we felt like one resonated with us. Upon my grandparents deaths, the paintings have now been spread out to different households. That makes me smile! I like to think about how grandma’s handiwork lives on inspires others and brings smiles to my extended family’s faces in all of our different households. Her paintings are such a good reminder of God’s wisps of grace and God’s handiwork and how it lives on forever.  I’ll be excited to see the different creations she comes up with in Heaven, I’m sure she’s already started her gallery there.  (And oh the fish Grandpa will have caught! Every size and variety!)

Picture 2: Grandma and her oldest granddaughter got to continue this tradition years ago as well with a special painting day with Memaw. 🥰

P.S.S. I would love to hear your personal testimonies of the times that you have seen God’s wisps of grace in stressful or hard situations and how God came through for you. When we share these testimonies, it’s amazing how much it inspires us and reminds ourselves about the faithfulness of God and also inspires those that we tell. 

Featured

A Brave & Tender Heart

It’s a brave thing to keep your heart a heart of flesh, tender and gentle in the midst of challenge, hurt, and the grief of this world. I

One of my favorite book characters of all time is Lucy Pevensie in “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Although we could note her curiosity, bravery, or gift of healing– instead the trait she is known for is her brave tender heart. In the midst of her older, much more mature siblings, her heart remains pure, trusting, and tender– not yet hardened by the doubts or pains of the world.

What is it about a tender heart that is so admirable? We, who are grown now, roughened up a bit (or a lot) by disappointments, challenge, heartache, remember the time our hearts were soft. In fact, we may either yearn for those moments again or in some cases resent the naivety of it.

Tenderhearted Lucy, in “Prince Caspian” finds herself on a unique journey. She has aged some since the last adventure bringing with it some of the pains of growing up. The gist of the story is that in the midst of a challenge their Savior Aslan was seemingly missing. Nobody knew where He was or why He wasn’t showing himself.  The older siblings start to lose faith in Aslan, even to the point of questioning if He was ever real. Lucy, with her child-like faith and tender heart continued to believe in her Savior, Aslan. The other children started to look to their own resources, but she was the one who remembered the One who was Truth. Later, she is the one who Aslan appeared to and spoke tenderly to. 

Oh to have a heart like Lucy! To trust the Father, even in the midst of excruciating circumstances. Our hearts started out this way and still yearn to be this way.

Did you know our hearts were modeled after our Creator’s? Yes, He gave us a heart after His own— tender, loving, gentle, trusting. The world gives its best shot against us (sometimes through choices of our own, situations we face or even just the fallen nature of this world). It can often do a number on the tender heart. The enemy would love nothing more than to injure, (“steal, kill, and destroy” John 10:10) and render our hearts beyond repair, broken, useless. But Jesus has come to give us life, life to the full (John 10:10).

In the midst of the things that would make their best attempt to harden our hearts our great Savior is calling us closer. He wants to remind us we’re never alone, to remind us even in the heartbreak of this world, or even when we don’t understand why things are going a certain way— He’s there. He’s our gentle, tender hearted Aslan. It’s in surrendering our hearts to His tender care that our own hearts remain gentle and tender. 

It’s a brave thing to keep your heart a heart of flesh, tender and gentle in the midst of challenge, hurt, and the grief of this world. It’s impossible to keep our hearts soft on our own. Often will feel like we must put a hedge of protection around our heart or we think we must never love deeply again in order to protect ourselves.

It’s a good thing that keeping a tender heart is not 100% up to us:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26 

Next time that something hurts deeply and we are tempted to close off our hearts—we must surrender our hearts again to our Savior God. Let’s place our heart in His hands- the only place it will be truly safe and secure. To do this is an act of bravery, an act of trust, an act of faith. 

We put trust in the fact that He’ll hold our hearts, He’ll be there with us. He’ll even mend us and put us back together. If you find yourself questioning Him and His faithfulness— don’t turn away. Talk to God about it. He can handle it and show you a new way of trusting Him. Let Him minister to your heart today.

The parts of your heart that are broken, hurt, closed off, barriered off, even forgotten— let Him bring your whole heart back into His tender love and care. Let Him, in His own tender and gentle way, restore life and tenderness to your heart. The places of the heart that were stone gray, dead, lifeless  now spreads a fleshly pink, the life returns because of His touch. Don’t be afraid to admit to Him all the shortcomings, hurts, fears, griefs and sorrows you’re facing. He knows anyway. The act of telling Him and letting Him in to connect with you over those things, brings great healing. 

He’s the faithful friend that sits with us as we pour out what is in our hearts. He listens, He understands, He feels. He himself has such a gentle and tender heart that He feels our heartache as His own.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:15-16

He’s the ultimate empath, the ultimate compassionate God. We see over and over in the Scriptures about how He felt compassion in His heart towards the people (Luke 7:13, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 9:36). I know one day when look in my Savior’s eyes I will see a depth of love and love never known before.

I encourage you friend when you feel:

like boxing your heart off,

breaking away a piece of your heart to keep it safe,

or hiding away to keep your heart unaffected or untouched by the world and its problems—

to entrust your heart to the Lord, place your heart in His hands. Yes, even if it is in pieces. Yes— even if it is stone cold. We are jars of clay– human, imperfect— (2 Corinthians 4:7). God made us this way! And guess what? He knows us, loves us, and does not demand perfection from us.

When we trust Him fresh and anew, in enters His grace… it is actually in the admitting of being broken—not able to do it on our own for ourselves— that we throw open our faith in the Lord and lean on Him for our answers. Remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-28)? There was no way they could save themselves… God saved them from the fire. But their prayer had been “even if He did not save them they would still trust Him”. Now that’s extreme devotion! (Thanks to a long time family- friend and his wife for their recent talk with me about this and inspiring the completion of this blog! 😉)

My prayer for you this week:

Father God, may you encourage my friends today. May you help them to see and to feel your tenderness and faithfulness this week. May you take the pieces of their hearts and hold them gently and safely, like You always do. You are the great Aslan— we ask you to administer your life and healing. You are the expert at that.

May You help all of us in this in the midst of this cold world to stick close to you, to allow you to breathe life, health, and faith into our hearts.

May we shine as the daughters and sons of the King that we were meant to be (like Lucy) until you bring us all home where everything will be restored to its rightful place, and our hearts will sing. No longer will there any be any more pain or suffering (Revelation 21:4)

So until that day, we continue to trust you, King Jesus, with our hearts. Keep us tender, compassionate, and gently in your care. Help us know, that like Queen Lucy, we can make a big difference in the healing of hearts by leading people to you while there’s still time. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Until next time, 

 P.S. Another book series I’d like to recommend to help grow your children’s (or grandchildren’s) faith this summertime is “The Kingdom Series” by Chuck Black. https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Volumes-Kingdoms-Quest-Reign/dp/B01JMW71QM

Summertime is a perfect time to invest into the hearts of our children and to encourage them to to place their hearts in His tender care— that no matter what goes on in the world, no matter what tries to bend or break or hurt their hearts they can know without a doubt that Jesus loves them, that they’re safe and cared for. Do you have any Christian book recommendations for children or teens? Adults? I’d love to hear. 

Here’s a few glimpses into our summer so far:

Featured

The Love That Was There All Along

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

Jeremiah 1:5

“For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” 

Ephesians 1:4

It’s hard for us to grasp – we were, we are, and forever will be loved by our Father God. The more time I spend with Him the more He’s been teaching me of His tender love and kindness. 

I was blessed to be raised by a tender loving father (I know this isn’t the case for many). Through my dad I have seen the love of the Father and also relate to my Father God through my dad’s faithful example and ways he has led me closer to Christ. 

I pray today, no matter what your circumstances have been with your earthly physical father, that God would lead you and help open your eyes to see His unconditional, never ending Fatherly love He has for you.

“I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination (understanding), flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of His calling —that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that He finds in us, His holy ones!”

Ephesians 1:18 TPT

There are many truths God is teaching me about His love and tender mercy, three that stand out in particular:

1. His tender love and mercy for me does not depend on us and what we do. It is 100% dependent on Him and His covenant to us.  

Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  

Isaiah 54:10

“But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!”

Ephesians 2:4-5

But I will never, no never, lift my faithful love from off their lives.

My kindness will prevail and I will never disown them.

How could I revoke my covenant of love that I promised David?

For I have given him my word, my holy, irrevocable word.

Psalm 89: 33-35

2. His tender mercy meets us where we are at:

“Hurry to our side, and let your tenderhearted mercy

meet us in our need, for we are devastated beyond belief.”

Psalm 79:8 

“For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!”

Psalm 84:11

3. His tender love and mercy is very intimate and personal, just like His personal name: Yahweh.

It’s a story as old as time, yet unique as each one of us: How He can tenderly fall in love with each one of us is galaxies beyond our understanding. Yet it does not change the truth of the matter. You are completely loved by Father God.

I have been reading the Passion Translation Bible the last two years or so and have started to call my Father God, Yahweh, as described in the text. Thanks to several friends, I came to see Yahweh as His personal name, an intimate name.

There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what His name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.

Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels.

But scholars and Rabbi’s have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing.

YH (inhale): WH (exhale).

So a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God.

A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words.

Even an atheist would speak His name, unaware that their very breathe is giving constant acknowledgment to God.

Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.

So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?

Being alive means I speak His name constantly.

So, is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?

In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs.

In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst.

In fear, we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down.

When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.

When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments!

This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive.

All of us, always, everywhere.

Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.

written by – Sandra Thurman Caporale from the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston

A few of my most favorite movies of all time remind me of the love of God (displayed in human form) are “The Magic of Ordinary Days” and “Love Comes Softly”. In both movies the plot is similar: a woman in dire circumstances, a man with tender love and compassion. She pushes and resists his love, not understanding it, until it capsizes over her tenderly, reminding her that the love has been there all along— if she can just accept it. 

The love story mimics our story with Christ! That is why it resonates so.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:6-8

Yahweh is our Savior, the one who has loved us for all time. My heart aches— How have I not seen this before? How could I have turned away or kept myself distanced from such a great love? 

Even when we are impossible- walking the other way- God’s love doesn’t jump ship! It’s there— steady, strong, ever available. In fact, I’d like to go even further than that… God’s love is waiting, yearning for the moment He’s planned for us… the moment our eyes open (the scales fall off our eyes like Saul– read Acts 9) and we are forever changed. Forever changed by His love. 

Can your heart feel His love? Now is the time to say YES even if it is the first time, the third time, or any number of times. There is no limit to how or when we can accept His love. 

Here’s a simple way to accept His love fresh and new: 

A prayer like this: 

“God, you’ve been here all along. Your love— tender kind and strong has come up to meet me, it’s available for me. I heard you knocking on the door of my life (Revelation 3:20). You want to come into my life in greater measure. Be my Savior, my Lord, my deepest, truest love of my life. I ask you today to open my eyes continually so I can more clearly see your love for me. I accept your love for me. I love you too. Thanks for waiting for me so tenderly and patiently. Thank you for meeting me where I am at, for loving me even when I didn’t know you or even when I turned my back on you. I accept your loving embrace and hug you back with my whole life. I am ready to start the next part of the journey with you— filled to overflowing with your great love for me. Amen.”

Wow, that just resonates so deeply with my heart. I hope it does with yours as well. I encourage you this week to soak in the love He has for you: the love that has been there all along. Here’s a good place to get started:

Ephesians 3: 16-19

Psalm 103:8

I encourage you to look up all the scriptures mentioned in this blog and mark them in your own Bible as well.

My encouragement for you this week: May you experience the love of God in tiny and large ways this week. May you open your heart fully to His love. He will meet you there. He’s your tender, compassionate, merciful Father, Savior, Lover, and friend. He is always near, so near He is referred to the “Near One” (Psalm 75:1).

In closing, here’s encouragement from the Word right to your heart: 

“For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you— so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!”

Psalm 100:5 TPT

Until next time, 

PS. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! You have the amazing ability to show your family the love of Jesus! Here’s two of the men in my life over the years: My dad & my husband. Thank you for how you show the love of the Father to me and our family! 

Featured

Hope for the Hard Places

Are you feeling stuck in a hard place without a way out? I know friend, I’ve been there too. Why does it drain us so much to be stuck between a rock and a hard place? It’s like a tiredness, a restlessness like none other. I know if we are not careful, hopelessness can suck the life out of us quicker than anything else. When not dealt with God’s way it can really can be draining and overwhelming— overtaking life even to the point of extreme hopelessness. 

But, friend, we do not live like those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We have the source of all HOPE, Jesus Christ Himself, living within us, strengthening us, giving us grace for the day— for every moment to come.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Romans 15:13

I don’t know about you, but I have this picture in my mind of “hope”. It’s innocent, lovely, graceful, perhaps even appearing flowery, light, beautiful. But really that’s not an accurate picture of hope. No, hope is strong, like an immoveable large boulder–the ones you have to dodge on the most intense of hikes. Nothing is going to move that rock from its location. It’s solid, sure, stable, held fast. Not so different from the ROCK that we are instructed to build our lives on in Matthew 7:24-27.

When built upon the Rock, no matter what comes we are able to withstand it because our hope and our lives are built on Him! So “hope”— instead of being some flowery wonderful, pretty thing— is actually earthy, solid, strong and movable. If only we could reprogram our minds to think of hope this way. So when Jesus offers us hope it’s a solid place to stand. Yahweh offers us a future that’s good. He offers us his hand to hold.

“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 

So if you feel like you’re stuck, and there’s no way out, what can you do? What should you focus on? What should you look to? 

First of all, I want to encourage you you’re not going to be stuck here forever. Things are going to change. Things are going to shift. Just like the passing of a river over the rocks or the passing of clouds in the sky— life, situations, and seasons will change. It is a guaranteed promise!

While “change” often times isn’t welcomed, we can take hope from the fact that most definitely change happens. So you will shift from this moment, these troubles, this feeling of being stuck (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). 

Second, can you change a dance step? I know when I was feeling stuck, I was given advice… change a dance step! What does that mean?  Let me do my best to explain: 

 I’ve been taking dance classes with my daughter. We’ve been learning the waltz, the foxtrot, the promenade and read more recently swing dancing. If you see me in person, don’t ask me on demand to do these things. 😉 I’m still learning!

In all these dance classes I’m learning that it doesn’t take much to change up a dance. In the foxtrot there is a step we call  “change your mind” where you do a front step, back step, and shift to the side. It’s a helpful step if getting too close to the wall or if wanting to change direction. If I decide to incorporate that dance step, we will still be doing the foxtrot, but will be changing our direction.

So as you can see here, even just one small step change, changes the whole direction of the dance. So, that place you’ve been stuck in— perhaps even starting to feel pressed against a tight spot— even just one step, one “change your mind” step, will cause you a new freedom, a new direction. I want to encourage you you can change your dance. If you’re feeling stuck— Change one step. I know that we long for a HUGE change— we long for a deep freedom and a release from where we feel stuck— but it all starts with one step. One step can lead to a great crumbling of the wall around us.

Often changes come about one step at a time, not a great change all at once.

I encourage you to make one “change your mind” step in your current life this week. Ask God to help you with changing one detail this week in your regular lifestyle.

It can be a simple thing such as: choosing to speak with kindness, driving a different way home, reaching out to a friend, or taking a brave new step with a hobby or being involved in a church group. Or maybe it is other little things like eating at a new restaurant or venturing out on a different vacation or finding a way to invest money in a Kingdom project supporting church projects, missionaries, or Christian orphanage ministries. A “change your mind” step really can be quite anything!

God is the ultimate dance master. He’s the one who sees us, knows us, loves us and He’s the One with great plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He’s leading us in a beautiful dance for our lives.

Sometimes the way He delivers us to this new place of freedom is by helping us change one dance step at a time. You may hear His whisper, feel a prompting in your heart, or be inspired as you read the Word.

Act on those little nudges God gives your heart. In doing so, it will offer you space— freedom. The wall won’t press against your back, and you begin to have some wiggle room. When we choose to follow His promptings it breeds new ground for more change. The more you change a step here and there, the more the dance changes until before you know it you are dancing a completely unknown and different dance of freedom for your soul that you have never danced before!

“He will bring us by a way we did not know. He will lead us in paths we have not known. He will make darkness LIGHT before us and crooked places straight.”

Isaiah 42:16 

So friend, be strong. Don’t give up. Take courage. He is here and He is good. He is watching over you. He is whispering to you:

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”   

Isaiah 30:21

Things will not stay the same. That’s a guarantee.

Just as the seasons change your situation is going to change. Take hope dear friend— and remember real hope is not that flowery light wimpy hope but that rock solid, deep, earth kind of hope that is based on God and His Word. God is changing your season even if it is just one little dance step at a time. Be faithful to follow him in the small things and before you know it You will be free from those stuck place. Yes, you will be dancing a new dance and walking in a new season, free from the places that kept you trapped and stuck. Hold onto His hope!

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

Until next time,

Featured

Grace & Gratitude

We’ve all heard of “Power Couples” perhaps mentioned in Hollywood or the media, but did you know there is an ultimate “power couple” mentioned in the Bible? Priscilla and Aquila were married ministers who knew the Apostle Paul and worked together as a team in the ministry working to encourage fellow believers in the Lord (Acts 18). Now, that is a true power couple! Another power couple I love and adore is my own Pastors, Rich & Jan. I am blessed to call them both my pastors and my parents! They truly are the modern day example of Priscilla and Aquila, working together in the ministries, their whole lives and hearts intertwined in this calling they have received from the Lord to serve as pastors (and yay for celebrating 40 years of faithful service next month!).

In Psalm 50:23, another “power couple” is found: God says, “The life that pleases me is a life lived in the gratitude of grace, always choosing to walk with me in what is right.”

This passage got the wheels turning inside my head—grace & gratitude? How do they work together? Come to find out through studying other passages like 2 Corinthians 4:19 and Psalm 9:1 that Grace & Gratitude surely do go hand in hand! It’s not enough to have one without the other. They belong together and belong in the life of anyone who is a believer. And there is great POWER released when they operate together.

Let’s look a bit closer: Grace is “charis”: the favor, blessing, kindness of the Lord towards us. He chooses to cancel the curse (we deserve) and instead pour out His blessing on those who call Him Savior. Grace is the gift(s) God gives us because He loves us and calls us His own (Ephesians 2:8).“Gratitude” is being thankful, showing appreciation for, returning kindness. We’ve learned through passages like Hebrews 13:15-16 that our gratitude is a sacrifice of praise. When we have a grateful heart, we thank God for His undeserved graces in our lives. We also, as an action of gratitude, spread His grace to others as well.

Psalm 103:1-5 is a “Gratitude List” in the making. The author, David, urges his own soul to recount and remember the blessings the Lord has given him. He lists them…
forgives all my sins

heals all my diseases

redeems me from death

crowns me with love and tender mercies

fills my life with good things

renews my strength like the eagle’s

(read the passage on your own- it’s so good!)

The same blessings God gave David He has provided for each of His children as well! Now that sounds like a good overflowing amount of grace He has extended to us, doesn’t it? And what’s our response to all these blessings? Gratitude!

I encourage you to write out David’s Grace & Gratitude list and even add some of your own personal blessings from the Lord! Put it up in a spot you will see it—the mirror, the refrigerator, even the lock screen on your phone. Let us recall and remember the gracious blessings our Lord has poured out on us and turn our hearts and words of thankfulness to Him.

God generously pours out His grace on us and we continually life up our sacrifice of praise. Now that’s a “power couple” I want to be linked up to in my life, how about you?

Until next time,

P.S. Here’s a picture of my faithful Pastor parents then & now. I am so grateful for both of them.

Featured

He Will Bring You Through

If I could go back in time– back to that difficult season of my life– I’d like to tell myself something like this:

Keep your chin up, buttercup. ☺️ 

This thing that is trying to break you, God will turn it around and use it to remake you. 

This thing you grapple with, perhaps even feel stifling your breath… it will fade away. Rest in Him, Dear one.

This race you run, this toiling you do… the striving… it will cease. You will rest. 

You will be brought to a place of freedom. 

You will be new, remade, and stronger than before. 

Do you find yourself on a journey you did not plan for? Facing challenges you never imagined being met with? May this resonate and encourage your heart too.

Friend, I wish we could press “fast forward” and skip the scenes of dark nights, problems, challenges, illness, loneliness and devastation. Oh how I wish we could. But the journey, the journey has so much to offer us. 

We come out stronger, refined by the fire. 

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 Peter 1:7 

God didn’t send the fire… no, He is good. 

But He turns the storms life directs at us, and in His powerful hand, He transforms them from something that is set out to break us, and instead uses it to make us even stronger in Him. 

I wish I could say it will be easy, friend.

I wish I could say you only have ___ days, ____ hours, and ___ minutes left before you find your freedom, your belonging, your safe harbor. I know this is what I wished when faced a difficult season of my life. I wanted someone to tell me things will be okay. And tell me when, how and where. 

Instead it felt like all I was met with was silence. I even went as far to wonder, where is God in this? Why can’t I feel Him near?

But then, in moments of reflecting back on that difficult season… I see His hand in everything. 

I see that He was there with me through it all.  

I see that while I felt like I was left to weather the storm on my own, actually, I was safe inside His “cabin” the whole time— fire crackling, warm, safe and secure. The storm raged on outside… the rain, snow, and hail pelted the windows. But, I couldn’t have been more safe or more held. Interesting how I couldn’t see that in the midst of it all, but now, now I see. I was safe all along. I was in His hand, and still am. You are too. 

If you find yourself weathering a storm, and feeling all alone, please know friend, God is here. He is MIGHTY TO SAVE.

The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zeph. 3:17

He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Be open to what He sends your way to help. His help can come in so many different shapes and forms: a deep connection with an authentic friend, a specific sermon, Bible studies and prayer groups, art, a Christian therapist, reading a specific passage of the Word, doctors and vitamins/medicine, the beauty of nature— yes, He can use any of these means (and so much more) to help you— to lead you on His path of restoration for you— the whole of you— mind, body, soul and heart. Follow Him there, friend. 

He’s our gentle Aslan (Yes, I learned so much as a tender seven year old about relating to my Savior through the series “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Read it!) He can turn and face the enemy with just a snarl from his teeth, a deep throated growl and the evil goes running. He can also be our friend, companion, champion, and friend. And there is nothing that our “Aslan” likes more than being real with us, and letting us be real with Him. Standing so close, face to face, we can feel his “lion breath” and presence upon us.

“Connect with me”, He says. “Come further and deeper. Come with me.”

We feel the tickle of His breath upon our face as we nod and follow.

In His presence, no matter what outward circumstances we face, we find life, love, safety and belonging. I promise you, friend, if you hold onto Him, delve into the deep with Him, things will be alright. You will make it through. Cement these truths on your heart, they will take you through the rough times: He is with you. You are not alone. Hold tight to Him. He will bring you through.

If you’ve been on shaky ground, only an inch from losing it all… call out to Him. I’d like to promise you that He will swoop in and instantly restore you, redeem you, take you from that situation. But our Aslan… He does things different than we would have chosen. He is gentle, patient, kind, present. He is there when we call out in desperation, when tears drenched our faces. He is here even when when we don’t feel Him here. He will see us through.

