When I think about the Lord and all He’s done for me, I am overwhelmed by His mercy, goodness, love and grace!
I love basking in His presence!
Tag Archives: encouragement
Overwhelmed
June 23, 2018 · 8:24 AM
Stay the Course
Help!
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
I don’t understand …
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
I don’t think I can anymore …
“All things are possible to them that believe.”
What’s the point?
“I will make a way when there seems to be no way.”
I can’t!
“You can do all things through Christ.”
I’m tired!
“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.”
I feel so alone!
“I will never leave you or forsake you.”
I am weak!
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might”
I am so scared!
“Fear not, for I am with you.”
I feel so inadequate …
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Useless!
“Those who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits.”
Too much pain!
“I heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.”
Darkness!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness.”
My situation is hopeless!
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”
I can’t see my way out!
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Why?
“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
It’s too hard!
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.”
No one cares …
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Or listens …
“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”
I am invisible.
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.”
It hurts too much!
“I will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.”
I feel like I’m dying!
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I. Can’t. Go. On.
“My grace is all you need, for My power is greatest when you are weak.”
What is the meaning of life?
“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Doesn’t anyone care?
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
My plans, hopes, desires, and dreams have failed!
“My ways are higher than your ways.”
I don’t know …
“Come unto Me and I will show you things you know not of.”
I want to finish well …
“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Filed under Blessed Hope, encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, Prayer
In the Stillness …
How many times have you encountered a situation head-on, full force, and with vengeance? It either caught you by surprise or you anticipated and dreaded the inevitable. Either way, bound and determined, knowing you had no choice but to tackle that thing, you plodded through.
But then the busyness of life got in the way. You’re tired, wearied up to your eyeballs – just one more thing will send you over the top! Ever been there? Yeah, me too. More than I care to admit. What gets you to the next day? The next project? The next idea?
Is it gumption? Aspirations? A positive outlook? Prayer? Encouragement from friends and family?
And have you ever felt like you have nothing left to give to anyone else, let alone tackle one more thing? It boils down to you running on empty. Do you need a refill, a power surge, fuel, or zing? When you’ve given yourself to others and you feel spent, it’s time to step back and be refreshed. Take a sabbatical.
There are times when I need time for myself. I may need to soak in a warm tub, get a Swedish massage, sit by the ocean, or relax in one of those infrared saunas. Yeah, buddy!
You know, as a Christian, being still and quiet before the Lord isn’t always easy for me. My thoughts run in circles with daily tasks that need to be done. But I find that when I go before Him and stay awhile, I come out feeling refreshed, refueled, and re-fired.
What are some of your ways to re-group and face another day or challenge?
Filed under Inspiration, Personal, Resiliency
Morning Will Come
Brokenhearted . . .
How can I bear the pain?
So many plans . . . permanently interrupted.
So many dreams . . . shattered.
Hopes . . . dashed.
All gone.
Why?
Why this?
Why us? Why me?
Helplessness . . . hopelessness . . .
Life will never be the same again.
Is it even worth living?
Where are you, God?
I’m right here beside you, my child.
Even though you may not feel my presence,
I’m holding you close under the shadow of my wings.
I will walk with you through this dark night.
Do not shrink from weeping.
I gave you tears for emotional release.
Don’t try to hide your grief.
Let it become for you a source of healing,
A process of restoration,
For I have planned it so.
Those who mourn shall be blessed.
I’ll be holding on to you,
Even when you feel you can’t hold on to me.
Seek my face, child of mine.
Receive my promise, impossible as it may seem now,
That joy will come in the morning.
It may take time,
But I will heal your broken heart.
I know the night seems endless,
but MORNING WILL COME.
I have promised.
–From the Haven of Rest Newsletter
Note: I came across this poem and wanted to share it with my readers. So many times we can’t see the light because of so much darkness, despair, grief, and pain. We wonder how long? How much more? When will it end? God, are you really there? Friends, please know that as long as you have a pulse, there is a purpose. As long as you have breath, there is hope. And as long as you’re in your right mind, there are possibilities. Under the shadow of His wings, stay the course. Full speed ahead!
