Category Archives: Devotional

June 7, 2025 · 3:25 PM

Beyond the Rubble: Embracing Hope and Healing

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

How do you find beauty in difficult times?

My devotion today is found in Isaiah 61:3. This passage of scripture brings me comfort. Yet, I wondered…

How can there be a smidgen of beauty among the rubble? Wreckage? Or ashes?

How is this even possible?

How do we see beauty amid suffering, hopelessness, or despair?

When I saw my baby sister lying in her small white coffin, I sure didn’t see any beauty in that.

As a child, I noticed my mama with bruises on her body. I failed to see them as beauty marks.

My former husband was known for his strength, vigor, and sure-footedness. After one drink of alcohol, he morphed into a sloppy drunk, miles away from anything charming.

To watch my grandpa become a prisoner in his own body was disheartening. His barrel-chested physique became sunken and scrawny. It was a far cry from what I considered alluring.

My grandma was once so robust and plump. When my eyes caressed her features, I saw her turning thin and frail due to illness. It wasn’t lovely to behold.

The day I saw my former husband turn his back on me was not a picturesque scene. He had pulled the rug from under my feet. He left me in the dust while I choked in my sobs and called out his name in vain.

My tiny 29-day-old granddaughter, swollen from fluids in a medically induced coma after her open-heart surgery, wasn’t eye-appealing.

Recently, saying goodbye to Mama was anything but a pleasant and beautiful moment.

Scars tell a story, but they are not beautiful. Neither are the hidden bruises on the body nor the scab on the heart.

Death is not cute; the grieving of loved ones taken from you is never delightful. Hunger is not charming. Loneliness is not attractive.

Repossession isn’t grand. Foreclosure is far from good.

So, how can there be beauty for ashes?

I believe it is found in hope. Hope against hope. Hope that the imperfect will become perfect. Hope that the pain will cease. Hope that there will be a day of reckoning. Hope that the scattered pieces will rebuild. Hope for healing and relief. Hope that the light will dawn and a new day will come. Hope that this too shall come to pass. Hope in heaven. Hope that the best is yet to come. And most importantly, we believe in the Blessed Hope. One day, we shall see our loved ones again who have crossed over.

I can now yell it from the mountaintop. Thank you, Lord! You have turned my life’s ugliness into a thing of beauty!

Out of sadness and hurt will come strength and victory.

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10 Comments

Filed under Devotional, Faith and Spirituality, Reflections From the Heart

Tagged as Divine Transformation, Faith, healing, hope, Isaiah 61:3, Loss, nostalgic, pain, Spiritual Renewal, sufferings

August 6, 2015 · 5:44 AM

Oil of Joy

What exactly is joy?

I’ve heard it said, “The world didn’t give it to you and the world can’t take it away.”

Joy: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. At least that’s what I read online. Sounds good to me, but I know from experience that pleasure and happiness don’t last. Let’s face it, most of us look to others to please us. We often look to others to make us happy, just as we look to things to bring us pleasure and happiness. But if we’re honest, that in itself is fleeting, isn’t it? Before you know it, we’re needing another fix!

So, how is “joy” different?

The Bible teaches that the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10b); I love that! But can one experience joy while going through everyday life with its many toils, twists, and turns? To be honest, during times of trauma, the thought of joy escapes me. I mean, I am not necessarily thinking about joy during these times.

So, when I read my Bible and am reminded that the joy of the Lord is my strength, this is what it means to me: it’s a joy unspeakable and full of glory!

I may not be able to explain it, put my finger on it, or even see it. But I know it’s there – I know it in my knower. (Bear with me, please, I’m fully aware this isn’t “correct” English.) But I just know that I know. It’s not an “in your face” kind of thing. It’s not necessarily giddiness. It’s not even a denial of difficulties. For me, it’s a reassurance that everything will be all right. I may not understand some things, even while having a meltdown, feeling sad, or grieving.

The pain is real. The battle is real. But so is the joy real. This joy is indescribable knowing that, come hell or high water, I am safe and secure in my Heavenly Father’s arms (just like when I was a child in my earthly daddy’s arms). Even in pain and sorrow, here is where there’s strength and comfort. This joy floods the heart, it brings inner peace and stability, even though everything else around may be chaotic.

I didn’t always know this or believe this way. However, through my experiences, I’ve learned a few things. Life happens. Happiness is fleeting. Pleasure is temporary. But the joy of the Lord remains constant regardless of circumstances and situations.

Joy is the best makeup – Anne Lamott

Excuse me while I put on some makeup.

Have you experienced this joy?