I can see now how He wove all together for good… and how now, my feet are settled on His rock. He’ll do the same for you, too.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Psalm 40:2

He brought me to His safe harbor. He will bring you to your safe place too.

Then they were glad because of the calm, And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor).

Psalm 107:30

My relationship is now deeper with Him than ever before. He has been the anchor for my soul (Hebrews 6:19). He will be for you too, friend. Just reach out to Him. Draw near to Him. It can be as gentle as a whisper or as loud as an angry rant. He hears you, He is with you (Hebrews 13:5) and always… always believe that He is good. 

I know for me, during a tough time, I leaned on the song “King of My Heart”.

  It repeats over and over again, “He is good, He’s good, so good”. I repeated it to myself, my voice wavering at times, my voice strong at other times, my voice just a tearful squeak at other times… He is good. My spirit revived when I sung that tune over and over and over again. Yes, it is true! No matter what it looks like, no matter what we face, He is good. 

And there is nothing in all the world that would cause us to be separated from His love (Romans 8:38). Our job is to keep the communion lines open. He is here, He is good. Repeat that to yourself daily. And again and again. As many times as you need to hear it. Outloud. Let your spirit sing with that truth. 

Not yet convinced? Get to know Him from the Word. See His faithfulness and goodness in the Bible stories in the time line of the Bible… of how He sent His son to redeem us and bring us back to Him. He loves us so much.

Find the passages and promises you are standing on (there are a lot of good scriptures here in this blog to look up and start with now). Mark them in your Bible— and it doesn’t have to be beautiful calligraphy and doodles (it can be if you want it to be though)— underline it, underline it again— stand upon those words with so much force that your Bible now looks like a battlefield— marked, worn, and even tear stained. Write the scriptures down, post them around your home. Believe them in your heart. Speak them out loud. This helps change our focus from the problems instead to the WayMaker. We magnify Him and all else becomes “strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace” (Hymn: Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus). 

It may seem so long, so hard, insurmountable, but friend, there will be a day you look out from the mountaintop, Aslan by your side, and you’ll say, WOW! Look how far I have come. Look how You’ve brought me through.

His brown eyes will meet yours and you’ll realize not only did He deliver you, but He turned that challenge into the ultimate bonding experience. Your heart and His now beat as one. And that, my friend, is the most wonderful place to be.

Would you like to read more encouragement on this subject? Click on my previous blog posts below:

Safe, Secure, and Held
A Spoonful of Hope
Waves of Grace
A Place of Rest

Until next time, 

PS. Here are some pictures of the latest Mountain hike we conquered last summer on our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Featured

A Reason to Rejoice

What do we act like when we rejoice?  My own example of “great rejoicing” was a few years ago when my sister and I were chosen through a ticket opportunity to have a chance to go to the set of a favorite television show based in the early 1900’s.  If chosen, we’d travel to Canada (an exciting adventure to say the least!), tour the set, and meet the cast. It was such slim odds that we would be chosen, but when we found out we were we did some great rejoicing in the form of screams, hugs, and even dancing a crazy-sisters-only-understand kind of dance (to see pictures and read more of our adventure click here: https://melanietalevski.com/2021/04/23/the-better-path/)

When we “rejoice” it is the release of a burden replaced with a spirit of gladness. This is how it must have been for Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Easter morning (John 20:11-18). Just forty-eight hours before she had seen her Savior and Lord, the one she devoted her life to, crucified. He was placed in a tomb with guards posted outside. Easter morning, when Mary approached the tomb she found two angels in white, seated where the Jesus’ body had been. “Why are you crying?” they asked. “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned away and saw Jesus there but mistook him for the gardener, until He said, “Mary, it is I.” She cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni (teacher)!” Can you imagine her moment of surprise followed by extreme rejoicing? She went from great distress over Jesus’ missing body to exuberant jubilation when realizing He was alive! She proceeded to run down the mountain yelling all the while, “I have seen the Lord!”  Her rejoicing was loud, excited, relieved, and full of elation. It was perhaps even a bit crazy to those who looked on. She couldn’t care less. She had seen the Lord and He is risen!

When was the last time we let ourselves feel that amazed about the wonder of Easter? I encourage you to read the story and also read it to your kids or grandkids. See fresh and anew the excitement in the story, the pure rejoicing that occurred. Imagine yourself in Mary Magdalene’s shoes. She was delivered from seven demons (talk about deliverance and healing!) and had spent a year’s worth of wages to buy oil and anoint Jesus’s feet, washing them with her hair. What a pure love she had for this man who had rescued her, redeemed her, called her by name.

We, too, are rescued, redeemed and called by name (Isaiah 43:1). How do we react when hearing the good news of Jesus’ resurrection? Is it something we still get excited about? It should be! It is because of His death & resurrection that our future is secure and safe! We have a place of belonging with our risen Savior (John 10:28-29).

Yes, if there is one thing worth getting excited about it is the fact that Jesus conquered the grave and now and forever there is not one thing that can stand between us and Him and eternal life (Romans 8:31-39). Now that is something to rejoice over! 

Let’s rejoice this Easter!

Until next time,

PS. Here are some of our Easter Photos from the past several years. What are some of your Easter traditions?

Featured

God’s Great & Glorious Plan

It’s the arrival of spring! And with it comes the hope for warmer temperatures, sunshine, and less snow (am I right?). I don’t know about you, but something about the spring season inspires me to make a plan. Perhaps it is a plan for a garden, an upcoming celebration, spring break plans or a simple change of schedule at work. What kinds of plans are you making?

As we enter spring and start to make our plans, let us also remember that God has a specific season and plan ready for each one of us! What specific assignment has He given you for this time and place? You may find yourself in a season of growing your marriage or family God’s way, advancing your career, ministering to grandkids or even a season of patience and waiting. How can you seize and use the time that God has given you in the present?

One example from our Bible of a woman who seized her God-given moment was Esther. Her cooperation with God’s plan and being willing to stand up and seize her God-given purpose helped save a whole nation! It’s even remembered and celebrated to this day as Purim. When faced with the decision to stand for the Jews or not, her cousin, Mordecai, encouraged her: “You have come to this position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). She believed it and acted on it, and God’s people were preserved from harm. Do you know the same is true for us? We “have come to this position for such a time as this”. It isn’t an accident that we are in this season, this moment. Each of us are a necessary part of God’s plan to accomplish His purposes. The opportunity is here.

Perhaps we may be tempted to say, “My current season doesn’t feel like it has that much significance”. Oh but friend, it does! God gave us just enough moments to live out the plan He has for us. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). And His promise is that He will send us His spirit to be there right alongside us, equipping us all the way (John 14:16-17).

If you don’t yet know the assignment He has for you for this time and place I’d encourage you to spend time with Him. Ask him. Read His Word, listen to His voice, come to church and fellowship with other believers. God will reveal the plan and purpose He has for you now! There is no time to waste. Just like Esther let’s seize the opportunity to step up, link up with the Holy Spirit, and fill the assignment God has placed before each of us.

Be encouraged! You are apart of His plan here on earth- a great and glorious plan!

My blessing for you this week: May you be encouraged in the season and moment you find yourself in. May you listen to the Holy Spirit’s soft whisper to you this week and may you be open to following the Holy Spirit’s nudge. I pray that your eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit and that you are able recognize your part in God’s plans and purposes right here, right now! His plans are great & glorious and you have vital part to play. May you have the courage to step up and seize the moment He has placed before you knowing that it is His Spirit that fills you & enables you.

Until next time,

P.S. One of our plans this spring was to make a new memory with our family at Mount Rushmore! We had never been before. A six hour drive later, here are some of our family pictures:

Featured

Pockets of Grace

When listening to a live Q&A with a favorite author of mine, I was surprised at the answer to one of her questions. “How do you meet your deadline? Do you enforce a certain number of written words each day?” Instead of a typical answer, her voice softened, her light eyes twinkled. “I could give you a list of “to do’s” but what we really need is to say, “grace to me”. ” Robin Jones Gunn, the author, went on to explain how often we need to bless ourselves and give ourselves grace. It’s only then that we find the strength to flow God’s way- and with that, great things happen (even writing of manuscripts). I have found myself repeating this soft and gentle phrase– “grace to me”– when stretched in a hard situation or when demanding more of myself than I can give. What life giving words! 

Isn’t it refreshing to know that no matter where you go, no matter what you face, there is a pocket of grace that will provide for every need? Grace flows down from the throne of heaven, like a rolling, overflowing waterfall—offering just the exact grace and mercy that we need in that exact situation and moment. 

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’

Hebrews 4:16

More than likely–like me– you have gone through a tough season and when looked back upon, you look back in wonder… the grace was evidently there. We think, there was no way that I on my own could have gotten through that time or situation. That’s the divine pocket of grace from God Himself coming up to meet you where you are at. It surely is an “amazing grace”.

They are pockets of grace that pop up at exactly the time when we have run out of options. We have run out of places or people to turn to. Every other option we had is now extinct. Now we find our real and raw hope is in God, Him alone. 

The good news is this “pocket of grace” is deep and wide (remember the song “deep and wide” from our kids church classes? 😉). His grace is deeper, wider, fuller, than we ever knew. It is even big enough to splash in! Come on in, ankle deep, thigh high, and now in over your head! This precious place of grace offers rejuvenation and fortitude from God alone. 

I have experienced this grace time and time again and could list example after example— kids’ births, change of jobs, hospital and situations, even through challenges and deaths of precious family members. How have you experienced His pocket of grace in your life?   If you haven’t experienced this yet I ENCOURAGE you to lean into your Heavenly Father, maker of heaven and earth, next time a situation beyond your control comes up. He will surely give you the grace you need for that moment. 

The key to receiving this wonderful grace comes in learning to be like my childhood golden retriever, Daisy. Let me explain… No matter what the day held for Daisy, no matter how many squirrels she chased, how stinky her fur or breath was, or how put together she was or not… one thing we could count on: Daisy would come inside and let us love on her. We’d get to scratching her ears, petting her, and before we knew it, she’d be so cozied up to us that it was next to impossible to move. She was full out leaning on us.
(Ha ha—reminds me of the movie While You Were Sleeping and the “leaning” comment made famous by that movie 😆).

She was not easily convinced to move from her spot snuggled close to us. It would take a lot (either the hope of a dog bone or a walk) to get her to budge away from her favorite spot.

So how does this apply to us? We got to get to the place that we become the ultimate “lean-ers” on Christ. It’s the spot where we know that we are welcomed, safe, and loved. We learn how to fully lean into God, knowing He is taking care of us, He is with us, and we are not budging from that spot. We are so stuck by His side and loyal to Him, knowing we can fully trust Him. So basically, we just need to have common sense like Daisy— stick close to our Savior and don’t let up. Let Him love on you. 

In cozying up with our Creator He reveals to us His Kingdom mindset:  

It’s the one that says—

My God is here and He is not going to desert me (Isaiah 41:10). 

My God is here and He provides all my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

He will bring to completion the work He started in me (Philippians 1:6).

My God never leaves me or forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5). 

My God has my life and every detail of my life in His hands (Psalm 37:23-24).

I am written in the palm of His hand- He cares for me (Isaiah 49:16). 

With a Kingdom mindset like this we become ultimate LEANERS into the faithfulness of our God. And when we “lean in” we realize that GRACE is there, like the pocket of sunshine in the midst of the clouds, like the trickle of water in the desert. We realize the answer we need lies not so much in the physical granting of our need but rather found in the larger than life God we serve. The one we lean into. The One who is faithful. 

So friends, I encourage you this week in the Lord: When you face insurmountable odds or even just daily challenges may you lean into our Maker God, our Father God, and know He provides for us, takes care of us, and is the answer we need and crave everyday.

It reminds me of this hymn: 

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
by Iris DeMent

Friend, may you experience the pockets of grace, the waterfall of grace rising up to meet you today. 

In light of upcoming St. Patrick’s Day here is an Irish Blessing for you this week: 

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Traditional Irish Blessing

Know you are in the palm of His hand. You are safe and secure from all alarm. Not feeling it yet? Lean in deeper… come further with your Savior God. 

Until next time, 

Speaking of PUPPY LOVE here is our youngest (years ago) with the beginning of her stuffed dog collection. ❤️

Some pictures of growing up with Daisy. 🌸

Featured

The Ultimate, Outlasting Love of God

We’ve all heard of the cosmetic lines that are advertised to “outlast” the day or at least several hours. It may claim it “stands the test of time” or that it “gives you beautiful, next 24-hour looks” or gives you “perfect skin all day long”. Even if we are convinced by this advertising to give their brand a “go”, often we are disappointed. Nothing lasts forever, we tell ourselves. Sound familiar? 

If we aren’t careful, this same attitude can affect our perspective on many things including God’s great OUTLASTING love for us. We may find ourselves saying, “sure the Bible ‘advertises’ it as such, but God’s love really couldn’t be that enduring, right?” As much as we want to believe we may find ourselves cynical, with a lack of trust. “Nothing lasts forever,” we may mumble under our breath. 

Friend, I can’t vouch for the cosmetics or the other beauty treatments that promise to “outlast”. There is only one thing in the world that is truly outlasting, enduring beyond all, outstaying, and remaining against the odds—and it is the Ultimate, Outlasting Love of God. 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39

Believe it or not, it is true! God’s love for me and you is ETERNAL, outlasting anything and everything it faces not only in this physical world but in the new world to come! And it isn’t just the kind of love that hangs on by a thread, ready to be snapped by the hint of a mere trouble or problem, no this love is STRONG, full, and steady. 

It’s a love that goes far deeper than the fairy tale singing of “This is Love” (remember that Disney princess rendition)? This is the nitty gritty, real depth of love: God’s ever present, outlasting love was demonstrated as Jesus’ blood hit dirt as he hung on the cross. It doesn’t get any more real than that! 

It’s a lot less of a “valentine hearts and love dove” representation but rather a “nitty gritty, holds on, never lets go” type of love. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of love I need, the kind of love my heart cries out for each and every day in this less than perfect world. 

Here’s a few more scriptures for further study on this ultimate outlasting love of God: 

Ephesians 3:18-19

1 John 4:9-10

John 15:9

Ephesians 2:4-5

May you be encouraged today that HIS LOVE is just what we need. No matter how scary the situation, how big the challenge, or how hopeless things may feel– His love outlasts all and we can rest in that. 

You can read more on God’s Great Agape Love here:  https://melanietalevski.com/2021/02/12/an-unlimited-supply/

Until next time,

PS. It’s always about this time of year my heart yearns for the first signs of spring! But here we are, in the midst of sunshine, snow, cold weather, etc… and we are learning to embrace the moment. Here’s some of our recent snow fun:

Thanks to Agape Life Church for letting me cross-post my writing & thank you also for the great graphics!

An all new- original to melanietalevski.com blog coming in the next couple of weeks. 🙂

Featured

Want to Flourish? Start to Nourish

* This week I am excited to share with you a guest blog post I wrote for Agape Life Church.

My daughter just recently got a new batch of plants—all shapes and sizes. She’s careful to nourish them each day: give them just what they need to grow and reach their optimum health. The way she transports them to a sunny spot, waters accordingly, and researches about each specific plant shows her care for her plants. And it’s not just a chance that her plants are flourishing it is because she does the necessary daily work of “nourishing”. Oh that we would pour such care into our own spiritual life! Our spirits long to be in the sunny presence of God, to breathe Him in each hour of every day, to grow healthy and strong putting our roots down deep into the soil of His Word.  
To be nourished means “to be provided with everything necessary for growth, health, and good condition”. Anything that is nourished will naturally flourish– it’s a law whether it applies to plants, mankind, or our spiritual lives. (And the good news about a flourishing spiritual life it also impacts your mind, body and any situations that come your way!) I don’t know about you, but I’d love a year of flourishing! To flourish is “to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, rapidly and successfully, reaching new heights especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment”. Doesn’t that sound like a good deal? No, not another year of barely holding on, barely getting by or being rocked by the world’s circumstances. We’ve had our fill of that! But it is time to move on into flourishing. 
The secret to flourishing is being nourished by our loving Savior day after day. This nourishing happens in the form of: opening our Bibles and letting our roots grow deep (check out Agape’s One Year Bible Reading Plan https://www.agapelife.org/abide-365/ ), soaking in the presence of Jesus each day… spending time in His presence (Psalm 34:8), guarding our thoughts and setting our minds on the pure, good and lovely (Philippians 4:8), changing our focus from the world and it’s death, dying and decay and instead placing it on the Savior of our souls, His faithfulness, and what He has done and what He is doing (2 Corinthians 4:18). Nourishment also comes by gathering together for encouragement in church community, church services, and the encouragement of Christian friendships (Hebrews 10:25).
When we become nourished in these ways our roots go down deep (Colossians 2:7) and we become like a tree planted by rivers of water (Psalm 1:3). I’ve seen trees next to a river and my, are they flourishing! This is God’s will for each of us—not just a barely getting by or holding on lifestyle—but a thriving, blooming, fruit-bearing life! (John 10:10) Yes, friends, I bless you with a year of being spiritually nourished so you can flourish in every way! Be blessed in Jesus Name! 

Until next time,

PS. Here’s some pictures of our new addition completed! In my previous post https://melanietalevski.com/2022/01/15/22-things-im-looking-forward-to-in-2022/ I featured a few of the “in progress” photos of our addition. Here’s the final product! And, as you can see, it’s a peaceful and sunny habitat for plants as well. Be nourished & flourished this next week. ❤️

Featured

22 Things I’m Looking Forward To in 2022

1. By far, one of my most exciting things I am looking forward to in 2022 is opening my Bible every day! Here’s the reading plan I am following this year https://shereadstruth.com . Just 15 days in this has already been such a blessing! I’m excited to see what the year holds as I read my Bible each day. Hope you will join me in reading your Bible each day the next year.

2. Enjoying a new space. My husband is in the midst of putting an addition on the back of the house. Here’s where we are at for now:

3. Taking more walks around this beautiful lake I enjoy every season. Isn’t that a beautiful view?

 4.  My oldest & driver’s ed! 😲😲😲

5. Probably way too many coffees and Chai teas consumed! 😆  I have a local coffee shop that’s known to feed my addiction. It’s the perfect place to read, write, and enjoy coffee! 

6. Celebrating 19 years of marriage with my husband. Then & now pictures. I’m amazed at how the years go by!

7. I’m excited to get to my TBR (To Be Read) bookstack. Here’s a link to my goodreads account https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/74295832-melanie-talevski Check it out to see what books I read in 2021 and what books I want to read this next year. 😊

8. Baseball. You know I love it! And how blessed am I that I have kids who love baseball almost if not more than their mama? Plenty of MLB radio listening in my future & attending my kids’ live games. Love it! 

9. Church Events and Functions. The gathering of community together and sharing joy with each other as we gather in Jesus’s name— It’s the best!

10.  Family vacation in whatever form that takes: Arizona for spring training?  A trip out to the beach? A family gathering at Estes Park? Whatever it ends up being I know we will enjoy time away from the daily grind & time together as a family out in God’s beautiful creation!

11. Continuing to see my children grow and change in their own ways. I have a daughter who is super into guitar and is even planning to play with the church worship team this next year. I have a son who is an inventor and creator like his father. Who knows what inventions they will come up with? But I do know they will genius! And our youngest who is coming into her own and like her mama often has her nose stuck in a book. 

 12. Celebrating birthdays with family and friends! What greater occasion is there than getting together and enjoying celebrating someone’s life? (And, I may have the big 4-0 coming up…) 

13. Health goals. Nourishing. Listening. 

14. Getting away on a Writing Retreat. Not sure which one yet, but I’m open to whatever comes up whatever path the Holy Spirit maybe nudging me towards. Here’s pictures from years before:

15. Being fully alive, and embracing whatever this next year brings. Just like I’ve learned how to bundle up and walk in the cold over the winter time— to embrace the present moment, even if my nose and feet are cold— So I endeavor to embrace whatever comes up in 2022. It’s called FLEXIBILITY and I am not that good at it, still practicing… 

16. Hot chocolate and board games with the family. This has been our go-to for this winter so far and keeps us busy and joyful during the dark evenings. (Here’s the link to my latest blog where I mentioned some of our favorite games: https://melanietalevski.com/2022/01/01/plan-be/ )  

17. Creativity. If you were to peek into our home, you’d see at least one of these things unfolding before your eyes in my little home: strumming on a guitar (or ukulele) sketching, creating on the circuit machine, paintings, building inventions, writing.  There’s a lot of creativity going on at the Talevski household. And I love every minute of it! Here’s to even more in 2022. 

18. Continuing to spread God’s encouraging word to others in whatever shape and form God leads me in. ❤️ Here’s my writer profiles where you can follow this process.

https://www.facebook.com/melanietalevskiwrites

https://www.instagram.com/melanietalev/

19.  Deepening my walk with the Lord. Letting my roots grow down deep into Him (Colossians 2:7) Also, learning to trust Him, to have Him as my bedrock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ld1wI2hT8

20. More laughter! I want to learn how to take more moments for full out belly laughs, embracing the silliness of certain situations, and not be so “focused” I miss out on the humor in each day, in whatever form that takes: whether it’s silly AFV clips, talks with a cross-country friend, being with my sister (she’s always adding joy and humor to my day ever since were were little!) or laughing with my kids (kids are just walking comedians at times, aren’t they? 😉). Yes to more joy in 2022! 

21. One of my favorite things are these epsom salts (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Teals-Soaking-Solution-Lavender/dp/B00LW1KAYC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=Z5178RIY5LHV&keywords=dr+teals+lavendar&qid=1642275439&sprefix=dr+teals+lavendar%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-4) and a quick soak at the end of the night in the bathtub: just a moment to be present and to slow down before hopping in bed. Looking forward to many soaks in 2022. It’s the little things, right? 

22. And saving one of the best for last, I am looking forward to following God’s presence and His teaching in my life and writing it down to share here on my blog posts. I love being able to share with you here! I always pray that these blog posts would touch your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. So stay tuned for more blog posts coming your way!

A BLESSING FOR 2022: 

May you find hope in His presence this new year and all the exciting things to come. May you find a strength filling you, surrounding you— the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you find courage provided by His presence alone for this year of 2022. I pray you’d find hidden pockets of grace, surprises in His presence, and abundance that comes in trusting the Father. May you be blessed in every way in 2022. 

Until next time, 

PS. Your turn: Make a list of your own 22 things you are looking forward to this next year. I’d love to hear about it. 

Featured

Plan “Be”

“The One who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24 

It’s the new year, and I don’t know about you, but all of a sudden my newsfeed has exploded with “be the best you in 2022” communicated through numerous articles, links, organizational plans, goal setting… What’s a girl to do? Yes, I truly do want 2022 to be a wonderful year- but to what extent? Is my own sanity worth it? If we just “pressure” or “organize” ourselves better will a more wonderful year ensue? It sure seems like we are trained to think so.

In a time when all kinds of lists are made, goals are identified, the pressure to be something becomes great. Be stronger, be skinnier, be kinder, be more aware, be more involved, be on top of your finances, be healthy… the list goes on, and on, and on. But according to 1 Thessalonians 5:24, instead of the world’s mantra of “be something”– our mantra in Christ becomes simply “be”! As we trust Him–the trustworthy one– He will complete His work in us. He will complete us body, mind, Spirit. He will accomplish His plans for our lives. 