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Filed under Encouraged Comfort, Hope For the Hopeless
Thy Will Be Done
I know you hear me
I know you see me, Lord …
I’m so confused
I know I heard you loud and clear
So, I followed through
Somehow I ended up here
I don’t wanna think
I may never understand
That my broken heart is a part of your plan
When I try to pray
All I’ve got is hurt and these four words
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
I know you’re good
But this don’t feel good right now
And I know you think
Of things I could never think about
It’s hard to count it all joy
Distracted by the noise
Just trying to make sense
Of all your promises
Sometimes I gotta stop
Remember that you’re God
And I am not
So
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will
I know you see me
I know you hear me, Lord
Your plans are for me
Goodness you have in store
I know you hear me
I know you see me, Lord
Your plans are for me
Good news you have in store
So, thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
I know you see me
I know you hear me, Lord
Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass, that before they call,
I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
September 15, 2016 · 9:05 PM
Glamorous? Not so Much: My Life as an Author
I published my memoirs just last year. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people along the way who’ve become fans of my work. I was thrilled when they asked for my autograph and wanted their pictures taken with me. I love feedback. I am touched when a reader shares how my story has inspired them. I feel honored and validated. Sure, it feeds my ego; it blows me away. And when I’m asked to attend a speaking engagement, a book club, or a ladies’ conference, it’s a humbling experience and never ceases to amaze me. But if I’m honest, stress also comes with the territory. I may sometimes be a nervous wreck and even lose my train of thought. I confess I don’t know what you see in me; I certainly haven’t forgotten from whence I’ve come from. I still notice my flaws. Don’t laugh, but I don’t even like watching myself on video, let alone listening to myself via audio.
This is all still a learning curve for me. You see: there’s a vast difference between writing and public speaking. In writing, I can structure sentences and reword phrases and paragraphs without interruptions to my heart’s content with pen and paper, or on the keyboard. I would venture to say that I am not the only wordsmith who feels this way. There are many other writers and authors out there just like me. We are not all best-selling authors. The truth is that an author’s life is not all glamorous. Neither will there be warm and fuzzy feelings in reading a not-so-good book review about your work (ask any author about that). We are mostly normal individuals–some more successful and polished than others–but none of us is perfect. We all go home and try to maintain a decent life in every way possible.
My life isn’t always about sitting pretty on top of the world, riding high horses. My husband is a general contractor with rough hands because he prefers doing most projects himself. This line of work is abased and abound. Although his knees and back suffer the consequences and take on a beating, he takes pride in his craft. He is meticulous and thoroughly enjoys the work. Our eldest daughter is his faithful assistant. When not out on the field with him, she assists me with my writing projects and promotes my book. She is quite savvy in the social media department and is my traveling companion to monthly book signings. I appreciate her. She is the lady behind the camera who makes me look good.
I hold a full-time, 45-hour-a-week sales job answering calls all day. My mind sometimes wanders, wishing I were writing or vacationing, but alas, reality hits me in the rear and I have work to do! Believe it or not, my family and I also provide 24-hour care to a precious 105-year-old saint of God. In caring for her, we definitely don’t want to cause her any additional discomfort or needless pain. But as we tend to her personal needs, such as lifting, bathing, and changing an adult, much more fragile than before, it’s neither easy nor always pleasant. Some years ago, we made a pact. We promised Elizabeth we’d care for her to the best of our abilities until the end. Not everyone can do this. I believe God gives us the grace to do so. I’ve written about Elizabeth before. She teaches me about life. She is God’s gift to us, but she swears it’s the other way around.
So what am I saying? An author’s life is not necessarily glamorous. What is it, then, you ask? I will tell you that since becoming a published author, I have found it quite rewarding and fulfilling.
While sharing my story, time after time, I’ve noticed that many are brought to tears. And then as I listen to their heart, my own tears flow. Is it planned? No. It just happens. Tears bring a sweet release and cleanse the soul. Oh, it’s easy to laugh with others (and I do love to laugh). But when was the last time you wept with someone? When was the last time you’ve impacted someone and knew you’ve made a difference in his or her life? I have also shed tears of joy. Then my makeup runs, leading me to freshen up before my daughter happily snaps away with her camera.
Yes, my life may not be as glamorous as you would think, but my life has been enriched.
This is my joy. This is my passion.
I remain grateful for all who have been part of my journey.
