Keep Hoping and Dreaming, Friend

{my graphics are free goodies for you}

Hey, You…

The one who’s had a hard week. Who might be wondering if it’s even worth it to hope or dream anymore. The one who has to swat discouragement away like a pesky fly. I know those feelings, too. Can I lean in and gently whisper this hard truth to both of us?

The riskiest thing is not to hope or dream.

The only way to avoid making mistakes is to not do anything. And that’s the biggest mistake of all.

The only way to avoid being hurt is to never love. And being alone in that way is the deepest wound a heart can have.

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The things that help us feel safe are the same things that can put us at greatest risk.

You are braver, stronger, more capable than you know.

And the God you serve is bigger than you’ve yet experienced.

Keep hoping. Keep dreaming.

You are not done yet.

And neither is the God who wildly loves you and will see you through to the end.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” {Php. 1:6}

XOXO

Holley Gerth

Just what I needed today...hope it touched your heart too..

 

Morning Blessing...Susie Larson

Morning Blessing: Before you take another step today, may you pause and give your burdens to Jesus. He'll carry what's too heavy for you. He'll give you grace to shoulder the light and easy yoke that fits you perfectly. May you clearly discern the worries that slow you down and make life unnecessarily burdensome. May you choose the discipline of joy and discover a new strength in the process. May you embrace grace for the moment, power in prayer, and perspective with the story God is writing in your life. You're loved, called, cherished, anointed, and appointed. Refuse yesterday's baggage, tomorrow's worries, or today's insecurities. You've got Jesus and He's got you.

When All Is Said and Done, This is Our Hope...by Holly Gerth

   

Raindrops scatter across my windshield as I drive home from a speaking engagement and the thoughts within my mind feel much the same. Questions haphazardly come: Should I have said that? Was I helpful? How did it really go?

I pull into my garage and the sound of the storm lessens. It seems a stillness begins to settle within me, too. I picture the corner of my room where I curl up to spend time praying. And these words come to my heart: “When all is said and done I get to go home to Jesus.”

In the moment I mean that in the most literal way. I’m thinking of a cup of tea, warm blanket and time for Him to bring my still-racing heart back to its usual rhythm. But I smile as I realize the words are true for eternity, too. No matter what happens in this life, when all is said and done we get to go home to Jesus.

That reality gives us the strength and courage to serve:

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. John 13:3-5

We are called to be foot-washers and holy risk takers, too. To step outside our comfort zones, face the storms, even walk on water {or speak in public–which feels harder to me sometimes}. We can only do that if we are sure of where we’re ultimately headed and Who will be waiting for us. If you’re not yet, you can be today.

I open the door of my house and it seems to invite me in like an old friend. I find my quiet spot in the corner. I close my eyes and all the questioning stops. I remember again that I am loved not because of what I do but because of Who I belong to. Home is where my heart is and I’m not in heaven yet. But I’m learning this: Home is also Who’s within my heart.

And as I whisper a prayer while the storm subsides, I know Jesus is there.

XOXO

Holley Gerth

Evening Blessings- Susie Larson

Evening Blessing: As the day wraps up and you crawl into bed tonight, may your body, mind, and soul be at rest and know the deep, abiding peace that comes from deeply knowing God. May He speak to you while you sleep and may He download fresh insight and perspective regarding your current circumstances. And as you rise up in the morning, may faith rise up in you and compel you to obey when you'd rather self-protect, give when you'd rather hoard, and trust when you're tempted to worry. You're not made for this place. You're only passing through. Live as one who is spoken for. Good night!

 

He Keeps Giving

Hey Soul? so the thing is, Monday's not your huge mountain to scale --
your huge *God* is the mountain Who scales everything, so you see your *problems* as so *small*.
He'll give you exactly what you need, He'll make you strong for exactly what you have to do, and He'll make you brave for exactly whatever you have to climb this week.
"You can be *SURE* that God will take care of everything you need" Phil4:19
Thank God we are kept from what we wanted ---
like escape, like an easier road, like an easier time of it...
and that He keeps giving us what we didn't know we *needed* --
like more courage, like more joy, like more grace, like more of Himself.
Thank God we are kept from what we wanted ---
and He keeps giving us what we didn't know we *needed.*
Because God will give you everything you need ---- all you need is to keep everything to Him! 

 

HE IS RISEN!!!

.. it's true, He is Risen -- He Is Risen, Indeed!
And you can know it's true, the very truest true --
because the disciples would have known about it if it wasn't.
It's simply impossible that all of them wouldn't have known the whole truth about what happened to Jesus' body--- and every single one of those disciples literally staked their life, (and died as martyrs), on the fact Jesus rose from the dead.
Would they die for a lie, especially because they'd have to know it was a lie? Who in the history of the entire world would be willing to die for a lie, if they knew it was a lie?
The only explanation is that these men who followed Jesus
had seen the RESURRECTED Jesus --
so how could they not give their all to Jesus, the RISEN ONE?
It's impossible to say that Jesus was just a good man, a good teacher, a good example --- because Jesus Himself said He was The Way, The Truth, The Life, that No One could come to God *but through Him* (Jn14:6), that He the Son of God, the RISEN SON OF GOD -- so either He literally & actually is exactly who He claimed, The Lord of the Universe... or the only thing He was good at was being a lunatic & a liar.
You can write Him off as a fool -- or you can fall at His feet & call Him the only Way, Truth & Life, the RISEN Lord. But you can't just say He was a great teacher -- because He didn't give us that option ---- and those disciples staked their life on the Truth that they KNEW HE HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
He is RISEN! He is RISEN INDEED!
And now death itself starts working backwards
& all the sad things begin becoming upended & undone ... and we are undone with the glory of redemption for all our sinful messes & the miracle of amazing grace for all our messy wounds & the wonder that Hope literally rises --
that all will rise.
 

Ann Voskamp

Good Friday

Morning Blessings - Susie Larson
May you pause for a moment today and consider this: YOU are the object of God's affection. YOU are the reason Jesus came to earth as vulnerable baby. YOU were the joy set before Him when He endured the Cross and scorned its shame. Jesus made a public spectacle of the enemy that stands against you; He crushed the lies the enemy spews about you because YOU are someone Jesus loves and wants forever in eternity with Him. Jesus IS the reason for the Season. May we joyfully celebrate the One who came as a baby, died our death, and will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Have a thoughtful-heart-engaged day today.