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” 

Psalm 138:8

Nothing’s wrong with goals, plans, organization. I plan to do a fair share of that this new year…. yet, the problem comes when we decide that “doing” these things will offer salvation, perfection, a flawless new year.

No, the only tried and true ONE who leads us into His plans and purposes in His gentle Spirit-led way, is our Lord Jesus. He’s the only one who could redeem a year in this world for His glory, shining His light both in us and through us.

The most important thing we can put on our “to do list” this next year is to “be” with our Maker, trusting Him fully to fill us, to cause us to live a passionate fulfilling life with the plans He has for us. 

So dear friends, I challenge you this new year to “be” and to trust the trustworthy one. He alone is the one who can complete us and complete His work in us. 

Spending time with Him— communing with Him all through the day—we become sensitive to His voice, His leading. And if we follow where He leads us— that is the path of truly joyful and a fulfilled life. It’s the path of fulfilling the unique and special call God has on our individual lives. 

My prayer for you for 2022:

Lord, I pray a blessing over my friends may they lean into you this year— breathe with you— Your heavenly, soothing presence each moment of the day. May they be filled with you. May they come to know you in new and deep ways and may they experience your faithfulness. May their eyes be opened to your trustworthiness and may they believe without a doubt that you hold them: You hold their years ahead, you hold their destinies in your hands. Help them to trust that you, God, will be the one to complete it. 

We trust you in all things and more than anything. We want you, your presence and divine call for our lives for 2022. Amen. 

So I bless your next year friend. I am so excited to hear of the journeys we take with the Lord. 

Until next time, 

PS. Our New Year’s Eve tradition has always been gathering with family for an evening of board games, laughter, snacks and enjoyment. Here’s a few of our pictures over the years…

PS. Have you heard of these games? These are some of our favorites.

https://www.amazon.com/ThinkFun-Crimes-Logic-Brainteaser-Girls/dp/B07616B2NS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=UEIF44YZ36S0&keywords=cat+crimes&qid=1641068369&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=cat+crime%2Ctoys-and-games%2C182&sr=1-2

And some new favorites this year:

Featured

The Night Love Lit the Sky

I have heard this year that the aurora borealis is seen from many new locations– brighter and bolder than before– and how my heart yearns to see the whole sky light up in beautiful color, straight from our Maker Himself. 

The closest I have ever been to seeing the whole sky light up was one of two things: either the best firework display I’ve ever seen (Coors Field for 4th of July 😉) or the most natural and beautiful lightening storm— you know the ones that light up the sky with hues of purple. Often there is not even one clap of thunder, just flashes of lightening and color lighting up the sky. 

It’s unusual to see the sky lit in such different ways— whether aurora borealis, fireworks, or beautiful natural lightening storms. Something is almost “miraculous” when even the sky shifts in lighting and color…

Perhaps it was not so different from that special night, two thousand years ago, on the hillside in Bethlehem. Yes, that was a night that God’s unconditional love lit the whole sky… a night that changed the lives of not only the lowly shepherds out in their fields tending sheep but also changed that of a nation, that of a world— that of you and me. 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests’. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:8-15

One day, in heaven, I will wish to replay the lighting of the sky that night. How wondrous, glorious it must have been as heaven opened up and the angels descended, all singing “Glory to God in the Highest”. Now, that is one wondrous birth announcement! 

The shepherds in the fields that night were shocked (terrified even) when they saw the heavens open with their own eyes! The message so “shocking” and life changing, they left all responsibility and went to visit the Christ child, to worship the newborn King.  And even that was not enough “celebration” for the shepherds whose lives had been changed— they went out to share the news becoming the first ones to spread Christianity throughout the hillsides. 

I love that God reserved this special visitation for the lowest of people… shepherds weren’t often associated with as their jobs were the lowest of the low. It’s even suggested that these lowly shepherds were watching over the actual sacrificial lambs for the temple. The night the angels announced the birth of the ultimate sacrificial lamb- Jesus- who would die to take the sin of the world it was to the shepherds who truly understood the matter. Wow! God changed the shepherd’s lives… no longer were they just shepherds, but witnesses… messengers of the mighty event of God’s coming to earth through the baby Jesus. 

The same can be true for us too, friend. We are visited each Christmas, through God’s presence and truer-than-life Christmas story, and our hearts are again renewed to the Good News. Although perhaps the literal sky does not change its brightness for us this season, if we will take the time to let God’s story (His love brought down to us at Christmastime through His Son) soak into our hearts— God’s unconditional love will light up our lives, just as His love lit the whole sky that night two thousand years ago. 

Let His unconditional love come and wrap around you, friend. 

He whispers to you, “Accept the love I sent down… accept it fully into your heart, letting it overwhelm, soften, and fill you.” 

We look up into His eyes. 

He has done all— even descended from the highest heaven to come to earth to draw us near, cleanse our sin, and give us a right place with God again. 

Yet still… our answer hangs in the balance. 

Our answer should be quite obvious: yet due to pain, disappointment, hurt, sometimes we hold back. Sometimes we pause more than necessary. 

Just look in His eyes, dear friend, accept His love once and again for you. 

Accept His renewing, comforting, powerful, life changing love. 

Perhaps you’ve done it once before. Friend, this is something we can do anew every day. 

It’s as simple as a whispered prayer:  Jesus, I am accepting the love you sent down— the love that lit the whole sky. The love that changed so many lives back then and is still changing lives today— my own included. Thank you that your love is unconditional: you pour out your affection on me without any limitations or conditions. It’s simple pure love. The best gift of all. 

And when we let His Love enter and light even the forgotten corners of our hearts— it transforms us. We become like the shepherds who accepted the message and were instantly filled with His light, with purpose for spreading the message near and far. 

This Christmas, let His love light up your heart, give you all the love you need, transform and change you, impassion you for spreading the message of His kingdom. 

Let me tell you, friend, this is real living. It is Kingdom living and is the only thing that will last for eternity— accepting Him, living with Him and for Him each day. 

If this is the first time accepting His love into your heart, whisper a prayer to Jesus today. It can be something like this: 

“Lord Jesus, I invite you to come into my life. I believe that you are God’s son and you died for me. Your precious blood paid for all my sins and purchased eternal life for me. I now say ‘Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior!’ I’ll never be alone again. You are here for me everyday, in every way. Thank you, Lord! Amen.”

That’s all… it can be as easy or eloquent as you would like. The main thing is saying it from your heart….

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:9-10

And for anyone who has already done this first step I urge you to whisper your own prayer each and every day, accepting anew His unconditional love. 

“Lord, your transforming love has changed my life ever since I became yours. Fill me today fresh and anew with your love. Empassion me with your love and message. Give me opportunities to share YOU to the world around me.” 

It’s amazing when we give that open door to the Lord what He will do with it. He will continually fill your heart and send certain people your way who need to hear the Good News. Yes, we get to be the modern day shepherds— witnesses, messengers of His love that lit the sky all those years ago— His love that is still lighting our lives each and every day. 

Here’s my prayer for you this Christmas: 

May you feel the unconditional love of Jesus wrapping around you, holding you close. I pray that you would sense His presence in a deep and wonderful way— banishing any thoughts of loneliness— and instead filling every corner of your heart with His love. May your life shine with His glory— and may it be impossible to keep it to yourself but instead become a bright beacon for others, drawing them to the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Merry Christmas! 

Until next time, 

In writing this article I was reminded of one of my favorite Christmas songs as a teen. Take a listen: 

Featured

Slow & Sweet Savor

I have one child who is the opposite of “in a rush” and absolutely savors each thing she chooses to spend her time on. Whether it’s reading a book out loud, drawing a masterpiece, or making a pretend land for her stuffed animals— she’s happiest when she’s allowed to move at her own pace. To rush her through things causes panic, annoyance and disruption to the little world she’s inserted herself into. After eight years of being her mom, I am finally learning how to not rush her and allow her her slow savoring process (school mornings are a different story 😉 but slowly I am learning to allow her more time to do what she needs to do).

Sadly, it’s a phase a lot of us grow out of, usually by necessity, but also by the tug and pull of the world and its distractions. 

To “savor” takes conscious effort to slow down and disengage or untangle ourselves from the pace dictated and instead, move to the rhythm of our own hearts. 

I had a moment like this recently. This week at our church service, I just sat there and savored the moment. The presence of God was there, so real, peaceful you could physically feel it. To tops things off, the kids had their Fall Fest and were tromping around in their costumes, happy as could be.  Tables were being set up for our community church lunch, the smell of lunch wafting in the air. Time just paused for a moment. It’s like my heart said, “Psst! These are the moments of our lives. Don’t miss out!”  The feeling of peace, no hurry, no rush, fell over me and I realized, “Yes, what is life worth living if not for these moments?” It makes me want to live with that purpose each day to SAVOR.  

I’ve had this yearning lately to JUST BE with my parents, my family, my sister and her family. Just soak them in, treasure them. Nothing fancy, planned, or even filled with nonstop talk—  just a cherishing of them and who they are in my life. Because what really matters more than being with the people you love? Everything else fades, disappears, disintegrates, but love remains. LOVE REMAINS. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

My mom often recalls a story about my Great Grandma. Years ago, they were sitting together and Great Grandma– who by that time was nearing 100 years old, confined to a wheelchair and did not talk much at all– focused her eyes on my mom, patted her face. My mom asked what she was doing… she said, “Oh, just beholding you.” The moment affected my mom immensely. If we all would take the time to “behold” or “cherish” each other, how much different would life be? Each time my mom tells the story, tears catch in her eyes, for it truly was a special moment— treasuring, savoring, truly feeling the LOVE God has given us. 

 It makes me think about our Lord too— how He lives like this and exists like this. He had everything in the world— yet there was one thing He wanted most: our hearts! Our love. Our attention.

“And in love He chose us before He laid the foundation of the universe!”

Ephesians 1:4a

Yet we flit about like the birds before a storm— busy to this tree and that, gathering food, chattering, and transfixed with what’s before us. But to pull out a “timeout card”— to realize that He’s so important He’s worth savoring—It brings a fullness, a richness, a depth to our lives. We find that the flitting back and forth to and fro, no longer draws us and we want to be at the feet of Jesus, savoring His every word. 

This reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha: 

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Being an older sister who thrives on responsibility, that story often rubs me the wrong way. (Anyone else? 😉) I mean, here Martha is preparing the meal, cleaning, readying the dishes and what was Mary doing? Sitting at Jesus’ feet listening. It felt so unfair to Martha I am sure, because “there was just so much to be done!” (Can anyone relate?! Yikes!) But the text here says, Martha was “distracted”. Busy with things that weren’t of the most importance. Can anyone relate with this? (hand raise over this way! 🤚)  Jesus said “Mary has chosen what is best”.

Friends, we got to stop our needless, unending frittering back and forth and instead lock eyes on the One who waits for us. Let’s pull away from distractions and seek Him. All He wants is our hearts.

It reminds me of a song called “We Dance” by Stephanie Gretzinger. Read the lyrics, listen to the song. I promise your heart will be filled. ❤️ 

“We Dance” by Stephanie Gretzinger

You steady me, slow and sweet

We sway, take the lead and I will follow

Finally ready now, to close my eyes and just believe

That You won’t lead me where You don’t go

When my faith gets tired and my hope seems lost

You spin me round and round and remind me of that song

The one You wrote for me

We dance

Oh, we dance

I’ve been told to pick up my sword and fight for love

Little did I know that Love had won for me

Here in Your arms, You steal my heart again

And I breathe You in like I’ve never breathed till now

I will lock eyes with the One who’s ransomed me

The One who gave me joy for mourning

I will lock eyes with the One who’s chosen me

The One who set my feet to dancing

It’s nice to know I’m not alone

I find my home here in your arms 

 So let’s have a sweet and slow dance with the Lord this week. Let Him lead— refuse to check your watch, your “to do” list , your never ending thoughts and instead lock eyes with the One who will fill your heart up with His Love. The One who is more than enough. The One who is worthy of savoring. That’s what I plan to do. ❤️

Until next time, 

Featured

Peach Promises

Maybe a peach tree has more to do with life than originally thought. Yes, the branches, the fruit, the harvest—  it all can take on very easy Christian overtones. But looking at my peach tree today, a great many of the small peaches ripening, a few of the bigger ones still with a light yellow green tint, a different principle comes to mind: the unpredictability of fruit. The prime peach we wait for still clings to the branch, not ready for harvest. But a handful of other ones, they are ready for the harvest and even fall to the ground before we have a second to pick them.

Life is definitely similar… that one event, answer to prayer, thing we are believing for — it may still be up high on the tree, green and firm to the touch. The other things, things we hadn’t anticipated, are ripe and ready for the picking, dripping their juices over us, the smell sweet and intoxicating. 

I think there is an important lessons in both of these fruits: the one ripe and ready, and the one greatly anticipated but still clinging to the branch…

Ripe and ready moments: It is amazing how many of them hit us– my daughter had one just the other day. Out of the blue, after several years of acquaintance, a schoolmate texted her with a hunger for wanting to know God on a deeper level. Her desire was raw and real and she knew she could ask my daughter about it. My daughter simply beamed ☀️ with the assignment God had dropped into her day. It was a ripe fruit, a ripe situation, that just suddenly plopped into her hand. But she was ready for it, and takes great delight in the assignment God has given her. We have all had ripe fruit dropped into our lives in unexpected moments, and like the Bible says we are to “be instant in season and out” when presented with a chance to share the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2). What great harvesting of souls has happened because of Christians being ready for these types of situations everywhere they go! 

Ripe situations also drop in our laps about things we haven’t anticipated… a new job, a move, a new friendship or relationship, a blessing that pops in out of the blue. I love when that happens, don’t you? ❤️

But what about the fruit that just stubbornly clings to its spot on the branch? It’s still as hard as all get-out, green as can be, with no notion of ripening. It seems there is no answer about that situation.

You know what I am talking about… the deliverance from a situation that seems unbearable, the healing from a sickness, the next direction from God, the redemption of a relationship, etc. You know God’s promises on the matter. You’ve prayed and prayed about the situation, but nothing has budged. That fruit is still green on the branch and as hard as a rock. When will the promise come to fruition? 

Friend, I have an encouragement for you today: All of God’s promises are true. It does not matter how small the fruit, how hard or stubborn the fruit is, or even what appears to be an absence of fruit in that area… God keeps His word.

“and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

Romans 4:21

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23

The fruit undeniably follows a rule: that it will ripen (yes, even that hard as a rock green peach!) It may take time… be as stubborn as all get out… but the fruit will ripen and be enjoyed by the harvester. This promise is true and nothing can change the fact. Nothing.

So if you find yourself in a season beyond expecting the fruit— the answer to prayer, the reconciliation, the deliverance, the way opening ahead of you— keep holding on, dear friend. The fruit will ripen in just the right time. God is over all, and He sees the big picture. It’s amazing to think about how He sees it all, even before we live day one of our lives (Psalm 139:16). We can trust Him, knowing He is working all things together for good, and He is the Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The things that seem to be delayed, stalled, unanswered, or just plain stubborn… God is turning them in your direction. The peach is ripening on the branch. The color will soon change… the texture will soon soften. The smell will sweeten. And before you know it, you will have a big, ripe, juicy peach plopped right in the palm of your hand. 

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3

This is the verse my husband stood on, and I with him, in one of the greatest challenges of our lives… waiting for his American Citizenship to be approved. There were many details in the story… and many worries consumed our minds about the situation and if he really would be approved to live here in the USA or sent back to his country of origin. (It was also very close to attacks on 9/11 in which the courts majorly shut down the USA and those wanting to immigrate to it). He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God had brought him here for His purpose and plan. He found several verses, including this one, and clung to it, knowing that God’s promise for him would come true… even if it tarried… even if it delayed, it would surely come to pass. He knew it in His heart. He held onto it, even when everything was shouting that the situation would not work, that it would not come to pass. We had many times going to the court, awaiting the news, only for the hearing to be delayed a month or more. This process went on for years. Those were very stressful times… tumultuous… but God is faithful. In 2009 (eight years after starting the process) my husband became a US citizen. The promise came to pass. The hope in his heart came to fruition. 

I know it seems easy when you see the story written here… It’s solved. It’s concise and summarized. It loses the exasperation, the edge, the disappointment, the intensity that was felt during that time of waiting. It really was a situation that was doing its best to break us. It was discouraging, dark, inconclusive, and stubborn. But our God caused the fruit to ripen on the branch. Here are the pictures of that glorious day. Can’t you just feel the joy radiating from us? 😊 God’s promise for Telly (and our family) came true! 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

Since then, of course, we have faced many other challenges… but the truth remains: God’s promises will come to pass. Find your verse to stand on, your promise from God. Sink in and hold on. It may look like the most stubborn of situations, but it will RIPEN… it will change. Things will give… and you will receive answers, even unexpected answers, to your prayers. Break throughs. Success and victory. Light and life. A deepening of your relationship with the Lord. 

My prayer for you this week: God, strengthen the hearts of my friends this week. Help them to continue to hold onto faith for the situations you have promised them. Help them stand solid upon your word, and not be moved by what they see or don’t see… but to continue to cling to the truth that “He who promised is faithful”… You are faithful and you are the one who causes the situations, answers to prayer, and blessings to flow. Thank you for sending down the encouragement of the Holy Spirit to speak into their lives… may they be encouraged. Give them strength to keep holding on. I thank you for the answers to prayers that will happen… the great breakthroughs that will happen in your name. Thank you for causing GOOD in their lives and for the fulfillment of your plans and purposes of their lives to come to fruition– to be like a plump, ripe peach in the palm of their hand. We give you all glory for this. Amen. 

May your heart be encouraged. May your “faith muscles” be strengthened. May you dig into the Word and become so convinced that He will bring to pass His plans for your life. May you be strengthened as you wait, and may the joy of the Lord be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

I can’t wait to hear about the ripe fruit God brings your way— His answers to your prayers. 

Until next time, 

PS. Here is a link to one of my favorite simple Peach Crisp recipes!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/53110/juicy-peach-crisp/

Featured

Top Ten Moments of Summer

Before I launch my top ten moments of the summer, I want to encourage you this post is more than just “happy moments”. Yes, thank God we can find sparkly moments in this season and recognize it for what it is: Blessings from God. But let me encourage you, no matter how your season has shaped up to be— even the moments the enemy meant for destruction— God turns them for good. Yes, even the moments of ashes can become moments that sparkle with His blessing. He’s just that kind of God. 
So without further ado…


Here are my top ten moments of the summer (in no specific order):

  1. Falling into bed after a busy wonderful summer day full of activity with my favorite quilt around me… (click here to read about “a place of rest” featuring my favorite quilt! https://melanietalevski.com/2021/07/17/a-place-of-rest/)

2. Watching my older kids two compete and play baseball and softball (my son hitting a grand slam, my daughter striking out the side)

3. Going to the second hand bookstore and loading up on good reading (I mean a shopping cart at the bookstore? These are our kind of people!)

4. Swimming! (Need I say more?) ☀️

5. Attending the Summer Classic (All Star Game) with my oldest daughter ⚾️

6. Morning Walks (read about the restoration my morning walks bring at https://melanietalevski.com/2021/06/25/deep-restoration-2/ ) 

7. New experiences with my girls: Chinese Lantern Festival, the girls’ first experience with P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps 😋

8. Weekly writing sessions at the coffee shop 

9. Church events (oh the connections that come from a big loving family!) ❤️ Prayer night, teen and kids events, Church picnic, fellowshipping after church, park meetups, etc.

10. Family time with grandparents, cousins, etc… Any and every reason to gather together and celebrate! 🎉

And good news– summer is not through yet! The calendar still holds more fun to come along with all the fun spur of the moment items that find a way into our days.

Looking at all the fun we have had this summer reminds me of the verse in the Bible:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

He sends down good gifts from above– and oh how we enjoy and soak up every single moment of it! Thank you, God, for your flooding of blessing this summer.

What if your summer isn’t exactly as “picturesque” as you imagined? Believe me, friend, I have been there. Let me encourage you, no matter how your season has shaped up to be— even the moments the enemy meant for destruction— God turns them for good. Yes, even the moments of ashes can become moments that sparkle with His blessing. He’s just that kind of God. 

Case in point, it will definitely not make anyone’s “top ten moments of summer” list as it was a tragic moment, but one of our church families recently experienced a house fire. The entire house beyond rescue–to be leveled. The enemy tried to bring this as a discouragement, an evil into their lives… but already we are seeing God use the situation for good. 

My dad says it best… don’t confuse God with the devil. Add a “O” to God and you have GOOD. Take away the d in devil and you have evil. Simple as that. God is good and the devil is evil.

God doesn’t just watch and say, “well, I guess we have to let evil win that round”… NO WAY! God is an expert in scooping up ashes (whether brought on from the evil one, from personal choice, from a relationship, or situation, whatever the source…) and making it into beautiful diamonds. 

Let me say that again: He is an expert at scooping up the destruction, the ashes– and making it into beautiful diamonds. He redeems the situations the enemy has meant for evil.

“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair”.

Isaiah 61:3

He is the God we can trust… the good shepherd. He is watching over us, over our days. He is an expert at turning that meant for evil into good. We can trust Him completely and soak in/revel the moments He has brought us so far in our lifetimes, years, and even this specific season. He is good, and like David said, 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

So no matter what events mark your summer (perhaps shifts and changes with job or expectations, helping elderly relatives, trauma, or even a tragic misplacement of home) I urge you to be confident that God is taking care of you. He is redeeming that which was formed as a curse against us and bringing His goodness to the forefront.

We will see His goodness. 

My prayer: Lord, help us to have our eyes open to see your goodness… even in the little moments like a comfy quilt, a happy moment at the baseball game, used books from the bookstore. Thank you for the blessings you have bestowed on us and the fact that we will see your goodness in the land of the living, and we will see beauty in place of ashes… we will have “surely mercy and goodness shall follow you all the days of your life”(Psalm 23:6) 

So my friend… my encouragement for you:  May you feel the arms of Jesus wrap around you in a special way and may you feel faith arise in your heart. He is the God who heals, the God who exchanges what the enemy meant for evil for good. He is a miracle worker and nothing is too far gone for Him. He will turn any ashes in your life into beauty. He will cause any evil the enemy brought in your life to work for your good. He will cause mercy and goodness to both go before you and behind you. The only ingredient you need is Him. Hold onto him, dear friend, and I pray He would open your eyes to see the blessings He has brought to your life, no matter how small, hidden or undercover they come.  And may you walk in the confidence that God is doing this good work in you and you will see His goodness…  may you proclaim boldly as David did, that you “will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”. Amen.

I can’t wait to hear your “Top Ten” and how God is working in your life.

Until next time,

Want more encouragement during the week?

Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/melanietalevskiwrites or at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/melanietalev/

Featured

A Place of Rest

Nothing says “summertime” to me like a good quilt! I mean, just look at these pictures and see if they don’t make you feel an ounce lighter, happier? Content? Calm? 