© M.A. Pérez 2016, All Rights Reserved
Filed under Author, Book Running in Heels, Memoir, Thankfulness, writing, Writing Journey
My Story
One of my cousins from across the miles posed a couple of great questions, giving me food for thought. He asked:
Why do you write? And why do you write about the family?
My answer to him:
First of all, I write because I know I have a story to tell. As a kid, eventually, I discovered we were dirt poor. In my teens, looking back, I realized that I was neglected and forced to grow up too fast. I was ashamed of my childhood and bitter for being my mama’s mother. As I “matured,” settled down, married, and had children of my own, along the way, I found I was a stronger person because of some of the things that I endured as a child. Once I embraced the God of my grandparents, I became a much better person, too. NOT that I had it all together; I still had a few things to learn. But I learned it was much better to let go of the bitterness and forgive than to hold onto the junk. I also learned that I didn’t have to be a product of my environment! I could rise above the ashes like a phoenix and become so much better. That was my freedom — still is — and God has called us to liberty, not to be in prison. Sure, I made some mistakes along the way, but I also learned from them. It starts with a made-up mind! While I’ve managed to confront my past, I believe my past hasn’t spoiled me, but has prepared me for the future. I may not be perfect, but I can wipe the crud off and walk on whenever I stumble. I share my story that I might help one person, and if I have done that, then I have done a good thing, and God gets the glory.
I mention family because the little girl growing up — although she may have felt like she was all alone most times — was not an orphan and did not live on an island unto herself. There were others around who helped to nurture her in one fashion or another, even the antagonists in her story. And yes, some were heroes. She cannot tell her story without mentioning those she looked up to. For it to be truthful, she had to address some honest and raw emotions and mention the flaws — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The story is not fiction. It is written about how she remembers the events that shaped her life as a child, a teenager, and into adulthood. All the memories do not take her to a happy place. She has had to dig deep to find them. To some, those “happy” places may be simple and insignificant, but to her, they were her lifeline.
His response:
I am keeping this to remind me what it takes to be selfless.
Thanks
CD
I did not expect THAT answer 🙂
© M.A. Perez 2014, All Rights Reserved
Filed under Inspirational, Memoir, Running in Heels
So Long for Now …
“Fred, Eric, Sarah, and Michael – to all of Susan’s extended family and beloved friends: My family and I extend our sincere condolences.”
Susan’s family
“My heart is heavy today. Susie was my friend. She reached out to me when I was going through some personal pain in my life. She welcomed me and my family into her heart and home over 30 years ago. Our daughters are the same age and have become close friends. Her youngest son and my son, a year apart, became diaper buddies. Our husbands (during my first marriage) even grew close!”
“I’d watch Susie. She had such an upbeat personality, and her words were always so encouraging. Even when I didn’t feel so ‘upbeat’ and ‘positive’, I couldn’t remain feeling down for too long around her. She had a way of hugging you while she patted you on the back … hard! Being around Susie, I learned how to communicate with my small children. I learned how to laugh with them. Susie just had a way with children – she genuinely liked them! I don’t think she ever met a stranger; conversation simply flowed out of her mouth, and she truly cared for the one she was speaking to.”
“Susie had child-like faith, always believing that her Heavenly Father was ready to grant her simple requests. Whether it was a petition for the salvation of loved ones or to save her nation, whether she sought a miracle for a deformed child or for her own healing, she knew that there was nothing too hard for God to handle, and never wavered in standing on His promises. She was a true worshiper. She loved to dance before the Lord and become lost in His presence. I don’t doubt she is up there now, dancing with our Savior!”
“Susie believed in hope. Hope against hope. Hope for a better day. Hope that God had something better. Hope that tomorrow will come. She trusted, loved, prayed, believed, laughed, encouraged, interceded, danced, worshiped, sang, rejoiced, wept, and praised! She convinced me that I could make it, that everything would be okay, that I was destined for greatness, and that with God ALL things were possible to them that believed.”
“I enjoyed being around her, but towards the end, I am ashamed to admit that I grew uncomfortable. We sometimes cower at the things we do not understand. We cringe at anything that may appear bleak before our eyes, and before we know it, our resolve weakens, our faith wavers, and our hope diminishes. Yet, our God is constant. Aren’t you glad His love’s unwavering, His tender mercies unfailing, His grace enduring? He doesn’t give up on any of us! He says in His Word, His grace is sufficient for us – His strength is made perfect in weaknesses.”
