Throw The Pebble

A man once threw a small pebble into a quiet pond. It seemed insignificant in his hand, barely enough to notice when it hit the water.

But the moment it landed, ripples spread far beyond the point of impact, reaching places the pebble itself never touched.

That is how the gospel works. When we share the truth of CHRIST, it may feel small, awkward, or unnoticed.

A single conversation, a single act of obedience, a single testimony offered in faith. But GOD never wastes faithfulness.

What begins as a quiet word can move hearts we will never meet, affect generations we will never see, and reach depths we cannot measure.

We are not called to control the ripples. We are called to throw the pebble. GOD handles the water.

Provided by "God's ARMY-Soldier Of Faith"

Meme: Heaven...

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. My perspective is unlimited by time. Because I am infinite, I am able to see and understand everything at once. This makes Me the ideal Person to be in charge of your life. I know the ending of your earth-life as well as I know its beginning - and I know everything in between. You are finite and fallen; your understanding is limited and far from perfect. So trusting in Me rather than relying on your own understanding is the most reasonable way to live; it is also the most joyful."

"And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.'" - Revelation 21:6 (NKJV)

- "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young

Walking The Valley With God

I don’t have shiny faith. Most days it looks like worn out boots. Scuffed from miles I didn’t plan on walking. Heavy from valleys I thought I would be past by now.

I love God.

And I’m tired.

Tired of being strong.

Tired of explaining why this season is still hard.

Tired of praying the same prayers and wondering if they’re landing anywhere at all.

But I keep walking…

Not because I feel brave.

Not because I feel full of hope.

But because I’ve learned that God meets me in the valley, not just on the mountain.

Some days trusting Him looks like whispering His name through tears.

Some days it looks like getting up when I’d rather stay in bed.

Some days it looks like saying, “I don’t understand this,” and walking anyway.

That’s faith too.

The kind no one claps for.

The kind that aches.

The kind that keeps moving even when the path is slow and uneven.

“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9b

If your faith feels worn but you’re still taking one more step, you’re not failing. You’re walking the valley with God.

And He hasn’t let go of you.

Provided by "Little Sparrow Loved"

Search Me God...

Lord, sometimes my heart feels crowded. Worries, ambitions, old wounds: even good things: can quietly turn into idols, taking space that belongs to You. I confess, I keep holding onto things, thinking they’ll satisfy, but they never really do.

Father, will You sit on the throne of my heart? Dethrone everything that rivals You. Show me where I’ve set up substitutes, and help me surrender them. I want You to be my desire: the first, the greatest, the only One who truly fills me.

Search me, God, and know my heart... See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) Provided by "Word of Encouragement"

Scripture: Isaiah 46:4

Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Isaiah 46:4 (NKJV)

Meme: Hearing God

Abide In Christ

Abide in Christ – Being in Christ
“Abide in Me [Christ], and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Consider abiding in Christ or being in Christ as a journey. This spiritual adventure begins with a personal experience with Jesus Christ and continues for the rest of your life. The steps on this glorious path are ones of both pain and great gain since you must leave your former, natural pathways to follow a new way of living (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new path involves denial of your former path and its accompanying selfish desires and actions (see Romans 6:3-5), but is also filled with great blessings, including the very presence of Jesus Christ and a joy that is beyond description in human terms alone (1 Peter 1:8). This new life is one lighted only in small steps, which require faith in following along with, but not ahead of, Jesus Christ. Yet those who choose to discipline themselves do so with the assurance of fellowship that continues forever with Jesus Christ in His Home called Heaven (John 3:16 and John 14:1-3).

Abide in Christ – Remaining in Close Fellowship with Jesus Christ

To abide in Christ is not a matter of being in a relationship with Jesus and then suddenly being without that relationship. Abiding in Christ is experiencing an intimate, close relationship with Jesus as your Savior. It is more than a superficial acquaintance.

The life of Jesus Christ on earth was one of trial and suffering (Matthew 8:20), but also one of great joy in doing the will of God the Father (John 15:9-11). After the initial experience of coming along side of Jesus Christ, one begins to walk more and more as He walked (1 John 2:6). It is accompanied by a heart that is inclined and dedicated to obey God and His Word.