17 Comments

Filed under Devotional, Isaiah 61:3

Tagged as Anne Lamott, belief, Christian, comfort, devotion, Faith, hope, inner strength, Isaiah 61:3, joy, Musing

April 13, 2015 · 9:33 PM

A Bigger Picture

Worth repeating!

A message I heard in church a few years ago was about three kinds of enemies. I’d like to share this insight with you, trusting that it’ll help you the way it did me.

HOLDERS – Those that want to hold you back.
PULLERS – Those that will pull you away.
CLINGERS – Those that keep you behind with them.

We probably all know someone in either category. We may have an idea, a vision, a dream, a desire, or feel passionate about something that we may share with somebody, but then that person does not share in our enthusiasm but merely seeks to crush our spirit. Before we know it, we are pulled back, stifled, crushed, and beaten down. I’m not saying there won’t be times when we are to make ourselves available in helping others. I am saying there will be times when we need to be around those who care enough to pour something back into us.

I need to be refilled. You need to be refilled.

MEDIOCRITY HATES VISION.

See the bigger picture of something greater and something better.

If we don’t grow, we die. This was me about four years ago. I wanted to grow, move forward, and better myself but only felt squashed and discouraged by those around me. Yet, they were moving forward. So in my prayer time, I sought guidance and courage. And when I heard my pastor’s message a few days later, it hit me.

Image source: thinkstock by Getty Images

I took a leap of faith and moved on. Why? Because I knew God had something better for me.

I had to make a choice and yes, it was frightening. It took a few months, but it was the best decision I made for me. Still today I am in a much better place and in a much better job position. I am challenged, fulfilled, and continue to grow. I am encouraged for doing my best and appreciated all that I do. I work for a phenomenal boss and some pretty phenomenal people.

Sometimes you have to give up something good to gain something better.

2 Comments

Filed under Devotional, motivation

Tagged as career, dream, encouragement, growth, John Maxwell, Leap of Faith, mediocrity, motivation, Prayer, vision

Aside

No Junk Here

http://www2.potsdam.edu/libdocs/images/nojunk

So I came across a page in my devotional book prompted by the scripture found in Genesis 18:14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Here were the ramblings of my heart written down on paper that day … my prayer is that you may be blessed and encouraged in reading this.

In my heart of hearts, I know there isn’t anything too hard for the Lord. Yet, whenever I look within myself, I can’t help but see my own flaws and limitations. I don’t always like what I see. But if I can just remember that whenever I focus on my troubles, then God seems to fade into the background of my life – that’s half the battle right there!

Lord, help me to see with Your eyes. Help me to remember I am complete in You. It’s not within myself, my abilities, my talents, or even my own faith. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU! Everything I am is because of You. Apart from You, I can do nothing. Help me, Lord, to remember You are for me. You don’t make junk. What may be impossible for me is POSSIBLE with You. What I can’t – You CAN. Nothing is impossible, unattainable, unreachable, or unbearable when my heart is fixed on my Lord and my Savior!

Keep me focused, Oh God.

Do not ask “what can I do?” but “what can He not do?” ~ Corrie ten Boom

6 Comments

February 19, 2014 · 9:05 AM

April 25, 2013 · 10:15 PM

A Better Picture

A message I heard in church a few years ago was about three kinds of enemies. I’d like to share this insight with you, trusting that it’ll help you the way it did me.

HOLDERS – Those that want to hold you back.
PULLERS – Those that will pull you away.
CLINGERS – Those that keep you behind with them.

We probably all know someone in either of these categories. We may have an idea, a vision, a dream, a desire, or feel passion about something that we may share with somebody, but then that person does not share in our enthusiasm, but merely seeks to crush our spirit. Before we know it, we are pulled back, stifled, crushed, and beaten down. I’m not saying there won’t be times when we are to make ourselves available to help others. I am saying there will be times when we need to be around those who care enough to pour something back into us.

I need to be refilled. You need to be refilled.

MEDIOCRITY HATES VISION.

See the bigger picture of something greater and something better.

If we don’t grow, we die. This was me about three years ago. I wanted to grow, move forward, and better myself, but only felt squashed and discouraged by those around me. Yet, they were moving forward. So in my prayer time, I sought guidance and courage. And when I heard my pastor’s message a few days later, it hit me.

I took a leap of faith and moved on. Why? Because I knew God had something better for me. Goldfish Jumping Out of the Water Stock Photo - Image of ...

I had to make a choice, and yes, it was frightening. It took a few months, but it was the best decision I made for myself. Still today, I am in a much better place and in a much better job position. I am challenged, fulfilled, and continue to grow. I am encouraged to do my best and appreciated for all that I do. I work for a phenomenal boss and some pretty phenomenal people.

Sometimes you have to give up something good to gain something better.