“Susie, thank you for the memories. You will be sorely missed. I rejoice knowing that your pain and suffering have come to an end. When you took your last breath here on earth, your next breath became your first one in heaven. You get to experience Christmas every day now, while we plod along doing all we know to do just to make it through another day.”
“And we who are left behind, may we not grow weary as we continue on this journey. May those of us who know Christ remember that this is not our permanent home. Through every tragedy, every trial, and every triumph, remind us, Lord, that You, oh God, have something greater in store for us. Although there are times we may not understand Your ways, God, may we remember that we can trust Your heart, for You know what’s best for Your children.”
“They say that I was a great friend to Susie, but it was she who was a great friend to me.”
Doing what she enjoyed doing best.
I’ll always remember my friend, Susie Bubeck, and forever treasure our friendship of the many years we shared together! One day we will all reunite, but today we sadly said goodbye to her.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” II Tim. 4:7
© M.A. Pérez 2015, All Rights Reserved
December 23, 2015 · 7:48 PM
Garment of Praise
Photo Source: unknown
What exactly is “praise”?
There are many definitions of praise – I will focus on one.
Definition of Praise: The offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship: a hymn of praise to God.
When I was new in my walk with the Lord, I commonly heard the term “sacrificial praise.” I was like: Who feels like giving praise when you’re going through hardships and struggles?
However, I have learned that doing just this very thing can unlock a significant amount of the weight and heaviness of one’s heart. This was a massive breakthrough for me, and I imagine it can be for you as well.
We don’t praise God for the trials; we praise Him because He is faithful to see us through them. How? That’s His business! Our business is to trust and rely on Him.
You’ll begin to focus more clearly, see more distinctly, and think more sharply.
So praise God during your struggles.
Praise Him with your tears.
Praise Him in the night seasons.
Praise Him through your fears.
Praise Him in the midst of confusion.
Praise Him in your mess.
Praise Him with all your questions.
Praise Him on your quest.
If on a mountain peak,
Or down in the dump;
Even if things look bleak,
or stuck in a slump.
Your load will soon feel lighter.
Your heart slightly fuller.
Your mind a little sharper.
Your steps a tad bit quicker.
Then you’ll praise Him that the fog has lifted,
Praise Him, the pain has eased,
Praise Him for the circumstances shifted,
Praise Him that the gloom has ceased.
Lift your hands in surrender to Him. For the spirit of heaviness, put on that Garment of Praise!
If you don’t know my pain, you’ll never understand my praise.
Filed under Devotion, encouragement
Morning Will Come
Brokenhearted…….
How can I bear the pain?
So many plans…permanently interrupted.
So many dreams….shattered.
Hopes…….dashed
All gone.
Why? Why this? Why us? Why me?
Helplessness…..hopelessness…
Life will never be the same again.
Is it even worth living?
Where are you, God?
I’m right here beside you, my child.
Even though you may not feel my presence,
I’m holding you close under the shadow of my wings.
I will walk with you through this dark night.
Do not shrink from weeping.
I gave you tears for emotional release.
Don’t try to hide your grief.
Let it become for you a source of healing,
A process of restoration,
For I have planned it so.
Those who mourn shall be blessed.
I’ll be holding on to you,
Even when you feel you can’t hold on to me.
Seek my face, child of mine.
Receive my promise, impossible as it may seem now,
That joy will come in the morning.
It may take time,
But I will heal your broken heart.
I know the night seems endless,
But MORNING WILL COME
I have promised.
—-From The Haven of Rest Newsletter
Note: I came across this poem and wanted to share it with my readers. Many times, we can’t see the light because of the overwhelming darkness, despair, grief, and pain. We wonder how long? How much more? When will it end? God, are you really there? Friends, please know that as long as you have a pulse, there is a purpose. As long as you have breath, there is hope. And as long as you’re in your right mind, there are possibilities. Under the shadow of His wings, stay the course. Full speed ahead!
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Filed under Encouraged Comfort, Hope For the Hopeless
From Heart to Heritage
Reflections From the Heart 