How are you doing today?
Praise God I am feeling better than I did on my last blog post.
God has met me in my time of need. His light shines in the dark night of my soul. Oh where would I be without my Jesus?
One of the blessings of the past week has been the sun shining after long, dark and rainy days.
My plants are poking through the ground reminding me that spring is around the corner.
The daffodils are bloomed at the entry to our neighborhood.
The rhodedendrums that bloom early are full of pink flowers.
I wonder if the primroses that brighten my planters know how they brighten my spirit?
This week I’ve been journaling through a blessing from My Father’s Business. It came to me at the perfect time. I plan to share more about that with you this week.
I have found in my experience that God is never early. He is never late. He meets me at just the right time. He did that this week.
As I write this I am preparing to travel with my son, Gabe.
Sunday morning he will be speaking at a youth group event in Ellensburg, WA.
Monday he will inspire a Christian school.
Right after his assembly, we head to Helena, MT where he will be the keynote speaker at the Montana Association of School Superintendents on Tuesday afternoon.
My heart swells with joy to watch God use Gabe to touch thousands of lives.
Thank You Jesus for lighting my world with the reminder of hope for the way you intend to use my family.
At the end of the week I’m excited to meet my writer friends at the Inland Northwest Writer’s Conference.
Here again, I am reminded of His plan. He has called me to write. Even through my troubled times.
I prayed for you today. I asked that God would shine His light on your life.
I asked Him to help us both remember that He never leaves us or forsakes us.
I praised Him for the Scriptures that remind me that He is sent to bind up my broken heart. Isaiah 61 resonates with me.
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.8 For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong;I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
For whatever you are going through, I pray for peace to sprout a garden of praise.
Let me know how I can pray.
God’s blessing on your life.
Gigi
I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since I added a note here.
It’s good to be back. I’ve missed you.
I can’t believe next Wednesday, February 13th, is Ash Wednesday.
This day, on the traditional liturgical calendar begins the forty-day count down to Easter.
The purpose of this season is to reflect on the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before He began His public ministry.
I’ve always viewed it as a time of reflection and preparation as I give my time to others.
A season of examining one’s heart and spending time with the Lord in confession and repentance.
I love this season.Not only for the focus on Jesus preparation for the cross, but also because it is spring time.
The gray of the winter gives way to bluer skies and greener grass.
The birds come home to build their nests.
The leaves sprout and the early flowers bloom.
This year, I’m especially looking forward to spring, Easter and new beginnings.
It’s been a long hard winter of my soul. How about you? Are you ready for spring too?
I write encouragement to others as a way to lift my spirits when I feel down in the dumps. I hope you’ll try it!
This week I’m asking God to help me create my Lenten Love Letter List.
This is a list of people God puts on my heart during the days leading up to Easter. I simply pray and ask God, “Who needs a kind word of encouragement today?”
It has been amazing to see how it all works out.
Will you join me this year in a focused period of writing encouragement to people who cross your path?
Let’s do this together as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
I can see the ripple of encouragement that will send waves across the world.
Are you in?
Leave me a note in the comments and together we will celebrate the power of a kind word.
God bless your heart with encouragement.
Gigi
PS – I’m praying that God will let me know if its YOU who needs the encouragement.
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