Something about a homemade quilt is so comforting, safe, simple. Just like the life I want to lead. Yes, quilts have been providing summer time fun for as long as I can remember…. 

  • 4th of July gatherings with our cousins in the back of the pickup truck, watching fireworks. We would lie on our backs and watch the beautiful fireworks light the night, cool quilts cushioned beneath us or resting lightly on our shoulders. 
  • The Quilt Fair with Great Grandma. She’d make it the event of the day… viewing the displayed quilts with their patterns and colors galore followed by several amusement park rides at the playgrounds and a vanilla cone at McDonalds.
  • Not to mention…Camping trips, backyard picnics…
  • Yes, quilts even served as a make shift “stage” years ago for a “Peter Pan” performance by my kids in the backyard. 

Even now, after a long and full summer day, nothing is more comforting than my cool and colorful quilt (made by Peach Valley Quilts: https://www.facebook.com/Peach-Valley-Quilts-2310090659222308/) to greet me at the end of the day!

It’s with all this thinking of comforts, simple life, and contentedness that God’s sweet Holy Spirit began to speak to me as I read my Bible. As I read Hebrews 3:17-18, I realized that THERE IS A CALMING PLACE OF REST for those of us who choose to live by faith. Another way to say it: It’s possible for us to enter into a “faith-rest life” by having faith in God alone. (Passion Translation footnotes). 

What exactly is faith again? 

Good News Translation says, 

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1

Yes, when we have faith—it is based on what God is doing– not what we can muster up or do or produce on our own. 

It is by having this confidence that God will do what He says– that we can enter into a “faith-rest life”. Yes, we are able to rest even in the midst of the waiting because we have faith and it upholds us and gives us peace, calm, and rest even in the middle of circumstances. Not so unlike a favorite quilt. 😉

Are you facing problems that seem unsolvable today? Perhaps you feel backed into a corner with no where to go… all your last efforts and hopes are now silent. It can be a very defeating, anxiety-producing place… but it is the place that God’s grace, love and deliverance can shine all the more. 

I was reading two different passages where this was displayed: 

  • Israelites Delivered from Egypt only to be Trapped by Enemies and Red Sea on all sides (Exodus 14) 
  • Abraham willing to sacrifice son, Isaac (Genesis 22) 

In both these situations, the main characters were surrounded. No way out. Their hands were tied. Their last efforts, the last open door or window— slammed shut. There was no hope but for God.  

  • With the Israelites, they had just seen miracle after miracle performed to deliver them from Egypt, only to be backed into an impossible, hopeless corner right out of the gate. They complained, “Were there not enough graves in Egypt that you led us out to the wilderness to die?” (Exodus 14:1) It truly looked like their success was short lived. There was no way out. Thank goodness, Moses knew better and held onto faith. 
  • In Abraham’s case he’d received the promise of God that he would be the “Father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4). After many struggles of trying to manufacture the promise himself, Abraham saw God’s goodness and he was given a son. Success to the promise seemed right around the corner… yet, now God required Abraham sacrifice the “one and only means to an end” he had. How would he receive the promise now? Yet. “Abraham believed God” (Genesis 15:6). He had faith God would be the one to work it out. 

Yes, in both these cases the people were backed into a corner…. No way of helping themselves out. And don’t you know, that is where our God continually shows up. It’s just amazing. He is “mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:17).  

  • In the case of Israelites and the Red Sea, God has Moses lift his hands and the Red Sea actually split! The Israelites were able to walk through on dry ground. And not only that, but when the enemy pursued them through the sea, the sea collapsed killing each and every Egyptian who was in pursuit. The Israelites stood at the other side— delivered by God’s hand— and shouts and songs in thankfulness to God came from their lips. 
  • In the case of Abraham offering up Isaac, God provided the ram as the sacrifice. And in time, God’s promise to Abraham to be the “father of many nations” came to pass. 

God came through. The main characters job? To believe. To have faith in God alone. This is our only responsibility too. (I know easier said than done at certain times!) 

Even if the Lord has brought us through time and time again, we can often continue to go into the whole fight and flight mode over and over again (believe me, I HAVE been a master of this) when situations come up. Instead of getting caught up in that cycle of unbelief or striving for our own answers…

God longs for us to cuddle up with the comfortable, safe “quilt of faith”.

It’s in this safe place that the realization, the perspective that God is trustworthy, capable, and we can depend on Him– comes to the forefront. Our willy-nilly trying to work it out and muscle it out on our own, striving, stressing, white knuckling… it is useless. Let’s “out” that energy into our faith… into believing and trusting that He is God, He is mighty to save, and He will bring us through. His plan will be accomplished. 

Yes, I pray that both you and I would wrap ourselves in the quilt of FAITH starting here and now. It’s faith that leads to a restful, calm, trusting life. Even when we are surrounded on every side. Even when physically it looks like things can’t possibly work out.

May you find your faith rising on the inside when things get tough. May you find rest because you are learning to lean on the everlasting arms. So many of the hymns say it best…. 

“’Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus” (lyrics at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/568) 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms: (lyrics at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/558) 

Or modern hymn: “Lord, I Need You” (video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA) 

In all these songs, the truth is conveyed: we cannot do it without the Lord. Only because of Him all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). 

Another one of my favorite quilts! Thank you Mrs. Gale & Hannah!

Our struggle falls away because we are no longer focused on what we can or cannot do… or what walls and situations surround us… Now we are focused on faith in our Lord. How He has come through for us and so many others in the past and He will do it again.

He is “mighty to save”, dependable and trustworthy to deliver us no matter what we face. 

Let the quilt of faith, of a rest-filled life, a trusting life, settle on your shoulders today… let it bring you comfort, peace, rest, a sense of calm that overflows every nook and cranny of life. This is my prayer for you. 

Until next time, 

PS. I want to take a moment to speak to the friends who feel as if God has failed them. I wish I could wrap my arms around you dear friend, because I have been there. Honest ranting and wailing, why didn’t God show up for me the way I wanted Him to? If He is so great, so good, why didn’t He _______ (fill in the blank). I know there are so many views, so many components (fallen world is a big component), but may you find rest in the quilt of faith. May faith be restored to you. Perhaps something did not come to pass in the way you imagined, but it does not mean God failed. Often times, healing takes longer than we think or can be in a different way than we think. All I know is that ranting, wailing, asking the questions— it may feel necessary at times (and yes it is better to rant and wail at God than just turn away— He’s big enough to hold it all) but I pray that after the pouring of your heart before God, that you would find the comforting quilt of HIS PRESENCE wrapped on your shoulders from the Holy Spirit. He will whisper to you. Sing to you. Dry your tears. Reveal things to you. Help you heal and become whole again. Help your heart to beat again. He will minister God’s love and faithfulness to you. And in that warm embrace—that safe quilt wrapped on your shoulders— may your faith rise. May you feel the love of our Father and come to trust in Him again. Know that He never left you. His love is all encompassing. Overflowing. Compassionate. Mighty to save. And may you feel your faith rise, giving wings to your heart that has been so captivated before by hurt. May you live a new life… a deeper life… fully trusting in Our Father God. My prayers are with you. 

Featured

Deep Restoration

Are you looking for a bit of break in this harried, hurry scurry busy life? Me, too, friend. Me too. 

I have a new favorite walk. I set out one day craving a change-up to my usual walk….

What I needed was a walk that breathed some life into me, far from the busy city streets (which is not very easy for a suburb girl!) I found myself wandering down past from my house into the green field of a park. Yes, here my lungs felt like they could breathe deeper and my eyes had places to wander and settle on. Not so much hurry scurry here. I soaked it in and continued on….

And on…

until I found myself on this (still somewhat busy city-like) stretch of country road with an old farmstead on the side.

Instantly my heart relaxed… the tightness that had been wound tightly inside…. Began to unravel and release.

Maybe it was the the smell of fresh growing farm grass, or perhaps it was the feel of open air, or the melody of the birds? Or maybe it was the bray of horses or the feel of sidewalk beneath my feet softening as it becomes dirt— complete with little outcrops of dandelions, and crabgrass.

Yes, I believe it is all these things combined. My five senses realized the difference of the surroundings around here and instantly, my soul feels grounded ( To see more about how I wrote about the five senses, and how it can help us in moments of trauma, see my blog link. (https://melanietalevski.com/2021/03/13/safe-secure-and-held/). But more than any physical thing… it was the fact that mindfulness was added to my day… or that SPACE from my schedule was made through this simple walk. 

Have you found yourself in a situation like this? Perhaps it was beach side, on a mountain hike, sitting in the backyard or wandering down a neighborhood path… no matter where you find it… it always feel the same…. A deep release. A deep sigh of our souls. A release of all that heaviness that has somehow crawled onto our world weary hearts without us being completely aware. It feels like we can breathe again. Our eyes, which have been so focused and centered on the tasks before us— now get a break and we find ourselves truly SEEING the things around us. We are able to stop just surviving and (existing) and are now present… mindful of what is going on around us. And in this process, our system relaxes…. Right is restored. 

This, my friend, is God’s deep restoration. He has a variety of ways to minister to our world weary minds, bodies, souls. I find often that He does this deep ministering for me when I get out from my normal habitat and walk around in His nature where I hear, see, smell, feel… anew. We are so good at every day going through the motions and doing what is supposed to be done. But friends, we were created to be human beings— living, interacting, feeling. God did not create us to be machines…. But rather His friends. Human beings who see, feel, taste, touch…. 

I, like you, crave relief on a daily basis. Yes, coffee breaks, watching silly youtube videos, and laughing with friends (or reading a chapter of a latest fiction book) offers a break, but often it is just a reprieve. 

Reprieve (relief) is summarized as:

“a feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.”

(dictionary.com)

Restoration is:

“to receive back more than has been lost to the point where the final state is greater than the original condition”.

Oh wow, that is so much deeper than just temporary relief! Did you know God has that deep restoration for you and me today? And every day? It is not withheld… often we just don’t take a break from our list of tasks to tap into it or we think it is beyond reach… when really it can be found in a simple moment on the back porch, a silent walk, or a deep breath after the kids sleep and we purposefully become mindful, present, and breathe. We often need to TURN OFF LIFE for a moment to see, hear, and be present to open the door to deep restoration. 

This is what God says about the situation: 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 

It is funny to think that this coming to God, slowing down, simplifying is a “skill” we all need to be taught to remember, but in the fast pace of this world, it really is a treasure to be guarded, practiced, and remembered. It is way too easy to keep busy, entertained— our mind a constant swirl with thoughts, ideas, motions. 

I know that as a mom, I am responsible for helping my kids enter these slow moments and have them as a part of life. The more I can teach them now to seek out and embrace quiet moments, still moments… the more they are going to know how to do that as teens and adults. It is really an important skill. This resting, stopping, pausing.

Let me tell you though, that more often that not, MY KIDS teach me mindfulness. We are driving to a practice… my mind is on the thoughts— “will we get there on time? What about so and so… etc.” Then I hear a voice from the back seat, “Look at the sunset! Wow!” Or “Did you see that silly dog, mom?” Moments that bring my focus back to the here and now. My youngest is especially good at this. Just today she went with me on my morning walk. As I passed the side streets, ready for the beautiful country lane part of the walk, she stopped to climb a tree. “Mom look at me!” She called, causing me to stall my walk. I stopped, watched her, and smiled. When did her limbs get so long that she was able to hoist herself into the tree un assisted? We walked a few more steps and she laughed at the birds balancing on the phone line… causing me to look up and laugh too. Friends, this is a depth of life that we all must strive to remember. We used to live like this, and I believe by having a few more of these moments in each day, our lives become deeper. 

Perhaps this is a bit of what Jesus meant when He said,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

Kids are amazing— they are able to stay focused on the single thing before them. They are aware, in awe, and observant— not to mention: trusting, joyful, and believing. 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

How can I become like a child in some of my ways of relating to God? Trusting Him completely. Believing He will do what He says He will do. Stop maneuvering, manufacturing my own way and trust Him and His way. 

How can I become more like a child in my day to day living? Take a moment to feel the grass, climb the tree 😉 , and laugh at innocent, simple things. God has been teaching me a lot the last few years about being present (see my blog all about this: https://melanietalevski.com/2021/02/26/fully-present/ ) and being mindful. The more we practice and treasure this ability, the stronger we will feel the effects. 

We can start slow….and recognize and appreciate every moment of progress we make. I believe it has a type of snowball effect… the more we encourage ourselves to live in the moment, do  it, realize it, open our eyes in awareness towards it… the more it will grow. 

Other ideas we can do this week: (I’d like to hear yours too!) 

  • We can mindfully read the word. Maybe instead of just “getting through the chapter for the day” we can try slowing down and reading until a verse catches our attention. Then we can sit with that verse, dwell on it…. Try not to hurry and scurry from it. Perhaps we’ll just place a bookmark there and (gasp) not get through our chapter for the day. That’s okay. We are on God’s schedule now. 
  • We can take “five senses” pauses in the day. We can take breaks to see what truly see what is around us. Maybe while at the coffee shop… we can stop scrolling for a minute and look around… what is there to see? Or when the call, “Mom, mom!” comes we can challenge ourselves to take a moment to truly look into our kids eyes. I know it sounds basic but at the pace of life we are living in this world, even little things like this can be lost. Just recapturing them and treasuring these moments can lead us to deeper and fuller lives. 
  • And like I said before… getting into nature automatically ushers me into a place of restoration. Whether it is sitting on the porch, taking a walk, even looking at a favorite nature picture (maybe a favorite beach or mountain scenery) all these things can lead to a heart “break”: a moment for us to truly just BE. And breathe. 

It is often in these moments… the space that is made… that we can finally see and hear God. He’s been here all along, but often our urgent to-do-lists, social connections and life situations cause us to put Him on hold— when really it would majorly benefit us to learn the skill of putting life on hold for our connection with the Lord. 

So, my dear friend, my prayer for you this week is: 

May you see, feel and experience the true presence of God through deep restoration. I pray for moments of relief in your day to day life but even so much better than that— moments of restoration. May God meet you in a deeper way in the pauses you allow for Him this week. May you follow the tug of His spirit when you are prompted to slow down, rest, or even just make space for Him. May our perspective be retrained…. May we become like children in our faith and in mindfulness in the midst of our days. May the busyness of this world be replaced by a love for the Lord, a trust in our Father God. May you find moments of deep restoration as you yield and release your life, situations, worries and schedule to the Lord. May He lead you in a deeper and fuller way of living.  

Until next time, 

PS. John Eldredge (Christian author) has a whole app ( https://www.pauseapp.com ) to help cultivate pauses in our days— to invite Jesus into our situations, unify with him… release worries to him. Check it out (it’s free)! It seriously only takes one minute and I have found that it brings a peace into my life and more mindfulness daily.

PPS. I LOVE this song and often find myself singing the chorus again and again. 

“YOU RESTORE MY SOUL” sung by Sarah Pearsons

Featured

Waves of Grace

It’s officially summer time at the Talevski house! We wished the last of school days a “good riddance” and “farewell” and are now sailing into our favorite season: SUMMER! 

I could wax poetic about all the wonderful things about summer (truly try me— I am sure I could list 1000’s as summer is my most favorite season of all!) but instead I will focus on a few of our favorite things to do in the summer… 

  • Softball and baseball. (Pictures to come soon and maybe even a blog post as it is our family’s favorite sport!) 
  • Lots of lazy days around the pool, hiking, meeting with family— cousins, grandparents, and so many others. 
  • And… vacation! One of our favorite, most favorite, places to go is San Diego. These are a few pictures from our last trip to the coast. It’s our happy spot! 

It was on this trip God met me in an overwhelming season I’d been walking through and spoke to me through the waves…. 

I was able to sneak out one morning for a quiet solitary walk down the coast. It was during this time of searching for relief— my looking for answers for deep down questions of my heart that I didn’t even know particularly how to voice— I heard the waves in their fullness, the call of the seagulls. I watched the birds come and dig up snails as the tide went back out. I stood in the ocean, standing still, while the waves would come close and lap against my legs, then fall back away slowly, until…

a new wave would come over and lick my toes again. In and out. Constantly. And there, I recognized the similarity of the waves and life. As long as we are on this earth, situation after situation will come up. Some will gently lap against our legs in a peaceful manner, some lick our toes. Some will come crashing in, the tide changing and soak us through and through. But the constant is that it comes, then it goes. It comes, then it goes. Somehow that fact was oddly comforting— impermanence of the waves. There is always a reprieve in the middle to breathe before the next wave comes up. 

I was contemplating this, (and by contemplating I mean asking God, “Why does overwhelming situation after overwhelming situation come?”). As the next wave licked my toes I heard His whisper in my heart. 

“Just as sure as challenges and situations are to come and come, constantly with no stop, even more so my love, my presence comes in over and over again.“

I watched the salty water submerge my toes, my ankles and listened a bit closer.

“With each challenge, each situation, there is an overflow of my grace and love. So focus on that. Not on the waves or challenges or problems, but on the consistency of my love.” 

The whisper dug way down in my heart, the truth resonating through me. 

Yes, I could… I could focus on the grace, the love He sends on wave upon wave. Yes, this world will send challenges and trials and problems, but God, in His mercy, sends wave after wave of love and grace.

That’s a constant we can take comfort in. 

The waves will not overtake you. Here’s the words for your heart straight from God Himself: 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Psalm 43:1-3 

“I am there with you. My love bigger than anything,” He whispers to both you and I today. 

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Ephesians 3:18-19

So as the waves continued to lick my toes, then my calves, and eventually thighs… I let His love crash over me. He is more than enough for anything we face. 

Let’s take out eyes off of the challenge and instead, moment by moment, ask God to teach us to see Him, His peace, His love, and grace in every moment. Because if we will look for it, we will notice it is there. 

So friend, may you know this truth, may you be settled in it so much that when a HUGE wave crashes in on your shore bringing challenges and difficulties— may you remember that His grace comes in— EVERY TIME and offers more than enough mercy to cover the situation. Yes, this is the promise from God himself (and we always know He keeps His promises— every time!) 

“But where sin (problems, pain, separation) increased, grace increased all the more…”

Romans 5:20

Never doubt, my friend, that He is more than enough to handle every situation. The key is to be found in HIM. Tuck your hand in His, focus in on His face, and allow Him and all He is to overwhelm every situation that comes your way. 

You are safe, protected, held… (More on this topic at https://melanietalevski.com/2021/03/13/safe-secure-and-held/ ) and He is more than enough and provides more than enough GRACE for any situation that comes our way. 

Let’s trust it, believe it, and live like it is true even when we are in the midst of it. 

And to take it one step further… (I urge you to really dial in and hear this):

His love for you… it is so precious it reached down and poured LOVE upon you even when you were unaware. Even when all that you were was against Him. When everything in you pushed Him away. 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 

This is one of my most favorite verses EVER. He calls us to Himself. Sacrifices Himself. We were too blind to see it. But still He did it to provide a way. His great big ULTRA love couldn’t be pushed away, barricaded or stopped. It broke through. Changed our lives forever once we said YES. Now we take that way, walk that way… and see the precious blessing of His love and grace. We feel it coming in wave by wave each day. Now if that isn’t “super hyper abundant grace” (as the Passion Translation describes it) I don’t know what is!  (read more about GOLD GRACE here: https://melanietalevski.com/2021/05/28/gold-grace/ )

My prayer for you this week: 

May your eyes be opened to the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of the matter: that God’s grace does come in wave after wave in a super abundant way— it is much bigger than the problems. It has the power of God in it, able to handle any and every situation with grace to spare. It never runs out or falls flat, short of its goal. May you feel that GRACE rise up in your heart, given by God, and may you trust and rely on the giver of that grace— God Himself— to get you through any circumstance you face. He is more than enough. His grace and gentle love are more than enough. They are promised to you each and every time. So, let that beautiful smile slip back on your face, replace your trust not on yourself but onto the ultimate GIVER OF GRACE, and be ready to see how He comes through for you. It may not be on your time line but it is always far above anything we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) in the long run.

I’m excited to share my grace laced stories with you and I can’t wait to hear yours as well. 😊

Keep hanging on tight to Him. Letting the waves of grace crash over you. It’s more than enough. He is more than enough.  

Until next time, 

Featured

Gold Grace

With May being the month that we focus special attention on our mothers, I would like to highlight my mom and the blessing that she is to my life. This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom. Can’t you just see abundant grace & joy radiating from her? 

I inherited my middle name from my mom— who inherited it from her mom— who borrowed it from a woman who encouraged and blessed my great grandmother’s life so much she named her firstborn daughter’s middle name after her. Jean. It means “grace of God” or “graciousness of God”. Along with this middle name, a special blessing of God’s presence and anointing for His ministry has accompanied those in my family named after it. My mother and grandmother are two of the most godly woman I know. Both have immense ministries encouraging others, praying for others, and ushering the presence of God in a greater measure into other’s lives. (I’d like to believe that passed on to me too! 😊) I have watched year upon year as God uses these ladies to draw people into His presence, into salvation and into daily communion with Him. 

My mother’s first name also means “God’s grace”. Mom will often smile and say, “Yes, I’m just blessed with a double portion of grace.” Which is a great thing for a Pastor’s wife and child of God to be blessed with, right? And let me tell you, like us all– she has needed every ounce of grace God has bestowed on her! 

I have seen my mom tap into that power and strength time and time again when challenges, hurdles and unexpected situations come her way. One of the stories to come to mind was several years ago as a group of our ladies from church journeyed to El Salvador on a missions trip. My sister and I also went along on this trip. I was three months pregnant and found the situation to be overwhelming at times: foreign flights, driving on a foreign highway (where there were men armed with machetes), and being surrounded with a different climate, food choices, and living arrangements. Each time, my mom was there, offering God’s grace and strength in the middle of my weakness. I will always value the camaraderie she offered me that trip and the reassurances she spoke during the challenges. Each time pointing me back to the Word and the grace and strength that is found in the scriptures. (She has does this numerous times in every different season of my life. Thank you, mom!) One of the more humorous moments of the trip, when our group was served a luxurious El Salvadorian dinner— fresh caught fish with their heads (and eyeballs 😮 ) still on— mom, armed with the strength God’s grace provides— began to sever the heads from the fish and serve the group of women the now headless meat. 😆 That is something I never thought I would see my sweet, four foot eleven mama do! But brave, strong, and filled great measures of His grace she was! (And is). And what a story this makes to tell the grandkids. 😊 

Yes, I would for sure say that my mom is synonymous with STRENGTH. In fact, isn’t GRACE itself synonymous with strength? When we allow grace into a situation, we allow space into a situation, a space that can bring such strength. 

Have you heard of the Japanese tradition of “glueing” broken items together with pure gold? I find it fascinating! The process is called Kintsugi.

It is “the art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold” (wiki.com).

Picture credit to https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi_._/

The tradition began when an heirloom that had been in a family for generations broke. Instead of simply glueing it back together, gold was added to the glue to add extreme strength to the item. In the process of repairing the broken heirloom, it now became stronger and so much more beautiful and original.

Isn’t this just a beautiful example of God’s grace? Each of us is broken, incomplete without the great outpouring of grace and strength that God gives. But then God comes in with His grace and fills all cracks. In this process of filling in the cracks, we are made stronger by His grace and mercy. Because of His presence we are stronger than before. I see this in my mom’s life, my grandmother’s life, my own life as well. 