Abide in Christ – Continuing in Closeness

Being in Christ also involves the Holy Spirit, who convicts, comforts, and communicates with the disciple of Christ (John 14, 16). The truth that the Holy Spirit will teach the believer in Christ is always the same as that which Jesus Christ said to His disciples while they walked with Him on this earth (John 16:13-15).

This invisible leading is one that goes beyond words and even outward actions. There is an intimacy for the follower of Christ who hears the beckoning and guidance of the Holy Spirit which transcends what can be described in human terms alone. This closeness leads to a fruitful life with both inward and outward manifestations. These fruit are gifts from this life with the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Jesus Christ likened abiding in Him to a branch of a tree remaining part of the main vine of a tree (Luke 13 and John 15). From this vine (Jesus Christ) comes the only true, spiritual nourishment and eternal life. The branch that seeks its own ways and substitutes candy for spiritual food will not grow and will not produce spiritual fruit (John 15:2, 6). The branch which receives this spiritual food grows and helps to lead to other growth on the tree and receives to itself a life of “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Provided by "All About Following Jesus"

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Jesus Wants You To Know...

Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend for you to be.

"And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose." - Romans 8:28 (AMP) - "Dear Jesus" by Sarah Young

Meme: Let God Be God

God Is The Way Maker

Stop worrying about what you are going to do. God is still the Way Maker. He is already opening the road in front of you, even where you cannot see a path ahead. 

Your heart may feel worn out. You lie awake and stare at the ceiling, replaying conversations, test results, bank statements, what your children did or did not say. You think through every “what if,” every worst case, every burden you are carrying for the people you love, and by morning you feel empty. 

You love the Lord. You have walked with Him for years, yet your thoughts still run ahead of you, trying to peek around every corner. You wish you could see the plan, the timeline, the exact way He will help your family, your health, your future. The not knowing sits on your chest like a weight you cannot quite push away. 

But friend, you belong to the One who called Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is not asking you to chart the course. He is not expecting you to keep all the pieces in the air. He simply asks you to stay close to Him. While you are studying the map and worrying about every turn, He is already out in front, clearing the road you cannot see and arranging details you do not even know to pray about. 

Think back over your life. There were seasons you were not sure how you would pay the bills, raise the children, survive the loss, or bear the disappointment. At the time, it all looked dark and confusing. Later, when you looked back, you could trace His care through every detour and delay. What felt like confusion turned out to be protection. The God who carried you then has not changed. He is still guiding, still guarding, still opening a way where there does not seem to be one. 

Right now, in this very ordinary moment, God is at work behind the scenes. While you stir a pot on the stove. While you answer a message from a grown child. While you straighten the pillows in the living room or sit at the table with a quiet cup of coffee. He is speaking to hearts you cannot reach. He is moving in rooms you will never sit in. He is unlocking doors that, from where you stand, still look shut. 

Behold your King!

Merry Christmas!!

Perfect Peace

Some days my soul is restless, searching for something solid to hold onto. I confess: the weight of life overwhelms me and I forget there’s a peace that doesn’t vanish with the evening news. But then I remember: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You." (Isaiah 26:3 NIV) Lord, steady my heart. Help me stay anchored in You when waves threaten to pull me under.

Provided by "Word of Encouragement"

Meme: Innkeeper...

Focus On The Heart Of Christmas...

The closer it gets to Christmas, the more our hearts can ache. Lights, music, and celebrations can feel like a contrast to the emptiness, grief, or longing we carry. It is normal to feel sadness, frustration, or even guilt for not feeling “joyful enough.”

The first thing to remember is that feeling this way does not make you weak or faithless. Jesus Himself experienced deep sorrow. He wept, grieved, and carried burdens. Our hearts are allowed to feel deeply, even during seasons that the world calls “merry.”

One way to handle this season is to intentionally create space for your feelings. You do not have to force joy. You can acknowledge your grief, pray through it, and let God hold it for you. Sometimes writing down your feelings, talking with someone you trust, or quietly sitting with God can bring relief. Even lighting a candle, listening to soft music, or reading Scripture can provide a gentle anchor for your soul.