There is never a situation that is bigger than the grace that God supplies. 

“But where sin (problems, pain, separation) increased, grace increased all the more…”

Romans 5:20 

The Passion Translation says,

“And yet, wherever sin increased, there was more than enough of God’s grace to triumph all the more.”

Romans 5:20 

It goes on to translate from the Aramaic— it’s a grace that is “super hyper-abundant grace. An endless fountain of grace that has been opened for us in Christ” (footnote Romans 5:20, Passion Translation).  

 A fountain of grace? Yes, please! Often in times of stress many of us could prefer a fountain… a fountain of coca-cola or a fountain of endless coffee…. 😂 or how about endless bubble baths or strolls by the oceanside? 😉 But here we are offered SUPER ABUNDANT grace… fountains of it. Unending, Unyielding, Unstoppable. A double portion— to the max! Every time God’s grace will surpass any challenge or situation it faces. Every time. In fact, grace sees problems as a piece of cake! It’s no challenge whatsoever. 

Yes, I want that perspective. 

Then—just like that— a comforting song comes to my spirit, one that I sing often: 

Come Thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love 

— Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing

I find myself whispering back, Yes Lord, tune my heart to sing your grace….. Against any and every situation I face may it be YOUR grace that is the focus. Not the pain. Not the challenges or the problems that threaten to overtake. No, may your GRACE be the thing I focus on, speak about. May your grace be magnified in my life. May the GOLD veins that hold me together be the focus…. Not the brokenness of myself or my situation. 

And my prayer is much the same for you this week: ❤️

May you walk in the freedom and strength His Grace provides.  May you realize that no matter what you face— God’s grace has a hold on you. It won’t let go. It won’t run out, time out. It is always more than enough to surpass the toughness and hurt of any situation you face. May you feel the tangible grace of God like a strong hand on your back, guiding you, supporting you. May your heart be tuned to sing His Grace in any and every situation. Focus on that powerful GOLD GRACE holding you together. And may you experience breakthrough as you wait, strong in grace. And, may you find yourself— like my grandmother and mother— becoming a dispensers of His grace— strong and true— to the world around you. 

Until next time, 

Featured

The Better Path

One of my favorite shows, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart, is currently showing a season in which the main character, who we all love and identify with, has a major choice between two men who have captured her heart. One, mysterious yet kind and patient, the other noble, strong, and a tad unsettled. What choice will she make? It has been the question the whole season long, or more appropriately, for a few seasons long. But with the promise from the executive producer that she will make a choice by the end of the season, we all wait as patiently (or impatiently) as we can. 

*All picture rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark Channel and the makers of When Calls the Heart.*

It makes me think about the choices we have every day. It is easy to decide when we have an obvious bad choice vs. a good choice, but like in Elizabeth’s case, both men are worthy suitors, which one will she choose? Often we are presented daily with choices that are not good vs. bad, but rather good vs. better. It is hard to see clearly when something good is competing against something better. Both options look agreeable! For our life and choices, this is when the Holy Spirit comes into play. He will speak in His gentle way and guide us. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8 
“You may realize the detour is the actual path." - Anonymous 

A couple years ago, I was following down the highway of my life in what was clear and easy to see was my “right choice”. It was a great choice and great life, but then, there came a whisper from the Holy Spirit and a little plain detour came into sight. To continue with my “highway” analogy, it was like a turn off the highway with a small dirt road. It appeared to not be well traveled…. Nothing special, yet, there was a gentle tug to go down this new road. It was a “detour” of sorts. Along this new stretch of road I have found some of my most favorite treasured spots as well as I can hear more clearly the Holy Spirit’s voice. So what was that? It was trading my “good” for something even “better”.

Often we don’t hear this call to the “better” until the Holy Spirit comes and gently taps on our heart…. Sometimes over and over again until we become aware— oh, there is another path over there! Maybe from appearances it does not look to be anything special, yet the Holy Spirit leads there, His hand outstretched to us inviting us to come. 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

In making space for Him— for the Holy Spirit to lead— I have found some of the best peace of my life. Something about surrendering our obvious good choice and following Him admits our dependence on Him and sort of quickly gets us in over our heads. It’s this feeling of, wow, if He fails me now, I will be considerably lost and not sure what to do… getting to that place of vulnerability and complete trust is hard… it seems like it could be simple, yet, how simple is jumping out of a plane not sure if your parachute is going to activate or not? But we can know that where the Spirit leads, He will equip and provide for us what we need. It is the ultimate TRUST TEST. Yet it leads us in the path of truth each time: 

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13

So today we have a choice…. Instead of a choice like Elizabeth’s between two good men, we have a choice between good and better. The better path can be risky…. It can be unsure. It draws us out from what is comfortable (read my blog post on the Hobbit https://melanietalevski.com/2021/01/30/journey-on/ for more on this).  It can be nerve wracking and lonely at times, yet it can be most rewarding, causing us to lean into God and the direction of the Holy Spirit more than ever before. We can see new sights we never thought existed. We can feel a measure of peace in our hearts never known before because we completely rely on Him and His Spirit. This better path means a deep surrender, a deep fall back and the ultimate trust test, but it can lead us to the most fulfilling and purposeful life yet. 

May we take time this week to listen to the gentle “tap, tap” the Spirit has been giving each of us, perhaps even for years. It’s simple… we can just breathe out an invitation. It can be as easy as this: 

“I hear you. What are you saying?” 

He will be sure to show us. Especially as we learn to tune our ears to His voice. Perhaps it will just be a gentle nudge to step out a different way. 

Through it all, God, help us lean on you. 

My kids often hear me singing snippets of old hymns… the latest phrase being from “Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus”,

“Oh for grace to trust You more”.

Yes, Lord, this is the cry of our hearts, help us to trust you more. (Isn’t He so amazing?  He isn’t just trustworthy, but he will also help us trust Him more! Now that’s the kind of help we need) 

Along with this path of trusting Him more comes complete honesty. Let’s not be afraid to tell him how unsure or scared or fearful we feel. We can tell Him about the twinges we feel in our hearts… the things that we notice but aren’t sure what they are about and why He is trying to get our attention. And we can take a step…. One that resonates with our hearts and what the Lord has been speaking. We might be surprised to find ourselves “exiting” the highway and going onto what appears to be a “detour”. And often that detour leads to the intimate and “better” path with the Lord. 

So, be brave Dear One… put your hand in His. Be confident in His leading. He cares for you. He will be with you, deliver you. If you are willing, He will take you from the “good” (or yes even the absolute bad, messy situations) and into the better life. No, this better life isn’t without problems or struggles… in fact you may face more challenges on the onslaught of this journey because of the presence of evil fighting against you because your destiny is about to be realized. But hand in hand with Him, you can be sure that He leads to the better path… the path that transforms you to completely and fully you— who God made you to be down in the core of who you are. It’s a place of living completely caught up in His Spirit and living from a place of abundance in your relationship with Him. 

He holds out His hand today… 

Come, Dear Heart. His hands are strong, warm and inviting. 

But I am scared, we whisper. How can I leave all that is comfortable and good? 

His smile is patient, kind, understanding. His hand remains outstretched. Come with me. 

And in that moment we realize that is the key— going with Him. Our hearts tingle with nervousness but we stretch out our hand and instantly His warm hand cups ours. 

One step at a time, He says and leads us off the well-trodden highway and onto the unknown path of the detour. 

It’s on this path that, as we travel on, we see things we never imagined…. The gentle flow of the river of God, the high tops of the mountains in God’s kingdom… a journey, a path that He leads. Yes, it is the better path. 

Friend,  there is nothing greater than saying YES to where the Lord leads and making space for Him and His plan. It seems BIG, perhaps too big… yet it starts with a step… an active choice to listen, respond, and communicate constantly with Him. I pray that your knee-jerk reaction in this life would be to breathe conversations with Him constantly… Place your trust in Him and take that next step where He leads. 

He is faithful to meet you there. And the next step and the next. 

Until next time, 

PS. I would love to talk with any of you who are finding yourself in your own transition time. Believe me, I have gone through a big one the last couple years, but am finding myself starting to emerge on the other side in a place of being even closer to the Lord, trusting Him more and more every day. I’d like to encourage you! Leave a message below and I will respond or go to my contact page and send me an email. I pray that God’s best would be realized and lived in your life from this moment on out. 

PSS. Are you a fellow When Calls the Heart fan? Give a shout out for the guy you wish for Elizabeth to pick at season’s end… the mysterious and kind Lucas Bouchard or the loyal and noble Nathan Grant? 

*All picture rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark Channel and the makers of When Calls the Heart.*

Also, I have a fanfiction devoted to the development of Rosemary’s story (written following season 4) Here’s the link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12658012/1/The-Rosemary-Chronicles I had an absolute blast writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it too. 

Here are a few pictures of my sister and I on our WCTH adventure in 2018. Yes, we were able to go to the Hearties Reunion: a gathering for fans of the show where we got to meet the cast and tour the fictional town of Hope Valley. It was an absolute trip of a life time and full of great sister memories. 

Featured

Hope of His Return

Just like the creatures of Narnia in CS Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, we are also awaiting the return of our King. In their case, the land had been covered with a curse, where it was always winter and never Christmas. The simple joyous summer nights filled with festivities around the campfire in the middle of the woods— they were gone, now replaced by cold, snow, and the rule of an evil witch. That can sound familiar can’t it? Which isn’t a coincidence, as CS Lewis’s story was written as an allegory to the Christian life. Here we are children of the kingdom, like, the Pevensie children. Our hearts know what it is like to be in God’s kingdom, and our hearts know that right will be restored, but in the meantime, we belong to a world, covered with snow and with the curse of the fall. But, just like the little whispers that started making their rounds from the creatures of Narnia— we feel a whisper stirring up in our own heart, as well:

“Aslan is on the move. Our king is returning. Everything that is right will be restored.” 

What hope that brings to our hearts. Everything will be restored. The things that make our heart heavy— the things we were not created to endure, like death and separation, sickness, overwhelming burdens and challenges— they will be melted, just like the snow in Narnia. The statues that were turned to ice from the scepter of the White Witch— like the beloved fawn Tumnus— were restored and brought back to life. What a glorious picture of the coming of Christ and of the kingdom of Christ, ruling and reigning! 

With the Easter Story fresh on our minds, I have been thinking about  how hopeless the disciples must have felt after the death of Christ. Jesus had been warning them time and time again throughout all their years together that He would be leaving, that He had a greater call to fill… yet still caught them by surprise. And when His body had laid in the grave and nothing immediately had happened— disappointment, discouragement, and confusion must have plagued their hearts and souls. I’m sure they gathered and tried to cheer each other’s spirit and remind themselves of what Jesus had said— yet before them all they could see was the dark and the hopelessness, their Savior had died, their Savior had left them. Now they were alone, but oh the hope that came on Sunday morning! 

In CS Lewis’s Narnia the creatures of the Kingdom had been under a long and weary spell. Yet hope was restored at the mere mention of Aslan’s name. “Aslan is on the move,” was the proclamation that traveled from beaver dam, to tiny house, to living trees of the woods. “Aslan is on the move,” they would say to encourage their own hearts as much as others. In the disciple’s story, those same whispers of hope, and even shouts of proclamation became more abundant around the city as more sightings of Jesus came, starting of course, with the first one, where he appeared to Mary. (Don’t you love that he appeared to her first? What a great backstory Mary has and how Jesus alone was the one who could save her. So with his death she must have been most distraught… her Savior, her hope… dead. But resurrection morning— there he was before her… fully alive! Praise God!)  The sightings of Jesus continued in many miraculous ways. But even with the whispers of His resurrection traveling throughout the city there was one disciple who doubted— one disciple who didn’t allow the hope of Jesus resurrection in his heart, until he saw it. I don’t know about you, but I sure identify with Thomas, and even feel sad for the poor fellow to be remembered for his doubt. Why did he doubt? Was there some situation in his past that he felt like God hadn’t come through for him? Or was he too cynical to hope? Had he been hurt in the past, and did not want to subject himself to opening his heart to something that could leave him short handed again? We don’t know Thomas’s whole story but what fun research that would be. (In fact, Angela Hunt has fictionalized her own story of Thomas— and his twin!— based on many facts presented in the Bible. Look it up here https://www.angelahuntbooks.com/books/daughter-of-cana/ )

 All I can say is, I want hope to arise in my heart.

Yes, let hope arise in our hearts even on the dark days, even when it’s confusing or even when it feels like we’ve been left alone, like the disciples must have felt. May we recall His words. May we recall the tenderness in His smile, the kindness in His eyes, and remember that He is God’s son. Our dearest friend. Miracle Worker. The Light in the Darkness. Because He is alive we have hope, unending unswerving hope. And it’s not just a hope that is unfounded or an illusion. It’s True Hope— hope that will carry us through the dark snow covered Narnia days where the land is ruled by evil. 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”  

1 Peter 1:3

May our hearts shine within us— may our hearts glow, telling us that Jesus is on the move. He has already redeemed us. One day He will come in rectify the whole earth— make everything right.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold I make all things new.”

Revelation 21:1-5 

 Another important thing that I have seen from the story in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, was how the animals who believed in Aslan and His rule and reign— encouraged themselves. There was a grapevine of gossip (in a good way) going across the land. In fact, one of my favorite scenes is the scene with the beavers and how they take the Pevensie children into their dam for dinner and protection for the night. Mr. Beaver explain who Aslan is by quoting an Narnian rhyme:

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, 

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, 

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” 

“The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe” 

CS Lewis, Chapter 8 

They fed the children and filled the children’s spirits with the knowledge of Aslan, and who He is and how He’s on the move. They taught the children that even though it looks like the land is ruled by the evil, there is a true King who rules over all— one who will restore all as it should be. They also revealed to them their special place as sons of Adam and daughters of Eve in Aslan’s master plan. Mr. Beaver said, there were whisperings going on. “Aslan is on the move, King Jesus is on the move”. They encouraged themselves with that news. Winter and evil would no longer rule and reign… Aslan was coming to make all right again. Yes, winter would melt away and spring would return again.

May we, as the church and as fellow believers, encourage each other as well. May we tell those who have never heard the story the wonderful news and may there be a light that clears away the darkness in their own hearts and replaces it with Christ’s soft glow. May we help others understand the role that they have in God’s story and may we remember how we fit in that story as well. May we encourage each other as we speak of the Lord and speak of His Word and His promises. This is how hope is born & kept alive inside of each one of us.

We celebrate the hope that Jesus has brought us through His death and resurrection. And not only do we celebrate that, but we also celebrate the hope of His return, “King Jesus is on the move. King Jesus will return again!” 

Until next time, 

PS. If you haven’t read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by CS Lewis I encourage you to! It is a light and easy read (written for children) and the TRUTH will bless you.

Featured

Safe, Secure, and Held

If you read my latest blog post, https://melanietalevski.com/2021/02/26/fully-present/ , you know that…

This being “fully present” has a flip side, doesn’t it? It may be all fun and games while we are being present in adventures and moments of lightheartedness… but what about being “fully present” in moments of duress or trauma… how in the world could that help?

I know in my own times of extreme challenge– focusing on the present moment has helped immensely. Wait– what?  How does focusing on the moment you are so desperate to escape from cause you to feel better? Shouldn’t the opposite be true? 

In a time I found myself emotionally stressed to a max, a mentor advised me to rub my index finger against my thumb. Sounds silly right? I thought so too. But that little action brings me back from thoughts and fears going a mile a minute into the sensation of a present moment– fingers rubbing against each other. Or another  example is deep breathing. Concentrating on the air going in and out. Again, this little action brings grounding to a situation that felt like it was spiraling out of control. What about the advice to lean into the five senses… Could that help? 

 What do I hear, see, smell, taste, touch in this present moment? 

 It can feel silly at first but I found that when I take a moment to do this it helps me feel grounded and steers me away from the mental duress. It seems to give my mind a break and draws it back to the present moment– instead of light miles away in thought. 

How do you do this? Seriously it is just simply going through the five senses and coming up with answers…

  • What can I feel (touch)?
  • What do I hear?
  • What do I smell?
  • What do I see?
  • What do I taste?

I know for some this seems not only futile but also a bit “fruity” (silly) but believe me, it works! (yes, even in the most tumultuous situations)

Just like the tapping into the five senses physically, I have found I can tap into spiritual truths to ground me… Truths like: 

  • I know that God’s word is true (lay hand on the Bible— touch) 
  • I know that He listens and answers when I call (hear my voice call out to God— hear) 
  • I know His promises are true (write it, say it— see it!) 

I know in hard times, just clutching my Bible to my chest reminds me that God’s word works and that God is here with me. Never am I alone.

Reminding ourselves of these spiritual truths provides grounding and allows room for God’s sweet Spirit to connect with us– perhaps even give a new perspective on things. He reminds us: He is the same God who was there in the past, He is here in the present. He will be found in our future as well. He is good. He loves us. Surely His plans for our lives will come to pass. 

Now isn’t that a deep breath of fresh air? 

Take a breath, dear friend, and know that a huge part of being “fully present” calls us to rest… rest on His love for us, His goodness, and trust that He is working all for good.  

Isn’t that the way of a child? Even in some of life’s deepest situations–a child can lean up against his mother or father and rest. Doesn’t the Bible commend us to have child-like faith? (Matthew 18:3) Oh, how hard this is. Especially when I want to white knuckle every situation, take control, get answers, pull through. But Jesus calls in His gentle way,

“Come. Put your head on my shoulder. Rest.” 

Perhaps we are resistant at first. Our eyes still lurk on that dark and scary situation in the corner. 

He again beckons us, this time with hands outstretched. “Here, Dear One.” 

With one eyeball on that “monster-like” problem we come closer, still distracted. “But Jesus…” we point to the problem. 

He lifts us up on his lap and somehow we find ourselves looking full in his face. His eyes… so kind and gentle, his smile so sweet. His presence envelopes us and slowly, our focus shifts to him. 

“There we go, that is much better, isn’t it?” His kindness comes as a balm to our souls.

We find ourselves feeling much more at peace… perhaps quite tired. 

“Lay here and rest.” He pulls us to his chest. 

We hear the gentle rhythmic beating of His heart.

And wearily, we do. Oh, so tired…. 

and the sleep we enter is deep, peaceful. 

No perhaps that problem in the corner has not vanished as we hoped it would… but here, in Jesus’ arms, we realize it has lost all power over us.

Our burdens are no longer our own… Jesus carries them for us. 

His yoke truly is easy, His burden is light.

That doesn’t mean all challenge cease, no in fact, a bigger battle may come. 

But we can know that Jesus is with us. He is an EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF NEED. 

He’s not just in our present moment…. He is ever present and willing to help us. 

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46: 1 

So, Dear One, snuggle close to Him. Yes, press your head to his chest until you hear his heart beating. It beats with love for you. Feel the gentle kindness of His attention on you– His arm hand holding you safe. He will pull us through. All we need to do in this moment is to rest and trust. 

Yes, these tense, heartbreaking moments… they will pass. We press in and in our imperfect ways we call out for grace to trust Him more. Remember this hymn? 

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that He is with me,

Will be with me to the end.

Louisa M.R. Stead

Yes, may this be the call of our hearts this week. Call out to Him. He answers every time. He is more than enough to get us through all our past moments, present moments, and moments to come. 

Snuggle safe, secure and cared for in the Father’s arms. 

Until next time, 

David Bowman’s “My Child”
Expressions of Christ series 

PS. This photo has always spoken to my heart. The girl in the picture looks similar to my daughter when she was younger. I remember in a period of specific hard times she faced, I found this sketch. It served as a wonderful reminder that it isn’t just her dad and I holding her… it is God holding her and He loves her so much deeper than we ever could. Know this truth for your children or grandchildren as well: Jesus is holding them and His love for them is so much wider and greater than all the love you have for them. 

Thomas Blackshear’s “Watchers in the Night”

PPS. I also love this picture… how it reminds us of what goes on behind the scenes– what our natural eyes cannot see. May God remind us, give us glimpses into the spiritual realities of our days. We are never alone. We are safe, secure, held, and protected.

Featured

Fully Present

I learned about living in the present moment from my creative, life-loving Grandma Huston. Oh, no we never had a conversation about it, but just observing her for a day (or even just a good ten minutes!) you would realize that she lived differently. She lived in the moment and said YES to the opportunities brought to her.

One of the ways I saw her model this “embracing of the present moment” was through the Famous Sledding Excursion. As kids, my sister and I watched Grandma Huston grab one of our sleds and sail down the side of the snow covered hill, leaving us both to figure out how to get along with one remaining sled. She was living in the moment and enjoying the sledding adventure with her grandkids… not content to sit on the sidelines and observe, but rather ready to be going down the hill, side by side with one of us (or the both of us crammed on the remaining sled) hearts beating with passion, fun, and adventure in the current moment.

One of the other many ways she displayed this to us was when my sister and I visited her home as kids and played in the woods she had cleared for us. A game of baseball together (using the tree trunks as bases), a sip of sugar water in a special cove she had made into a hide out, and learning to suck the sweet nectar from the honeysuckle– these were all things Grandma did with us, taught us by example. She didn’t just observe or stand by– she was there in the middle of it with us, present. She was an expert at living in the present moment.

In recent years, I called up to invite my grandma to join me for lunch as I stayed at a famous castle for a writer’s retreat that was located not too far from her home. She was quick to say YES to the opportunity presented her and we discovered the castle together, ate luxurious food and laughed– all in the moment. And somehow this adventurous grandma of mine also found out a way to finagle a seat next to the popular author and lead teacher of the event, without batting an eyelash. She sat there and enjoyed herself, even sharing funny stories (that is just how she was) and becoming the life of the party. It’s as if she was able to fully dive into the moment presented her and also fully be herself. I absolutely loved that about her.

Much of Grandma Huston lives on in me– all the way from the creativity that bursts forth from my heart to the gentle tinkle of our laughter (yes my sister and I inherited her giggle- especially when together).  One of the things her life taught me most was to be engaged in the moment– to live fully in the present moment.

Lately, I have seen my own opportunities to live in the present moment crop up in my day to day life. It’s an invitation to fully participate in the present moment. A few of the smaller opportunities being:

Sledding:  (I made sure to bring my own sled 😂) The kids and I raced to go over the jumps and compared how far we could get our sled tracks to go. By participating with them I was not just “hearing” about how awesome the jump was but also experiencing it side by side with them.

Iceskating: Again, resisting the comfortable urge to cheer them on from the sidelines and instead lace up my own pair of skates, identifying with the joy (and frustration at times too) of the experience.  

Laughter moments: It may seem like no big deal, but even just taking a moment to belly laugh with my kids  over silly things they say or faces they make or accents they make up (you can ask my youngest about that last one!)

Karate: Yes, I said Karate! Through a series of events I found myself with a choice— sit on the sidelines and cheer the kids on (no problems with that folks) or participate in class with my kids. I wanted to say YES to that “Grandma Huston moment”– living in the present moment that so innocently presented itself to me. I have to admit it was a bit intimidating taking those first steps… the adults watching, the current class filled with kids, and even the instructors were so young they could probably “technically” be my children! But I am so glad nothing stopped this mama! I was amazed after the 1st class just how much fun we had together and how empowering it is to kick collapsible boards and bring out all your ninja moves with no limits (talk about full out abandonment). I’ve chose to go back again, and again, and again. We are getting in a routine and it is fun and there is nothing like our hearts beating in tandem as we all complete our kicks and at the end of class we high five each other. And, after yesterday’s class, I just realized I am teaching my kids a powerful lesson too, that they can do what they put their mind to and they can always choose to live in the present moment regardless of age, situation or any other factor. That is the lesson of the “Grandma Huston” moment.

This being fully present (in whatever shape or form it presents itself) makes our hearts beat with excitement, passion, adventure. It adds an extra little sparkle to our eyes, a pep to our step (or a sore limp to our step depending on the week at karate! 😂) In fact, it is a bit reminiscent of the verse in John 10:10,

“I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.“

In Scripture we read many verses about dealing with anxiety and worry. Each time Jesus makes it clear he doesn’t want us to live in a haze of the past and in anxiety for the future. No, instead He wants us to revel in the present moment and all He has done for us through His sacrifice on the cross. We don’t have to wait until we enter those pearly gates to have abundant life- we can have it here and now because of what Jesus has done for us.

I have found that living in the present moment takes a child-like faith (Matthew 18:3). With this faith we can be brave enough to look at the circumstances ahead and the situations in the past and say: I will rest here. I will choose to live in this moment knowing God is taking care of all of my tomorrows as well as all the days past. There is an immense joy and blessing to be found in today and I will not miss my chance to say YES to it and anything else God brings my way.

This week, may you find yourself saying YES to “being fully present” daily. May you recognize the nudge that calls you out to do more than just observe… and may you have the courage to act on it. All we really hold on our hands is the moment of NOW. Trying to hold the past or the future is like trying to hold water. It just trickles out of our fingers… but the water flow of NOW– let’s splash in it, soak ourselves in it, fully immerse ourselves in it. Let’s thoroughly enjoy the time of NOW and saying YES to the “Grandma Huston” moments that come calling in our days.

Until next time,

PS. I would enjoy hearing your stories. ❤ Was there someone who encouraged you to live fully in the present moment? Comment below or message me.

Featured

An Unlimited Supply

What a sweet time of year it is! With treats around every corner, it’s easy to keep reaching for a sweet, but what happens when they run out?

Growing up, we had a crystal cookie jar. Yes, crystal! It was impossible to open that jar without alerting my mother (and maybe the whole house) to the fact that I was sneaking a cookie before dinner, which of course was against our rules. Believe me, my sister and I tried everything: muffling the lid with a towel, pulling the lid off quickly, pulling it off slowly. No matter what we did, the clang of the crystal glass would always happen in one way or another causing an echo to ring across the house.  Wherever mom was in the house, we would hear her call out our names and we knew that we had been caught. Rats! 

 As kids probably one of our best dreams would be to have an unlimited supply of cookies in the cookie jar— with unlimited hours of availability. Thank goodness, our parents knew better than to allow us to afford us that luxury as it would not be healthy in the long term. 😆  

But wouldn’t that be just dreamy? A cookie jar that we could reach into that would never run out? I guess the only better thing was a cookie jar with tasty calorie-free cookies! 😉

Well, we do have an “unlimited cookie jar” of sorts. No not a physical cookie jar (I can hear your sighs of disappointment) but rather there is an everlasting container that holds just what we need, and it never ever runs out. In this “jar” we find the unconditional love of God that’s always stocked! It doesn’t matter if it is Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July or just a plain old ordinary day in-between. It’s always stocked— crammed packed— with the unconditional love of God. Now that’s a sweet treat! (And no cavities either!) No matter how many times we dip our hand into this “cookie jar” it will not run out. Even with the crystal laid ringing and alerting others…there will always be more of that sweetness within the jar. And unlike the cookies that were not allowed before dinner, there is never a limit to the amount of times you open this jar of unconditional love or when or where you can access it. Now doesn’t that just make your little seven year old heart sing?  Unlimited cookies of God’s unconditional love! That sounds pretty good.

 Here’s some favorite “Valentine Verses” all about the love of God. (Good news- they apply to us all year long!) 

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 

1 John 4:9-10

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” 

Jeremiah 31:3

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5

It’s obvious through these verses that God’s love is so GREAT, undeserved, enduring and everlasting. Now, that is one amazing kind of love. In fact, God’s kind of love is referred to as Agape Love. 

Agape Love is the unconditional love of God that’s there for us. No matter what. It’s not an earned kind of love or a falling in love kind of love even though it can feel like that.

It can feel like the excitement like that of a first falling in love yet it outlasts that “newlywed” season and is so much more steady, strong and sure– perhaps like married couples who have proven the test of time.

Have you ever watched the show were teams race around the world completing challenges for the chance at a lump sum of money? The teams, usually made up of couples, either will be teams that work together or attack each other— either to their team’s betterment or their team’s detriment.  There’s often young couples or people deciding if they’re going to marry as they race around the world. And more often than not, because their relationship is just newly starting out— they don’t know how to work together. They often don’t know how to unconditionally accept each other, inspire each other or encourage each other that well. Then every once and awhile there’s an older couple in the race. Perhaps they will not last long on the race because of the physical demands, but the entire time you see them treat their partner well with respect and unconditional love, many times showing and conveying with their words, the importance of the relationship above the race. That kind of love is steady and sure. That’s the kind of love I’ve seen between my grandparents who met when they were in fifth grade and who will soon be celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary. And also my own parents who met as teenagers— set up because they were both those “crazy Christians” of mutual friends. Immediately their relationship was based on the Lord and the passion and fire in their hearts for him. It’s the kind of love I see between my husband and I, as well. It’s a love that grows and love that steady and true. (Remind me to post our story about how we met… it is Ah-mazing!) ❤️

Even though a human can’t ever convey the depth of unconditional love that God can, we can see from this example, how steady, true, strong, and supportive unconditional love can be in our lives. 

So whether you celebrate Valentine’s with your honey after many years of marriage or if you are spending your first Valentine’s with a new special someone or if you’re celebrating with your children, or even celebrating on your own— God’s sweet jar of unconditional love is filled for you. So come take off the crystal lid and dip your hand in and then dip it in again. Grab hold of this sweet love that God has for you. His love is more than enough. His love has conquered oceans and has conquered every problem to reach us. His love is the deepest, steadiest, most true unconditional love that we will ever receive in our lives. 

Thank you God for your unlimited supply of unconditional love for each of us. Thank you that your unconditional love never runs out. It’s not limited to certain times or certain seasons. It’s always there for us. Open our eyes so we can see the truth of this. Speak your words over us so that we can experience your unconditional love in a deeper, fuller, and stronger measure than ever before. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Also, you know how that crystal lid caused a clang to ring out around the house? When we reach for the lid on our “unconditional love” jar, it causes a clang too! People all around us hear it, see us dip our hand into something so wonderful they might not understand it. It’s our opportunity to invite them to the jar of God’s unconditional love. They can dip in too, maybe for the first time experiencing the love of God. Oh, they will be addicted to the sweetness from the start. So invite others to dip into that jar of unlimited supply of God’s love today! 

Until next time, 

PS. Here are a few of our pictures over the years of the kids enjoying Valentine’s. Each year, the kids go down to the table and there’s always something sweet as well as a special book on the table. And don’t forget the special card– it expresses how much we as a parents love and treasure them. And of course, Telly and I exchanged cards as well. What a special day to share the love, not just natural love but the wonderful, unconditional love of God. 

PPS. One of our favorite cookies to reach for in the cookie jar are these oversized soft sugar cookies. They are a family favorite to decorate and enjoy at any time but especially perfect for making a special cookie valentine. ❤️ I dare you to give them a try! 

Or find the recipe online at http://peppermintplum.blogspot.com/2011/03/thick-soft-sugar-cookies.html?m=1 

Featured

Journey On

Bilbo Baggins, who became the unlikely hero in The Hobbit, was completely fine with staying in his underground hobbit home, eating his normal seeded biscuits and buttered scones, wearing his normal outfit and performing his normal routine. In fact, he and his family “never had any adventures or did anything unexpected” (Tolkien, p.15) and they liked it that way.

So how could it be that suddenly he found himself whisked away on a wonderfully dangerous adventure amongst mismatched dwarves where he faced evil forces, unknown dangers, and confronting the notorious dragon Smaug? It was because there was more of a deeper plan for Bilbo than he knew or could see with his own eyes. He was a vital part of a much bigger plan.

Like Bilbo, most of us have found that we don’t want to easily move from our comfortable spot. Whether that means the job you’ve had for years, the place where you live, relationships, or even just the way you handle things— the perspective you have on life and what is expected or not expected of yourself. I believe each one of us has ingrained in us a thankfulness and a contentedness for comfort, routine, and the simple things of life— and that is so, so good. But, I also believe that, like Bilbo, we can hear a new call… deep down in our spirit. A “call” that means we are made for greater things than just our regular routine. Have you felt that call? Maybe it comes in the form of a thought, idea or dream that wakes you up in the middle of the night. Or perhaps it was more subtle, like when engaging with something new your heart just starts to sing… a new passion may be arising- a passion from our King himself. 

Like our fictional friend, Bilbo, we have been called to a higher and different purpose, more than likely something far beyond imagination. Bilbo never even comprehended the adventures he’d go on, the bravery that would rise in his heart, and the way his character would be renewed, changed and challenged.  The Bible says,

“It is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ — the things God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

The adventure, the break away from our own life, routine, and “normalcy” is awaiting us. And the good news is it is Holy Spirit led. We don’t know where to start, what to go, what to do… but the Holy Spirit does.

We are being led by the spirit the new things God has for us to do before we walk on from this earthly life, they are being revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

Remember the little twinges in our heart for more—the things that clue us into the fact that we were meant for more? That’s the Holy Spirit. It’s His gentle tap tap on our hearts.

“Wake up, sweet one.” He whispers whether we are physically asleep or even just “asleep” in our own normal lifestyle. “Wake up and come with me.”

We rub the sleep from our eyes, or maybe the more stubborn of us will turn around and go back to sleep until that gentle tap tap comes back again.

“Come with me.” He calls again.

“But where? How? Why?” We want all our questions answered before we inch one foot to the ground from beneath our comfortable blankets.

“Come and see.” He says with a sweet smile.

Somehow we know all will be okay. Somehow we have been waiting for this exact moment even though we did not know it. The moment we come alive again. A Great Awakening of sorts.

So, we inch one sock covered foot out from underneath our warm covers. Perhaps, like Bilbo, we look longingly at our warmth, our comfort, our place of normalcy. Will we shirk back and ignore the call or follow?

The Holy Spirit stands there like a gentleman, waiting. No pushing or shoving, but we can feel an urgency from him.

Finally, we sweep ourselves from the warm environment we have been so comfortable in.

We take one step.

His face lights with a smile. “Now let’s go.”

Together, hand in hand, we are led out to the new calling, the new adventure.

Oh, I guarantee just like the fantasyland of Middle Earth, there will be danger. There will be uncomfortable moments. But somehow, we are becoming who we were meant to be, who we really are. And there is no greater joy than to be fully alive, fully who God made us to be.

So we continue step by step on a wondrous journey that not only brings new steps, but also fulfills the longing in our heart that we’ve had all along: To be a part of HIS plan. Our true identity. Our true place.

The very best first step I have found in taking this new journey is: making space for God.

This can look like:

  • Taking a few moments each morning before getting out of bed to ask God His plans for the day
  • Realizing the next time you have that “heart zing” of a new passion for something and paying attention to it
  • Taking the opportunities God sends your way even if they seem out of the norm, uncomfortable, or something you wouldn’t usually be interested in.

In all these things, “Listening” is the common denominator.

Let’s listen for that gentle nudge towards that new path. Let’s be willing to step out from what has been comfortable.

“See, I am doing a new thing!

    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Isaiah 43:19

The awesome thing about this “new thing” God is doing in our lives is it not only transforms us into who God made us to be— but our life is used for His purposes and for His glory— shining the truth to those who wouldn’t have seen the light. It opens new avenues for others to see Christ’s light in us and come to know and love God for themselves. (Matthew 5:16)

Yes, there are others who are dependent on the message He has placed inside of us. They need His light so desperately. So let us go forth knowing that the Holy Spirit will lead us. Our job is to take that first step, to make room for Him. He will continue to lead and guide us. And, what an adventure it will be! And the light… the light that will shine as we journey on and also as we share our stories— that will make all the difference. It will help bring a great ray of Jesus’ light into the world… and as we know the world needs the LIGHT now more than ever before.

So may you be inspired by dear old Bilbo Baggins (it might be time for you to read or re-read that book!) and may you realize that God has great plans for you— adventures! He’s calling you out to a new place… a place where you become who you are meant to be. Let’s take the first step and make room for Him.

Until next time,

PS. I love the worship song “Make Room” by Community Music. Listen to it this week and commit in your heart to acknowledge His ways this week and see where He leads you!

Another P.S. Next blog post I am so super excited to share with you our most delicious sugar cookie & icing recipe as we get ready for Valentine’s Day. (I dare say the recipe would be “Hobbit approved”, those hobbits sure love their snacks)

Featured

Snow Storms of the Soul

Living here in Colorado we are not unaccustomed to a snowy, even at times, blizzard-prone winter (and let’s not discount spring too!) We find ourselves at the beginning of the season, singing the four part harmony of “Snow, Snow, Snow” from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, but after the successful or unsuccessful white Christmas, the snow allows for two opportunities: (1) playing in the snow (yes, all the sledding, snowball fights, and building of snowman galore) and (2) becoming discouraged with the amount of snow and frigid days (thankfully Colorado can be quite mild at times, but still…). We are always happy when the ground begins to thaw and that possible “last” snow has passed (even if it is early May- yikes 😮). It’s something akin to the “Long, Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder, although not quite as destitute, yet don’t tell our “hope for spring time” souls that, because it sure does feel long and endless. 

It makes me think about Ecclesiastes 3:1 and how Solomon wisely proclaims that “there is a season for everything”. I do enjoy living in a state that experiences four seasons, but what about the seasons of the soul? How do we endure the seasons of challenge, opposition, or disappointment? I saw a quote (although I do not personally know the author) that resonated with my soul:

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.”

LR Knost

I think that could be interpreted as a modern version of what Solomon was advising his readers in Ecclesiastes. There’s a time of all kinds of different seasons of the soul, and situations we face… but we can breathe and hold on through them all. And for us as Christians, we are not merely “holding on” to get through these different times, we are actually being HELD during it all. 

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

Isaiah 41:10 

I think about the snow, and snowstorms, and it reminds me of my favorite blizzard (yes, being a Colorado Native I have been in several!):

I remember a blizzard when I was a kid where we all got snowed in at my Grandparent’s farm. Both my family and our cousins’ family made a visit, and before we knew it, large snowflakes started to fall, and fall fast. Hearing the news updates of the conditions of the road, as well as the power going out, caused us to hunker down using candles for lighting and the stove for heat as vast amounts of snow fell. I always remember that night, because as a kid, it was so magical to be able to spend the night at the grandparents (on the couch & floor) snuggled with my cousins for warmth. I remember, even then, writing in my notebook about the experience, knowing it was a special moment in time. After figuring out cold dinners, how to borrow diapers from the neighbor for the baby, and plenty of story telling by the fire–the next morning came, the skies clear. The snowing had stopped. With plenty of shoveling, we were able to four wheel out with an Uncle’s truck and return back home via snow logged roads.

The point of the story being, what could have been a scary blizzard actually ended up being an adventure (as a kid) because we were sheltered, safe, together, and we knew the storm would eventually end. One thing about storms of any kind (as well as seasons of life and situations) is that they are not permanent. Yes, it’s the impermanence of snow and storms that gives our heart courage. During this instance, I’m sure my parents were frazzled about our house, the powerlines, the pipes, etc.— but knowing the snow would soon stop, the roads would soon clear, and things would return to normal— we were able to nuzzle in at our safe place and enjoy a special time inside during the storm. The clouds were white, the snow poured down, the power went out… yet inside, next to that stove we were all nice and cozy. In fact, we all recall that day with fondness because it somehow tore us from the endless marching on of regular days and gave us space for a deep breath and connection together. 

I know in our own lives the storm clouds can gather, situations can pour down that feel out of our control: relationship trouble, finances, health or any situation of sorts. Opposition, anxiety and fear. We feel like we must hold our breath, get through it. But God’s calling to us: 

“I’m here in the storm,” He says and motions us into the old comfy farmhouse. “Come and be safe.” 

We walk, with weary snow-covered steps to the porch, then enter inside stomping our feet as we go.

He has the stove warmed and roaring, the red hot fire in its belly. 

We would peel off layers of jackets, pants, and wet socks. 

He’d snuggle a blanket around our shoulders, light a candle and come sit next to us. 

Slowly, the cold would release from our fingers and feet, our cheeks rosy with warmth from the stove. 

He’d begin to speak and the time of sharing would begin. 

It’s the kind of sharing that would only happen here and now. It’s a treasure of sorts.

We find ourselves less focused on the flicker of the power lines, and instead, focused on the warmth of His presence, and the snap and crackle of the warm fire before us. 

Instead of focusing on the howling of the storm, we hear His voice and His heartbeat in our ear as we lean on Him. 

The place of the storm is transformed into a place of special connection, warmth, and love. 

Instead of fear, we see Him. We feel His love in our hearts, warm as the embers in the fire stove before us. 

I’m starting to learn our times of stormy, difficult weather of the soul is bearable because He is with us in the storm, providing safe shelter and protection. And not just that (like that isn’t enough! 😮) But also he provides His LOVE and the constant companion of His presence.

All fears are gone because Perfect Love casts out fear (1 John 4:8). ❤️

Nothing can separate us from His presence (Romans 8:38). ❤️

So next time the snow flurries start to fly from all angles– sending storms of challenges and opposition— Let’s get to the fire, the warmth, and the safe shelter of His presence. 

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 36:7

It is a place we can live in. 

It’s a place that we can feel at home, safe and free until the storm blows over and the sun comes out. 

Because even then, even in joy, He is with us. 

(For a great companion article to this please check out my last entry https://melanietalevski.com/2021/01/01/a-guarantee-for-the-new-year/) 

Until next time, 

PS. Here are some pictures of our snow adventures and fun over the years! 

Fun fact: We got engaged in the middle of a huge blizzard here in Colorado in March of 2003. We got over 32 inches of snowfall over 3 days, making it the second snowiest storm in Denver’s history! 😮 

Featured

A Guarantee for the New Year

All around us “Hallelujah” choruses break out— We are done with 2020— bring on the New Year! 

I have always loved how new hope arises at the start of a new year. Around the new year I often like to sit down and record all the best thoughts of the year we are leaving behind and record hopes and dreams for the next year. My eyes are always opened to valuable nuggets from the past year as I go back and do this, but I know most of us are saying “Good Riddance” to 2020. We are ready for a New Year with a new start and along with that hope of the New Year perhaps we’d like some guarantees for 2021…

Like maybe a guarantee that we will be home free from coronavirus 

Or that our local coffee shop will be open for dine in again. 

Or how about a guarantee of a nice vacation— perhaps somewhere tropical? 

Or guarantee of a new house, 

Or return of a loved one. 

Or freedom from an illness… 

What about a guarantee for a year of better health? For ourselves, family and friends. 

Or a guarantee of a good, productive year 

Perhaps finally doing that thing we’ve always wished to do…

Yes I’d like all these guarantees and more… wouldn’t you? 

As much as I wish these things were guaranteed for 2021 the truth of the matter is that a new year will unfold and there is only one thing 100% guaranteed for sure— and that is the steadfastness of God. 

Each Christmas season I find myself meditating on one of Jesus’ names: Emmanuel- God with us. In that name is all the treasure trove, all the help, all the secure protection we could ever hope for. 

God loved us so much He sent His Son— apart of himself— into this dark night— dark world. The Light has come! 

The same is true for us today— His name still is “Emmanuel: God with us”. He is here— in the darkest night— in the moments of 2020 we thought we couldn’t go on. 

And now we can know, without a doubt— 

It is guaranteed 

He will be with us in 2021 too— 

Steadfast to the end. 

Now the truth of that, if we’d just take a moment to mediate on it, will wrap us up in comfort and hope just like a big cozy blanket. Big cozy blankets… they are just the thing we need right now, aren’t they? They are warm and safe. Our kids each received a fuzzy blanket for Christmas, and let me tell you, it is hard to get them out of those things. Once they are snuggled in, reading a book or watching a show, it is a most comfortable spot they are not willing to forfeit easily.

The same can be true of us—sure grab your physical blanket— but also make sure to “clothe” yourself in the peace that comes from meditating on the steadfastness of God. It’s a comfort like no other. It drives away the darkest night, sends fear packing, and brings light into the situation. 

In Psalm 119: 7-12 it says is no where that we can go to flee His presence. There is no year that He is not there. No situation that He’s unaccounted for. 

He is with us. 

And perhaps in these moments of extra challenge— we see His light burn brighter than our eyes would have seen in the normal light of day— it’s in the darkness that our hearts yearn for the Great Light and, just like a cozy blanket, it brings us warmth and comfort to us weary travelers. 

I think of the shepherds— accustomed to roaming the dark fields and guarding their sheep— that night the dark sky lit undeniably with Heavenly Presence and their night of darkness was interrupted by the news of a baby in the manger. 

And the wisemen— their scopes in hand— took in the night sky, yes they had each star memorized. But there— something new— a star— a Presence of Heavenly Glory guiding them to the Christ Child. It interrupted their normal sight for a view of the spectacular that led them to the new king. 

So you see— the darkness— the normalcy— it is interrupted by a Great Light and that light shines even GREATER because so dark was the night all around.  

Perhaps in the darkest night (or a challenging year) where our normalcy is tested— we see Him shine all the brighter. 

We see that He is “Emmanuel- God with us”. 

Nothing (no virus, no lack, no fear or worry) can separate us from His presence— from His love (Romans 8:38-39). And that is about all the guarantee I need for this new year— that I will NEVER be alone. His presence is with me. And just as surely as He is with me, He is with you too. 

So cozy up with the warming truth of that statement— yes drape that warm fuzzy, comfy blanket on your shoulders— and ask God to continue to reveal who He is to you more and more. Ask Him to teach you, to open your eyes in a new understanding. I believe He will. And that truth, it will set our lives ablaze… for when we behold the steadfastness of our wonderful Father, we in turn realize that we are steadfast because we are found in Him. Nothing moves Him, nothing shakes Him. And because we are found in Him, we can be immoveable, unshakeable through the greatest challenges too. 

Yes, it is the best guarantee (only guarantee we can be sure of) is that He is Emmanuel God with us. 

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Happy New Year, friends! 

Until next time, 

Private Oasis in the Presence of God

It’s that time of year when, if you haven’t yet taken your “before school returns” summer vacation, your time is getting very limited! I know friends who have gotten away to Colorado Springs for the week, to Hawaii for a family gathering, to the mountains for a camping trip—and I myself had a surprise, last-minute trip to Florida to see my aunt (my dad’s sister). Whatever your choice of vacation, it’s always nice to get a little breather, a change of pace before heading into the school year ahead.
(I’d love to hear if you were able to manage a getaway in the comments below!)