Another way is to focus on the heart of Christmas. Beyond gifts, parties, and traditions, Christmas is about God coming near, about Emmanuel. He understands loneliness, sorrow, and brokenness because He entered a world that carried all of it. Leaning into Him, reflecting on His presence and love, can bring peace even when joy feels distant.

It’s also okay to protect your energy. If certain gatherings, songs, or social media triggers make the ache worse, it is not sinful to step back. Give yourself permission to grieve, to remember, and to simply survive the season. Sometimes the best thing you can do is show yourself the same kindness God shows you.

Finally, find small ways to bring light into your own heart and the lives of others. Acts of kindness, reaching out to someone who may be struggling, or quietly serving without expectation can create moments of connection and purpose even when your own joy feels dim.

Remember, this season does not demand that you feel happy all the time. It only invites you to let God meet you where you are, in your sadness, your hope, your memories, and your longing.

Prayer: God, this season is hard for me. My heart feels heavy, and the world’s cheer feels far away. Meet me in this sadness. Hold the parts of me that ache. Help me to feel Your presence even when joy feels distant. Teach me to be gentle with myself and to trust that You are near, Emmanuel, with me in every sorrow and every hope. Amen.

- Ellie Mont

Music: "The Heart of Christmas"

 

Meme: Plant The Seed...

Music: "Who Am I"

How Can I Experience Joy In My Christian Life?

Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian’s life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us.

We know that even the most mature of God’s people experience periods of joylessness. For instance, Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalm 55:6-8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5). If these men struggled, how can we experience consistent joy in the Christian life?

The first thing is to realize that joy is a gift from God. The root word for joy in the Greek is chara, which is closely related with the Greek charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and relish His favor.

With this in mind, it’s evident that one way to experience joy is to focus on God. Rather than dwelling on our difficulties or those things robbing our contentment, we can dwell on God. This is not to say we should deny our discontent or stuff negative emotions. Following the example of many of the psalmists, we can pour out our hearts to God. We can tell Him bluntly all the things that ail us. But then we submit those things to Him, remember who He is, and are happy in Him. Psalms 3, 13, 18, 43, and 103 are good examples.

Music: "Joy To The World"

The Race

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)

There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race; but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God's powerful presence.

The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically; but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage.

Paul described his Christian life as a battle. There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered.

Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!”

Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meme: Prepare My Heart...

 

I Wish Hope Felt Stronger

There are days I wish hope felt stronger: days when the weight just sits in my chest and every prayer sounds tired. But then, like a gentle brush of light, I remember: Hope isn’t something I fight for alone. It’s the quiet gift God places into my hands, even when I’m struggling to hold on.

Psalm 27:1 sings over every shadow: "The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?" I confess I fear plenty. But God remains, unwavering. When the world feels heavy and dark, His presence glows soft around me, reminding me I haven’t slipped beyond His reach. In the smile of a child, in a moment of peace, I see His hope rising: again, and again.

You haven’t lost your chance for light. Let God’s hope settle back into your heart, right here, right now.

Provided by "Word Of Encouragement"

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"Do not grow weary and lose heart. When you are dealing with difficulties that go on and on, it’s easy to get so tired that you feel like giving up. Chronic problems can wear you out and wear you down. If you focus too much on these troubles, you’re in danger of sliding into a black hole of self-pity or despair... Worshiping Me is a wonderful way to renew your strength in My Presence. When you take steps of faith by praising Me in the midst of difficulties, My glorious Light shines upon you."

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

- "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young

Music: "Who Can"

Meme: My Story...

What No One Tells You About Healing

There’s a kind of silence no one talks about, the kind that comes after your mind breaks.

Not the peace of solitude. Not the hush of a quiet moment with God. But the silence that follows a collapse. The kind that changes how you think, feel, breathe.

I think about her sometimes. The girl I was before it happened. Before the anxiety unspooled like thread from my thoughts. Before the panic. Before the cracks in my memory. Before the grief rewired everything.

She knew how to tuck trauma away. As if it wasn’t waiting in the dark corners, growing and building, hiding just out of sight until one day it became too big to be contained and spilled out. And when it did, it broke everything.