In thinking about the benefits of escaping regular life—getting a refresh, taking a break, going somewhere new or cherished where your heart soars—I realized how deeply our souls yearn for a private oasis. Whether it’s beachside, mountaintop, forest, or country lanes… our hearts long for a quiet place where we can step away from daily life, breathe again, and maybe even gain clarity and a new perspective on things we’ve been stuck in.

My last-minute Florida trip was just that. I found myself on the phone asking my aunt if I could crash on her couch the next day. Ha! And the answer was yes. I ended up squeezed into the last seat on the plane (last row window—but there was no window), next to a sweet 90-year-old woman flying with her son to her new home in memory care. It was quite the ride! But I got there—to a place I had only been once before, as a teenager.

The heat rolled in through the airplane vents before we even deplaned, and I immediately questioned what I had gotten myself into. Humidity and this Colorado girl don’t usually mix. But what I found ahead was an oasis—a private oasis. I spent my days floating in the warm, green water of the Gulf, surprised at the lack of waves and how calm it was (I’m a Pacific Ocean kind of girl!). With hardly any crowds at Honeymoon Island, I was able to sing and talk to God, floating in the ocean—unaware and unconcerned with anyone’s opinions. It was just me and the Lord.

That green, warm water became my sanctuary. In it, I sang. I poured out my heart to God. I laughed, grieved, and cried with Him. It was a double blessing to also see my aunt—who reminds me so much of my dad and is such a beautiful, God-loving woman—and my cousin too.

Coming home and immediately getting sick felt like an abrupt ending to the trip. As I flew out of Tampa, the private oasis I had just experienced with the Lord disappeared beneath the clouds. But you know what I remembered?
To be with God, to receive from Him, to commune with Him—we don’t need to travel to a specific place like they did in the Old Testament. Our private oasis with the Lord is accessible anywhere and everywhere. It’s not about location—it’s all about His presence.

Yes, even being stuck on the plane on the tarmac for an extra two hours—I could close my eyes and be in a private oasis with the Lord. Even at home. In the backyard. At work. Driving in the car. In hospital rooms. Why? Because it’s not about the place—it’s about His presence.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” —Psalm 139:7


“You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” —Psalm 3:3

There is no place in this world or beyond that God’s presence is not with us. He’s available 24/7—on the best day of our lives, the worst day, and all the in-between.

So friend, I hope you do get some vacation days in! I hope you enjoy a refreshing oasis, like I did floating in that green ocean with the Lord. But even more, I hope you know: when the vacations end, when the schedule ramps back up or challenges reappear, God still has a private oasis for your soul. And you can access it—anytime, anywhere.

How to Access This Private Oasis in God’s Presence:

1. Talk to Him about everything.
While floating on the sea, I realized I had assumed I’d talked to God about certain things in my heart—but I hadn’t actually brought them fully before Him. Speaking it out—laying it before Him—was healing. He already knows, but there’s something powerful in saying, “Here’s what’s going on,” and handing it to Him. It humbles us. It opens us. It reminds us how dependent we are on Him. So get honest with God. Talk to Him today.

2. Feel the peace. Hold onto the peace.
I loved those green waves because the peace was tangible. The sunlight kissed my shoulders, the water was warm, the gulls flew overhead—it was peace I could feel. While we may not always get to dwell in physical peace, we have access to something even more powerful: internal peace.
It’s the kind of peace that carries us through any storm. I’m learning how to stay with that peace longer. Instead of rushing off, I try to linger in that moment. His peace is His gift to us.
No matter what has been taken from us, we can still have God’s peace and joy. (Ask Corrie ten Boom!)

3. Prioritize His Word.
The idea for this blog came from my daily Bible reading. Verses about oasis, rest, and renewal stood out to me (like the verse on the graphic below!)

Reading His Word brings peace. It becomes a resting place. A dear friend of mine is always working on memorizing scripture—it inspires me! She’s feeding her soul with it. We can do the same. Read the Word. Meditate on it. Sing it. Memorize it. You will never regret doing so.

In closing, let me pray for you, friend:
Lord, thank you for this summer. Thank you for the oasis we’ve been able to enjoy—through vacations, still moments, and simple joys. But even more, thank you that the private oasis with You never fades, never ends. It’s always there, always accessible. Thank You for being our place of peace, our refuge, our renewal.

We want to be honest with You. To bring our hearts before You and admit our struggles. In our weakness, You are strong. Teach us to sit in Your peace and not rush past it. And help us to prioritize Your Word, knowing it fills us with life, hope, and clarity. Your presence is our oasis. Thank You for meeting us right where we are.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Here are some pictures from my last-minute adventure to Florida.

Enjoy resting in the private oasis of Jesus’ presence this week, friends.

Until next time,
Melanie

P.S. I always love to hear from my friends…. comment below on this discussion question:

Also, coming up VERY soon is my night of encouragement live (summer edition: porch talks!) You are invited! We will be talking all things Peace & Presence of Jesus. Mark it on your calendar and I will see you there! https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski

New Beginnings Made Possible

Here in the month of July, one of the worst things that could possibly happen to me (tongue in cheek, of course) is getting bombarded with an overloaded lineup of Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. I know, I know—some of you live for it. But me? I live for the warm weather, the long nights, and anything to do with water—beach or pool. So when my TV and social feed suddenly shift into full-on holiday mode with snowflakes and jingle bells, you might catch me turning a slightly grinchy shade of green.

July isn’t traditionally known for “new beginnings.” We tend to save that phrase for January, with its blank calendars and resolutions—or maybe for August or September when a new school year kicks off. But July? It’s month seven out of twelve. Kind of random.

And yet, I’ve found over the years that July often becomes a turning point. The school year has finally faded into the background. Summer routines (or lack of routines) have settled in. The chaos of fall hasn’t hit yet—unless you count the back-to-school aisles that start haunting us before the fireworks even cool off.

So what if this is actually the perfect moment for a new beginning?
A perfect time… for a pivot.

One of the things my sister and I used to do during those long July days was play basketball. It wasn’t our main thing (we were more of a cul-de-sac baseball crew), but when we couldn’t round up enough kids for a game, we’d shoot hoops—playing “pig,” practicing free throws, or just killing time in the sun.

In basketball, there’s a move called the pivot. It’s not flashy, and it’s not something you usually do just to show off. But it’s essential. When a player finds herself stuck—defense all around, nowhere to pass or move—she plants one foot, and pivots. A small shift that opens a new direction.

Life works like that too.

When you feel hemmed in by weariness, pressure, or confusion… when it seems like you’ve been circling the same issue with no breakthrough… sometimes what’s needed isn’t a giant leap, but a faithful pivot.

God invites us to take even the smallest step of obedience. That step might be quiet—something as simple as saying no to an obligation that’s draining your soul, or yes to something that requires trust. It might be forgiving someone, or choosing to show up for a daily time with Him again.

The pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic to be holy. It just has to be real.

So how do you pivot when you feel stuck?

Here are 3 simple but powerful steps:

  1. Pause and Pray – Before any movement, anchor yourself in God’s presence. Ask, “Lord, what are You saying here? What’s next?”
  2. Obey the Last Nudge – Often God already whispered something: a boundary to set, a step to take, a habit to return to. Go back and honor that.
  3. Take One Faithful Step – You don’t need to know the whole path. Just take the next right step, no matter how small.

And for those of us who feel like we’ve been holding on by a thread lately, let this encourage you: in Psalm 107, God doesn’t just speak to the ones who made bad decisions. He sees the people who are caught in storms through no fault of their own—people clinging to life, feeling tossed and terrified. And what does He do?

If that’s you—barely hanging on—I want to remind you: He sees you. He’s still guiding. The waves won’t last forever.

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” —Hosea 10:12

Reflect + Respond
If July is a chance to begin again, where might you start? Here are a few gentle prompts for your time with the Lord this week:

  • What has felt “stuck” or stale in my life lately?
  • Have I sensed God nudging me to pivot—big or small?
  • Is there something I used to do with God (prayer, journaling, rest, forgiveness) that I’ve let go of?
  • What might a small act of obedience look like right now?

Write it down. Whisper it in prayer. Let it be the beginning of something new.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” —Isaiah 43:18–19

A Prayer for July

Lord,
In the quiet middle of the year, help us pause. Help us listen. If we’ve gotten off course or stuck in place, show us where to pivot. Not with striving or shame—but with trust. Help us recognize the step You’re inviting us to take, however small it may seem. Calm the waves inside us. Guide us to the safe harbor of Your presence. We want to walk with You into whatever new beginning this summer holds.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Also, many of my readers don’t know—but I host Encouragement Live talks year-round- my summer version is called “Porch Talks.” We meet the first Thursday of the month. The next one is Thursday, August 7th at 7 PM MT on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski . I’d love for you to join us!

Until next time,

PS. If this encouraged you, I’d love to hear what “pivot” God is inviting you into. Leave a comment or share this with a friend who needs a fresh start too.

The Waterslide Journey

I’ve always loved a good waterslide.

The first one I remember riding was the big green tube slide in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. After a long wait—feet on warm wood, sunshine on my shoulders—it was finally time to approach the roaring tunnel that would carry me to the splash below. Sitting down, waiting for the lifeguard’s “Go!”, anticipation built in my chest. That first time, I was nervous—would I make it to the bottom? Would I end up with water up my nose?

But once I let go, the exhilarating rush of twists, turns, splashes, and the final dunk was unforgettable.

So how do waterslides reflect our walk with the Lord?

Each of us is on our own ride. Maybe you’re at the top of a new season, standing on the deck with anticipation. Maybe you’re already in motion, coasting through unexpected twists, unsure what’s around the next curve. Or maybe you’re approaching the final dunk—coming to the end of one chapter and about to emerge into something new.

The truth is, with the Lord, there’s never just one “ride”. Life with Him is made of many seasons and transitions. Some thrilling, some bumpy, some unknown—but all within His loving plan.

📣 Don’t Miss This!

Many of my readers don’t realize I also host a live talk series called Porch Talks.
It’s a cozy, real-time gathering where we share faith, encouragement, and stories—live from my heart to yours.

Next one:
🪑 Thursday, July 3rd at 7 PM (Mountain Time)
📍 Streaming on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski
👉 Come join us — bring your iced tea and heart ready for God’s gentle leading.

📖 Back to our encouragement…

Where do you find yourself today?

  • Are you waiting for your next slide?
    You’ve done this before. You know it’s good. But the waiting can be hard. If you’re still out on the wooden deck, take heart: God’s timing is never wrong. I’ve never seen Him be late—though I’ve often thought He was. But when His timing is revealed, it’s always perfect, better than anything I could’ve planned.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

  • Maybe you’re already seated, waiting for the “Go!” from the lifeguard.
    That bubbling mix of excitement and anxiety rises—will the slide hold you? Will you make it through in one piece? If that’s where you are, remember this:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)


“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)


And cling to this promise:

  • Maybe you’re in the middle of the ride—the wild part.
    The twists and turns. This is when it’s tempting to tense up. But have you ever tried to white-knuckle your way through a waterslide? It’s no fun. The bumps feel bumpier. The ride rougher. Friend, lean back. Laugh. Shout if you need to. He is carrying you. You can trust Him.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)


“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

  • Or maybe you’re in the final dunk.
    You shoot out of the slide and plunge into the water—safe, free, full of joy. You made it. That’s a time to celebrate! Our family did this just last month as our oldest graduated from high school. That was a long, beautiful “slide,” and now we thank God for His faithfulness. And we look ahead with hope for the next one.

Wherever you are on the slide—waiting, launching, twisting, or arriving—know this: God is with you. He designed the slide. He knows the course. And He’ll carry you safely to exactly where you’re meant to be.

Life with Him isn’t just a task; it’s an adventure.

So let’s trust Him. Let’s celebrate with Him. Whatever comes next, He is the expert, He is beside you, and He is good.

To close, one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes comes to mind. When asked if Aslan (the lion who represents Jesus in The Chronicles of Narnia) is safe, the reply is:

Your season may not feel tame. It may not feel predictable. But it is good—because your Savior is good. And He is journeying with you through it all.

My prayer for you:

Lord, you have ordained our days and the plans you have for us.
For those beginning a new season, waiting on the deck, give peace in the waiting.
For those poised to go, steady our hearts with trust.
For those mid-slide, in the twists and turns, help us release our grip and rest in your peace.
For those arriving at the end of a chapter, fill us with joy and celebration for your faithfulness.
We love you, Father. We trust you. Guide us safely into each season you have planned.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until next time,

P.S. I’d love to have a discussion with you: what’s your favorite water experience? Jet-skiing? The Great Outdoors Swim Park? Water World? Boat ride on the river?

Resting Assured in Him

“Rest assured,” He told me this morning, as worries tried to choke out my trust in Him.

“Rest assured,” He tells me at noontime when another challenge arises.

“Rest assured,” He says in the middle of the evening when busyness tries to drown out His voice.

“Rest assured,” He whispers as night falls, and my breath steadies in sleep.

But what does it truly mean to “rest assured” in our Savior, Jesus Christ?

What Does “Rest Assured” Mean?

The phrase “rest assured” conveys confidence and certainty. It assures the listener that something is true or will come to pass. To “rest assured” means to be confident, without worry or doubt.

One of the things I miss most about my dad is his unwavering assurance. Whenever I was afraid or overwhelmed, I knew exactly where to find him—either in his office at church or his home office. No matter what he was doing, he always welcomed me with an endearing, “Hey, baby cakes!” or “What’s going on, dolly?” I miss those words more than I can say.

I would pour out my heart, sometimes hesitantly, but he would always listen patiently, ask a few thoughtful questions, and then offer the best gift of all: assurance.

His assurance meant, “I’ve got this. I’m going to take care of it. Everything will be okay.” He’d often seal it with a big hug and say, “It’s going to be okay, baby cakes.”

Since my dad went to heaven, I have deeply missed that fatherly assurance—his listening ears, his patient questions, his loving words, and the security of his embrace. I miss hearing, “It will all be okay, baby cakes.”

The Assurance of Our Heavenly Father

I know I was blessed to have a dad who reflected the love of Christ. Not everyone has that. But even with that foundation, I now find myself searching for assurance—something to steady me when life feels uncertain.

When trials come, I often look to myself for answers. And let me tell you, I am sorely lacking in self-assurance! Anyone else? When we rely on our own limited resources—our mindset, talents, finances, or abilities—we often come up empty.

But Jesus Christ, the Savior of the universe, comes to us in every moment—morning, noon, evening, and night—and whispers, “Rest assured, I am with you.”

If we take time to sit with Him, pour out our concerns, and listen, He may not give us all the details of how things will unfold. But He does say, “Rest assured, it is in My hands. Rest assured, you are in My hands.”

Do we need to know more?

When my dad assured me that he would handle something, I rarely asked for a step-by-step plan. His word and his hug were enough. Can we learn to trust God that way? He wants us to.

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

How Resting in His Assurance Changes Us

  1. It Builds Confidence
    When we focus on ourselves, all we see is lack. I don’t have enough resources. I’m not smart enough, strong enough, or capable enough.
    This kind of thinking leaves us discouraged, hopeless, even distraught. But when we trust in the Lord’s promises, we can stand firm in the confidence that He is faithful.
    “God is not a man, that He should lie… Has He said, and will He not do it?” (Numbers 23:19)

2. It Helps Us Relax
One of the best things about my dad’s assurance was that it allowed me to relax. I could hand over my problem, knowing it was taken care of. I didn’t need to follow up or remind him—he was on it.
Jesus is the same. When He promises to take care of something, we can let go and trust.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Not sure if you can trust Him yet? Talk to Him. He can handle your honesty, your doubts, even your anger. Bring your questions to Him and be prepared for His love to meet you in the midst of them.

3. It Nourishes Us, Even in Hard Times
Think of Jesus in the wilderness. He was hungry, physically weak, and surrounded by the enemy’s lies.
Did you know that the enemy loves to show up when we are most vulnerable? He whispers doubts: You can’t trust God. He won’t come through for you. He isn’t who He says He is.
But Jesus responded with the Word of God, and the enemy fled. Immediately, angels came to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:11)
When we stand on God’s Word, we too will be nourished and strengthened.
“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

A Prayer for Resting in His Assurance

If you need to take hold of God’s assurance today, pray with me:

Lord, I submit everything I am and everything I’m facing to You. It is too much for me to handle alone. When I look at my own strength, I grow discouraged. But I turn to You now. You promise that when I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. I come as a child to a loving Father, trusting that You freely give what I need. I receive Your whisper: “Rest assured, I am with you.” Help me to walk in confidence, to relax in Your presence, and to be nourished by Your Word as I wait on You. I know You are faithful, and I choose to trust You. Amen.

Blessed Assurance

Let’s close with a song that has encouraged generations:

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!“

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.   This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest;

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

We can rest assured that He is with us. Even in our darkest moments, He carries all that concerns us—and He carries us, too. What a wonderful Savior!

Until next time,

P.S. P.S. I have a live video that posts each first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. MT. I’d love for you to join me! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski for more.

A Way of Escape

Cornered on every side. Their victory seemed short-lived. They had witnessed God’s miracles deliver them from Pharaoh’s grasp, yet here they were—trapped again. Fear gripped them, their breath caught in their lungs, their bodies ready to fail. Before them, an impassable sea; behind them, an enemy in relentless pursuit.

And then—the sea.

The wind howled, fierce and powerful. Waves that once surged forward now parted, shifting with purpose to create a path. Hearts pounded. Could it be? Could the mighty sea truly be splitting before their eyes?

Moses, weathered and steadfast, raised his staff and stepped forward. Was it possible? Would they walk on water? Yet, as they moved, the sea continued to part—a phenomenon unlike anything they had ever seen. Children reached out to touch the towering walls of water, sea creatures peering back at them like silent witnesses behind glass. Step by step, they moved forward. Step by step, they journeyed toward victory.

They dared not breathe until we reached the other side, the crossing a mixture of awe and urgency. But even then, the enemies pursued—chariots, horses, soldiers gaining ground. It seemed this victory, too, would be short-lived.

Yet, as they turned to look back, something beyond comprehension unfolded. Just as the sea had stood still to form walls, it now released its hold like a linen curtain falling in the breeze. The waves surged, crashing down upon the enemy. Every soldier, every horse, every warrior swallowed by the sea. Pharaoh himself, stubborn to the end, was swept away.

They stood in stunned silence. They waited, barely able to believe their eyes.

Then—from the front—a cheer. A guttural cry of triumph. It spread through the crowd like wildfire. Some danced, some wept, some fell to the ground in awe of God’s power. But all of them—they sang. Led by Miriam, their voices rose in a song of victory.

Our song of deliverance. Our way of escape.

Friend, how often do we feel cornered, just like the Israelites? In this retelling of their story found in Exodus 14, we can feel their panic, their desperation for a way out. Today, our “fight or flight” is often triggered not by physical danger, but by the burdens of life—career pressures, marriage struggles, financial stress, family responsibilities. The sheer effort it takes to live in this broken world can leave us feeling trapped.

But hear the Lord’s whisper today: “I will walk with you through the wind and fire.” When we cry out to Him, He brings us to our safe harbor (Psalm 107:30).

I don’t know what you’re facing. Just as you may not know my struggles. But God—our way-maker—knows. He doesn’t watch from above, detached and distant. No, He walks beside us, holding our hand, guiding us step by step. Even when it seems there is no way forward, He is making a way.

I am so grateful our story isn’t over. The Israelites’ journey didn’t end with a single miracle. It didn’t conclude with them figuring out the rest on their own. No—their story continued through victories and defeats until they reached the Promised Land. And just as He led them, He is leading you.

Yes, it may be scary. Yes, stepping out in faith is hard. Yes, you may tremble with uncertainty. But friend, you are walking through to your victory.

A miraculous thing happens when we reach the end of ourselves. When every resource is exhausted, every avenue closed. It feels suffocating—like a caged animal with nowhere to turn. But that is the moment when God steps in. When there is no doubt that every move, every breakthrough, is not of our own doing, but His alone.

“In my weakness, He is made strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

So, take heart today. The God of the universe is making a way for you. We may not know how (His ways are higher than ours), and we may not know when (His timing is beyond our understanding), but we do know this—He is walking with us.

And He isn’t just leading us to the other side so we can collapse in relief. No, He is bringing us to our destiny. To the purpose He created us for. To our Promised Land.

A Prayer for You:

Lord, you see the burdens weighing on our hearts. Many of us feel like we are holding on by a thread, trapped with no way of escape. But You, in Your kindness, walk beside us. You, in Your power, guide us through. You, the Creator of the Universe, make a way even in the most impossible situations.

Remind us today that You are near. That You are moving in ways we cannot yet see. That we are not forsaken, forgotten, or left to fend for ourselves. Those are lies the enemy tries to whisper, but we reject them. Instead, we stand in the truth: we are precious to You, beloved, and held securely in Your hands.

Nothing—nothing—can stand in Your way. Nothing can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:38-39).

We believe, Lord. We believe that we will see Your hand move in mighty ways. Let it be so. Amen.

I’d love to hear from you. If you’re facing a challenge and believing for God’s deliverance, share it with me in the comments or privately. I’d love to pray with you. And if you’ve experienced God’s faithfulness in your life, share your testimony—it is in these stories that we find encouragement and strength.

Here is one of my own testimonies of God’s faithfulness in our lives: https://melanietalevski.com/2021/09/26/peach-promises/

May you be blessed as you reflect on these words this week.

A free gift for you: Download my printable encouragement pictures from this blog. Decorate your mirror, wall, or put on your night stand for a visual reminder that God is coming through for you! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zaQ6yKSpSo5Y4jDlZc04dP9bwwaRKbUFVa0QyGkwuv4/edit?usp=sharing

Until next time,

P.S. I have a live video that posts each first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. MT. I’d love for you to join me! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski for more.

Expectant Hope

Could there be a more accurate month for celebrating Mother’s Day? I think not! It’s the month that flowers start to bloom, the weather warms, and baby announcements, baby showers, and newborn arrivals seem to fill the air. It’s the perfect “mother” month. Except when it isn’t. 😆 I often find May is often a spring reflection of December- so crammed packed and filled with activities for my children that I hardly have a moment to be grateful for being a mom- I’m just holding on for life! Do any other moms find this to be true? 

Is there anything more radiant than an expectant mother? She carries a glow, a quiet confidence, even through sleepless nights and unsettled stomachs. It is the beauty of promise—the promise of new life growing within her, a life that will soon make its place in the world and change lives in the process. That glow is not just from pregnancy—it is hope, wrapped in human form.

I had the privilege of carrying three babies, and each experience was different, but the expectant hope was always the same. From a tiny bump to full-term anticipation, a mother walks around knowing that she will not remain pregnant forever. There is an approximate due date, a timeline, a moment she can look forward to when she will hold her baby in her arms. No matter how hard some days may be, there is a guaranteed delivery of that promise.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if all of God’s promises had due dates? Imagine if we could mark our calendars with a circle around the day our prayers would be answered. Your new home will be ready in 12 months! Expect to meet your spouse in ten days! The thing you’ve been praying for will happen next month! It would be so much easier to endure the waiting if we knew exactly when the promise would arrive. Can I hear an “amen”? 

I know there are things in my life right now that I would love a due date for! I thrive on deadlines—in college, knowing exactly when an assignment was due allowed me to focus and complete my work efficiently. I often wished that faith worked the same way. If only we had a final moment to anticipate, a certainty that no matter what challenges arose, the promise was on its way.

I know a story of a guy who got a bit unpatient not having a “due date” for God’s promises in his life. You might know him too: Abraham (Genesis 16) received the promise from God that he would be the father of nations, yet as time passed and his wife, Sarah, remained childless, he took matters into his own hands. The result? A detour from God’s perfect plan that brought challenges for generations to come. God’s promises do not need our shortcuts—they need our faith.

Holding onto the Promise

Friend, I encourage you first to seek out the promises God has for you. Have you searched His Word? Have you asked Him for direction? (Please see bottom of this page for some resources that help in this regard!)

Sometimes, we imagine our own solutions instead of grounding ourselves in His truth. Instead, find the scriptures that confirm His promises for your life. Write them down. Post them where you will see them daily.

Here are a few scriptures that have anchored us in different seasons:

  • For our home: Isaiah 32:18
  • For starting our family: Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 3:5-6
  • For our health: Isaiah 53:5

And now, in this season, we hold onto these:

  • For graduation and the next steps ahead – Jeremiah 29:11
  • For our children walking in faith: Isaiah 54:13
  • For God doing a new thing in our lives: Isaiah 43:19
  • For our continued health: Jeremiah 30:17
  • For Guidance from God: Psalm 37:23

We learn early on that much of parenting is waiting—waiting for first steps, waiting for prayers to be answered, waiting for our children to walk in their God-given purpose. But just like an expectant mother knows her baby will one day arrive, we can trust that God’s promises for our children, our families, and our personal lives will come to pass.

Expectant Hope

In 2009, my husband and I saw many long-awaited promises of God come to pass—some we had prayed for since our dating years. One of the most significant was the approval of his papers to become a U.S. citizen. (Read the full story here.) It took eight long years (which felt like twenty), with no end in sight, but God delivered on His promise. And He will do the same for you.

Write down the promises God has placed in your heart. Pray over them. Meditate on His Word. Let your hope be expectant, knowing that what He has spoken will come to pass. You may not know the due date, but rest assured, His promises are sure.

Just as a woman labors to bring her baby into the world, there will be moments of pain, shifting, and refining before the promise is born. The enemy will try to steal your hope, discourage you, and make you doubt. But hold on. Keep believing. God’s promises will surely come to pass.

A Prayer for You

Lord, I lift up every person reading this. May they be strengthened in the waiting, encouraged in their faith, and reminded that You are working in the lives of their children, family, and their individual hearts. We have seen Your faithfulness time and time again. We have witnessed Your promises fulfilled in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Help us not to grow weary in the waiting but to root ourselves deeply in faith. Strengthen us to hold on to hope, even when the due date is unknown. Whisper Your promises to us and let them take root in our hearts. We trust You, Lord, and we await the day You deliver what we are believing for. Amen.

Sharing from my Heart

As I prayed for my own situations and was letting God know how I crave a solid due date to His promises in my life, I felt He spoke this to my heart and wanted to share with you:

Dear child, know that I love you. I whisper My promises to you in completion. They will not be one day late—no, not even one minute. My timeline may look different from yours, but I am the God of the universe, weaving all things together for good. You can trust Me. I am reliable. I am working all things for your good. Hold onto Me, and you will bloom with expectant hope. My promises will come to pass, often quicker and steadier than you imagined. Hold on. Take hope. I am with you always.

What are you waiting on in faith right now? Let’s encourage each other—drop a comment below!

Until next time,

Happy Mother’s Day! ✨

P.S. Some great resources for helping you start to dig into God’s Promises for your life are:

  • Prayers That Avail Much – Germaine Copeland
  • The Power of a Praying Parent – Stormie Omartian
  • God’s Creative Power Gift Collection – Charles Capps

BONUS! I have a live video that posts each first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. MT. I’d love for you to join me! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski for more.

The Main Scoop: Keeping Jesus First

How do you like your ice cream? Plain vanilla? A banana sundae? Or maybe all mixed up in a Blizzard with M&Ms? (That’s been a favorite of mine since I was young.) Toppings enhance a nice scoop (or several scoops) of ice cream. But they’re extra, aren’t they?

Imagine serving an ice cream sundae but skipping the ice cream, offering only chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles. The recipient would be confused, asking, Where’s the ice cream? Where’s the main ingredient? A sundae without ice cream isn’t a sundae at all.

Yet, how often do we live as if we “have it all” when we’re really just living on the toppings? A cherry here, a swirl of whipped cream there—but not much of a sundae. No, we want the whole deal! Load me up and make it good!

God has placed people in our lives—friends, children, spouse, and others—who serve as the extra, but they cannot ever replace the original, the main ingredient- Jesus- in our lives.

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is meant to be the main ingredient. He’s the ice cream. He’s the foundation of it all. Without Him, the toppings alone won’t do.

In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that He came so we might have life and life more abundantly. But that only happens when we have the right foundation. No one builds a sundae by starting with the cherry, then adding whipped cream, then nuts, and finally ice cream. There’s a reason that’s not a thing—people want their ice cream with toppings, not toppings with ice cream.

Have you unintentionally started at the wrong end of the assembly line in your life? Maybe you’ve added relationships, career success, or financial achievements, but without the Lord Jesus Christ as the foundation, those things will ultimately fall flat.

My dad, Pastor Rich Huston was known for saying , We’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing. When we put Jesus first, everything else—friendships, marriage, children, career, finances—becomes extra. A blessing, yes, but never the foundation. Trying to live off the sweetness of the toppings alone won’t satisfy. We would leave feeling defeated, hungry, and unfulfilled.

But when Jesus is our main scoop—our core—everything else finds its proper place.

I’ve been blessed to have people in my life who have reflected Jesus in a powerful way. My daddy was one of them. He showed me Jesus not just in his words but in how he lived—faithful, kind, steady. He was a Christ-like representative of God’s love for me.

But even the most wonderful relationships are not the foundation. When my dad went to heaven, I felt a deep loss. Not only had I lost my father, but I had also lost the tangible expression of Jesus he provided in my life. It was a reminder that while relationships are blessings, they are still just the toppings. They were never meant to replace the foundation.

Have you found yourself disappointed, frustrated, or unsatisfied in your friendships? Your marriage? Your relationship with your children? Your work or finances? Those things were never meant to be the foundation. They are the “extra toppings” God gives us, but our true source—our main ingredient—is Jesus.

This may seem like a simple object lesson, something I would have shared as a children’s church teacher, but the truth applies to all of us. We need to keep Jesus Christ at the center of our lives—not in a religious, obligatory way, but in a living, breathing, vital relationship. He must be our number one source for everything—comfort, love, provision, peace.

I am learning this myself, friends. It is a daily practice to keep Jesus first. But as I do, I find that He meets me, fills me, loves me, and is all that I need. Everything else? Just toppings for the sundae! They add joy, companionship, and blessings, but they are not the foundation. My foundation is Jesus Christ.

May this week be the time you allow Christ to take His rightful place—not as an afterthought, but as the main thing.

Are you struggling in your friendships? Worried about your marriage or children? Feeling disappointed in your job or finances?

I don’t mean to sound dismissive—these things matter deeply. But the key is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Talk to Jesus about it:

Jesus, I realize I have put You out of Your rightful place. I don’t even know how it happened, but I’m sorry. I want You to be first again. Show me how to surrender and put You at the center of my life.

When we do this, we shift from being seeds choked out by weeds (cares of this life) to seeds planted in good soil (our foundation- Jesus!) Read more in Matthew 13:1-23. Don’t let anything choke out your relationship with the Lord. Ask Him:

How do You want me to live with You as the center? Show me. I can’t do it on my own. I am tired of rules. I am tired of religion. I am tired of reaching for things that were only meant to be extra toppings, expecting them to be the main ingredient. Help me put You first again.

As we realign our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we will realize that abundant life is only possible when Jesus Christ is our source. Nothing else will satisfy. Nothing else will do. Everything else will fall short in comparison to who He is in our lives.

If you need a reminder of His love, here are a few blog posts to refresh your heart:

The Love That Was There All Along
Safe, Secure, and Held
An Unlimited Supply

If you need a refresh about committing your life to Jesus, check out this new blog of mine:

The Invitation to Come

I am praying for you, friend:

May Jesus Christ become your all in all. May you bow your heart afresh to His Lordship in your life. May you be blessed as you rely on Him as your main source. May He satisfy the longings of your heart more deeply and fully than anything else ever could. May you become the loved one He created you to be as you soak in Him every moment of every day.

He is your divine, never-ending source.

I am the vine, you are the branches. (John 15:5)

We aren’t meant to do life apart from Him. If we have been, it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit to help us make a change. May you experience life and life more abundantly as you live with Jesus as your Number One.

Let’s make this fun! Comment below with your favorite ice cream toppings! Lately, I’ve been all about banana splits, but as a kid, I had a love of DQ’s Peanut Buster Parfait! Ha ha!

Until next time,

P.S. I have a live video that posts each first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. MT. I’d love for you to join me! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski for more.

The Road of Faith: Trusting God on Life’s Journey

Here in Colorado, one of our favorite adventures is driving up Trail Ridge Road. This winding, curving road takes you through the breathtaking heights of the Rocky Mountains, leading to the highest point on this side of the Continental Divide. With steep cliffs and dramatic drop-offs, it’s no surprise that many out-of-state visitors panic as they drive. Some freeze in fear, pulling over to the side, unable to continue. Others—often Texas drivers, I’ve noticed!—hug the center of the road, unwilling to trust the edges, slowing everyone else down because of their uncertainty and fear.

Life, in many ways, feels like this road. We are traveling on a great journey with stunning vistas, unknown turns, and an incredible destination ahead. But fear—fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of losing control—can paralyze us. It can cause us to pull over and refuse to move forward. It can make us cling tightly to the middle of the road, afraid to trust the path before us. Instead of moving forward with faith, we respond with fear and freeze up. But if we live that way, we risk missing out on the life Christ has prepared for us.

How Do We Move Past Fear?

One of the most important lessons when driving a mountain road is trusting the road itself. Engineers have worked hard to make sure the pavement is stable, the lanes are wide enough, and the guardrails are in place to keep travelers safe. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, the road is designed to carry you to your destination.

This reminds me of a powerful moment in one of my favorite books, The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. In one chapter, the main character, Shasta, is walking toward the city of Anvard on an urgent mission. As he makes his way along a narrow mountain pass, he feels the dangerous drop-off beside him. But instead of panicking, he discovers Aslan—the great lion, who represents Jesus—walking beside him, between him and the cliff’s edge. Infact, the lion had been with him for all of his challenges since the beginning of time:

(The boy speaking to Aslan after a terrible ordeal where he was chased by a lion and his friend Aravis was wounded, said he had been unfortunate.) The conversation:

“I do not call you unfortunate,” said the Large Voice.

“Don’t you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?” asked Shasta.

“There was only one lion,” said the Voice.

“What on earth do you mean? I’ve just told you there were at least two the first night, and –“

“There was only one, but he was swift of foot.”

“How do you know?”

“I was the lion.” And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued. “I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you could reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you.”

…

“Who are you?” asked Shasta.

“Myself,” said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook and again, “Myself,” loud and clear and gay; and then the third time, “Myself,” whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.”

  • Lewis, C. S. The Horse and His Boy. Macmillan, 1967, end of chapter 11.

Like Shasta, we face moments when we come face to face with “unfortunate” fear. But, God, in His majesty, wants us to know we are not alone. He’s been there all along, a party of our story. We have a choice: we can focus on the cliffs, the dangers, and the what-ifs—or we can fix our eyes on Jesus, who walks beside us. Are you going to focus on fear or faith? (for more links to my narnia-inspired blogs check out the resources at the end of this page)

Learning to Trust Like Peter

Does this remind you of another well-known biblical moment? Peter, the disciple who was bold enough to step out of the boat when he saw Jesus walking on the water, is a perfect example. At first, he walked in faith. But as soon as he looked at the wind and waves instead of Jesus, he began to sink.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:30-31)

Peter spent his life learning to trust in God instead of his own understanding. Jesus knew Peter’s weaknesses, but He also saw who Peter would become—a great leader, a teacher, and a pastor who would help build the early church.

What About You?

What areas in your life feel scary right now? Are you tempted to pull over and freeze? Or maybe you’re inching along, afraid to trust the path ahead?

God invites us to live in freedom, not fear. The road may seem uncertain, but our trust is not in the road itself—it is in the One who walks with us. Just like Shasta had Aslan, and Peter had Jesus reaching out His hand, we, too, have Christ guiding us safely forward.

Walking with Him transforms the journey. It becomes an adventure rather than something immobilizing.

A Challenge for You

How can you keep your eyes on Jesus today? Here are three ways:

  1. Spend time in God’s Word – Fill your heart with His promises.
  2. Pray honestly – Bring your fears to Him, and ask for faith to trust the path ahead.
  3. Take one step of faith – Even a small step forward, done in faith, is a victory.

Here are some verses to encourage you:

  • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
  • “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
  • “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

A Prayer for You

Father, I thank You that I never walk alone. When fear rises, help me fix my eyes on You. I don’t have to have it all together, be fearless, or know every turn in the road—I just have to trust You. Walk beside me, guide me, and lead me safely to the destination You have for me. Amen.

Let this song, No Longer Slaves (to fear), minister encouragement to your heart today:

Friend, I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever faced a moment of fear that God helped you overcome? Share your story in the comments below.

Until next time,

Read more about Colorado’s Trail Ridge Road here: https://www.colorado.com/byways/trail-ridge-road

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_ridge_road.htm

Watch a video of the drive on trail ridge: (Skip to 25:46)

Here’s my other blog articles involving the Great majestic Aslan and the wonderful land of Narnia:

Further Up, Further In
A Brave & Tender Heart
He Will Bring You Through
Hope of His Return

P.S. I have a live video that posts each first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. MT. I’d love for you to join me! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@melanietalevski for more.

Stubborn Faith

Right now, think about your life. If I asked you to list stubborn people in your life, could you come up with at least one? Maybe a list a mile long? I think part of being human is being stubborn in one way or another. Some of us wear it proudly, others not so much.

What we often label as “stubbornness” can actually be a form of determination. What we once called “determination” earlier in life can be seen as “stubbornness” later in life, yet it’s the same steadfast spirit that keeps us holding on.

What about you? What are your own areas of determination—or stubbornness? I know I can name a few of my own for sure.

One area where I know I’m stubborn? Trying to carry every single grocery bag in one trip. I will risk cutting off circulation to my fingers before I make two trips. My kids shake their heads, but I refuse to give in.

Another silly area I’m stubborn in? Hitting snooze several times even though I know I should just get up and get the day started. Somehow, in my half-asleepedness, I convince myself those extra five-minute increments will make a difference.

One area where my stubborn streak really gets me is perfectionism. I’ll moan, groan, edit, and rewrite a blog over and over before I finally post it. I want my writing to be just right. But God, in His grace, is teaching me to be less determined in perfection and more obedient instead.

It’s funny how we can be so determined over things like this, but when it comes to faith—holding on to God’s promises—we sometimes let go too easily. What if we had that same iron grip on faith, refusing to let go no matter what?

This week, during a Bible study I attend, the phrase “stubborn faith” was spoken. It lodged in my heart. If there’s one thing worth being stubborn in, what better thing than faith?

We all have seasons where disappointment, anger, anxiety, or some other heavy weight feels stubborn. It pops it’s head up over and over, affecting our way of life. Worry can be like that (Philippians 4:6-7). But what if we had a reframe? What if, instead of focusing on stubborn unbelief, we focused on being stubborn in our faith? What if we said, “I’m going to keep holding on, knowing that the promises of God are coming through for me”?

Holding on in faith sure can be messy. It isn’t a perfectly traveled road, lined with roses and sunshine. It’s a lot of grit, holding on through the bad, white-knuckling it, sweat forming on your brow. But what if we look to the example of Abraham? Romans 4:20-21 says,

Abraham’s faith didn’t waver, and neither should ours when we trust God’s promises.

In all the moments, no matter how they present themselves, I want to be known for being stubborn in my faith. I want to hold on, not give up, and trust that God’s promises will come to pass.

I’ve heard ministers talk about having “bulldog faith.” Now, I don’t have a bulldog, but I do have a golden retriever. And when she smells something disgustingly delicious on our walks—like an old chicken bone on the sidewalk, a mystery snack in the grass, or something questionable near the trash containers—it’s impossible to get her to let go. I’ve tried everything! Those of you with dogs (or even cats) know exactly what I’m talking about.

I want to be like that with the things of God. I want to latch onto the good things—His promises—and never let go. No holding onto stinky disbelief or inaction. No! I want to spit that out and get a firm grip on the good, the true, and the faithful promises of God.

Another friend of mine described faith like this: “Faith is knowing something good from God is coming down the pipeline, we just aren’t sure how or when.” Imagine if I’m at the bank (yes, I know, old-fashioned example!) and I’ve asked to withdraw money from the drive-thru. I’m going to wait at the end of that tube that connects to the bank until my money comes out. I’m not going to say, “Well, that was a good try… maybe it will be there next time.” No, if I’ve made a request, I’m going to wait for it to come. I know it will.

So friends, I encourage you today—don’t give up hope. Get a strong grip on your faith and on the promises of God. God has said it, and He will do it (2 Corinthians 1:20). We may not know how, when, or even what step to take next, but what we can do is hold on to faith. Like that dog holding onto the bone, let’s hold on to God’s promises and wait at the pipeline, knowing that what He has promised will come to pass!

In the meantime, use your mouth to encourage yourself. Speak those scriptures aloud. Create meditations and mantras from the Word that align with the things you are waiting on. Watch and see what the Lord will do. Just continue to stand, continue to grip onto the promises, and continue to wait with expectation.

He is not slow in fulfilling His promises (2 Peter 3:9). Don’t get discouraged. Reach out for community and help to encourage you in the Word. If you could use some encouragement today, let me know in the comments. I’d love to cheer you on in the Word.

My prayer:

Lord, it’s so easy to get discouraged, weak, and give up hope in this day and age, with all the circumstances we face. Our eyes see the struggle, and our hearts yearn for Your promises to come to pass, but sometimes, we just don’t see it yet. Help us grow in our faith. Help us hold onto Your promises tightly, unrelentingly, knowing that we will see them fulfilled because You are faithful to keep Your Word (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Strengthen us to remain steadfast, true, and focused on Your unchanging faithfulness. You will come through for us. We ask for Your help to live out this determined, stubborn faith—no matter what our eyes see—and to keep moving forward with confidence, trusting in Your timing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Until next time,

The Invitation to Come

Can’t you just see the anticipation in this little girl’s face? Her cheeks are flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling, full of wonder. She’s waiting for a special guest—her best friend is coming for a visit! How do I know? Because that little girl is me. My dad captured this photo when I was three years old.

Have you ever received an invitation—one that made your heart race with anticipation? Not just an invitation to come, but to come today? The excitement is real.

God has an invitation for you today…

Heaven Comes Close

Today, I heard a song about the thinning space between here and heaven. Every day, the time between now and eternity grows shorter until heaven becomes a reality for each of us.

I sometimes wish we could see how much of our “gas tank” of life is left before we take our final step—only to realize it leads straight into eternity. My dad certainly didn’t know that his next step would be into heaven. He thought he had millions more steps left on this earth before God called him home. But what a step that was!

Aren’t we all the same? If we had to guess how long we’d live or how many steps we had left, most of us would overestimate. That’s why we must make the most of today.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
—Psalm 90:12

A Hunger for God

Lately, I’ve noticed that God is bringing people into my life who are seeking Him—whether they realize it or not. Is it the same for you, too? There’s a deep hunger for the Lord all around us. People are longing for something more, something real.

My mom, a minister here in Arvada, is known as an encourager to many. But I’ve come to see that her greatest gift is evangelism. When I walk into a store she just left, I often find that someone has been prayed for, uplifted, or had a “God moment” because my mama walked through the doors and let Jesus shine through her.

Leading people to Jesus is a calling for all believers. It’s not just through words but through how we live, love, and serve. People can sense the difference when we carry the limitless love of God.

O Come to the Altar

We may not see altar calls today as often as in the days of revival preachers like Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham. But the call to come forward, to respond to Jesus, to surrender at the altar is just as real today.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
—John 3:16

Billy Graham’s voice once echoed across stadiums and tent revivals, calling anyone who felt the Holy Spirit’s tug to come forward as the choir sang the song, “Just As I Am”. He would often say words like these:

“Tonight, you have heard the Gospel. Jesus Christ loves you. He went to the cross for you. He shed His blood so that you might be forgiven. The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world…’ (John 3:16).

Right now, the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart. Maybe you’ve felt empty. Maybe you’ve been searching for peace, for purpose. Tonight, you can have a new beginning. Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). He is ready to receive you, to forgive you, to change your life forever.

I’m going to ask you to do something bold. If you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, step out of your seat and come forward. Don’t wait. The Bible says, ‘Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’ (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you are with friends or family, they will wait for you. But come. Come now. You may never have another opportunity like this. God is calling you.”

I’ve heard stories of members of my own extended family and friends who rose from their chairs, walked forward with purpose to commit their lives to Jesus. Some of us came to Christ this way. Others found Him through a whispered prayer in a church, a prison, a parking lot. Some met Jesus as children, some as teens desperate for something real.

The Importance of Going to the Altar

Whether physically or in our hearts, coming to the altar is a moment of surrender. Here’s what it means:

  1. Admitting that you have sinned
    “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
  2. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God and our only Savior
    “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9
  3. Confessing your faith
    “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 10:32

Have You Ever Done This?

If not, you can do it right now—wherever you are. Sitting at your computer? Traveling? Reading before bed? The place doesn’t matter. What matters is your heart.

I invite you to pray something like this:

“Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe You are the Son of God who died for my sins and rose again. I ask You to forgive me, come into my life, and be my Lord and Savior. I surrender to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you prayed this, something incredible has happened—you are now a child of God! You answered his invite… yes, I am coming to you, today, Jesus!

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!”
—2 Corinthians 5:17

Your First Steps as a Christian

  1. Find a Christian church that teaches the Word of God.
  2. Start reading the Bible, beginning with the Gospel of John.
  3. Tell someone the good news—Jesus is now your Lord and Savior!

If you’ve made this decision today, I’d love to celebrate with you! Reply to this message or comment below.

The Bible says:

“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
—Luke 15:10

Death and sin no longer have power over you. Jesus bought your freedom with His blood. By accepting Him as your Savior, your eternity is secure!

“Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!”
—2 Corinthians 6:2

Don’t wait. Come to the altar today.

Enjoy this song: O Come to the Altar – Elevation Worship

Until next time,