People talk about healing like it’s a destination. Like if you do the right things and believe the right way, you’ll arrive at wholeness and move on.

But what no one tells you, not really, is that once your mind has shattered under the weight of it all, you don’t go back. You don’t return to the person you were before. And that’s a quiet kind of grief no one prepares you for.

There’s a version of me I sometimes miss. She was softer, more trusting, unaware of what the breaking would feel like. She could breathe without reminding herself to. She didn’t flinch at joy.

But I can’t go back for her. And maybe that’s okay.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"Be still in My Presence, and wait patiently for Me to act. Spending quality time with Me is so good for you, beloved. I rejoice when you push back the many things clamoring for your attention and focus wholeheartedly on Me. I know how hard it is for you to sit quietly with Me, and I don’t expect perfection from you. Instead, I treasure your persistence in seeking My Face. My loving approval shines on you as you seek Me with all your heart. This intimate connection between us helps you wait trustingly for Me to act."

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; - Psalm 37:7a (NIV)

- "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young

Quote: C.S. Lewis

Lord, I'm learning that relying on You has to begin all over again every day, that yesterday's faith doesn't automatically carry me through today.

Each morning I wake up with a choice, to depend on You or to fall back into the illusion that I can handle life on my own, and I confess how easily I forget.

Teach me that relying on You isn't a one-time decision but a daily surrender, a constant returning to the truth that I need You as much today as I did yesterday and will tomorrow.

Help me start each morning by acknowledging my need for You, by consciously choosing dependence over independence, by asking for Your strength before I try to manufacture my own.

Remind me that this isn't failure or weakness, it's the rhythm of faith, that even the most mature believers have to wake up and choose to lean on You all over again.

Give me grace for the days I forget and try to go it alone, patience with myself as I learn this daily practice of surrender, and wisdom to recognize when I've drifted back into self-reliance.

Let relying on You become as natural as breathing, a daily habit that shapes every hour, every decision, every moment, knowing that I will always need You and that's exactly how You designed it to be.

Amen.

Provided by "Faithful Grace"

When Guilt Won’t Let Go: How God Restores a Heart That’s Been Broken by Sin

We all have moments we wish we could erase, right? Words spoken in anger. Choices made in weakness. Opportunities missed because of fear or pride. The memories fade, but the guilt lingers. Like a song you can’t stop hearing, playing on repeat in the back of your mind. King David knew that feeling well. He had fallen hard. The leader who once sang of God’s faithfulness had given in to temptation, committed adultery, and arranged a man’s death to cover it up. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, the truth broke through like a flood. 

 

Out of that heartbreak came one of the most powerful prayers in all of Scripture: 

 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12). 

 

Psalm 51 isn’t the cry of a man making excuses. It’s the cry of a man who finally stopped running. 

 

The Weight of Guilt 

Guilt can be both a gift and a burden. When we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us; He pricks the conscience to draw us back toward God. But once we’ve confessed and received forgiveness, the enemy often twists that conviction into accusation. Instead of prompting repentance, guilt becomes a prison. 

 

You know the voice: You’re not really forgiven. God’s done with you. You’ve gone too far this time. 

 

Those lies have destroyed countless lives. They sound spiritual, but they’re not. Scripture tells us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Conviction leads to restoration; condemnation leads to despair. The difference lies in what we do next. 

 

When guilt drives you away from God, it’s toxic. When it drives you toward Him, it becomes grace. 

 

The God Who Cleanses, Not Cancels 

David didn’t try to manage his guilt with good deeds or pious words. He asked for something only God could do: “Create in me a clean heart.” The Hebrew word for create here is the same one used in Genesis 1 - it means to bring something into existence out of nothing. 

 

David wasn’t asking for a tune-up. He was asking for a miracle. 

 

And that’s exactly what God offers us in Christ. When we confess our sins, we don’t get a partial pardon; we get a brand-new heart. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead breathes life into our spiritual failures and makes us clean again. 

 

That’s not sentiment. It’s Scripture. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jonn 1:9). Notice that last phrase: all unrighteousness. Not some. Not most. All.