What's in a Name?

Louie Barth, a friend of mine who is now at home with Jesus, always ended his prayers with, “In the strong name of Jesus.” Louie firmly believed in the power that accompanies the speaking of the name of our Savior, Jesus.

But do we truly believe in the power of Jesus’ name anymore? Do we actually feel, like my friend Louie, that God’s might is released into a situation when we ask for His intervention in the name of Jesus?

God’s Word says we can!

·       “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
·       “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do...” (John 14:13)
·       “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
·       “Signs and wonders are performed through the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:39)
·       “Everyone who believes in [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” (Acts 10:43)
·       “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

The Gaithers were right when they wrote, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! There’s just something about that name.” It’s not just a tag line at the end of our prayers. It’s a name filled with awesome power.

However, author Candice Lucey cautions us, “The name ‘Jesus’ is not a magic word given to Christians as a means of bringing trivial or ungodly matters to fruition. We do not call on his name in order to entertain or exploit... Christians are instructed to call on Jesus’ name for protection, comfort, and in order to serve others.”

Let’s be faith-filled and speak Jesus’ name into everything we do and say, remembering that when we pray “in Jesus name”, and people and situations are changed, the glory all goes to God, not to us. (Matthew 5:16)

Be encourage!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Love's Pure Light

Candy Cane Lane, Summer Street, Duboistown, PA

I finally found one! For two years I have been looking for a necklace made of miniature Christmas lights that actually light up, and this week, I found one. Now all I need to do is make a pendant that says “Jesus is the Light of the World” and I will be all set!

I wanted one of these necklaces to bring a little cheer—a little light—into people’s lives. This may be the “hap-happiest time of the year” for many, but sometimes we just get too wrapped up in the stresses of it all and we miss the “goodness and light”.

Much of Christmas décor centers around light—lights on the tree, candles in the windows, a bright star on top of the tree, windows framed in blinking strands. Like moths to a street-light, Dick and I love to drive around the neighborhoods glowing with light during this season.

Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world. Whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (John 8:12) There is something about Jesus that attracts us to Him.

He is the light in the darkness of sin and the bright hope in the midst of sorrow.

When we walk close to Jesus, our lives fill with His light. He illuminates the path we are to follow, His Word reveals right from wrong, and His Spirit irradiates our fears.

When we follow Jesus, we become light for the whole world. Everyone faces trials—times of confusion about what to do, uncertainty regarding where to turn, and fear of what lies ahead. It is during these trying seasons that people are drawn to wise and compassionate friends willing to lend Jesus’ light. When life’s storms threaten like thick thunderheads, we can direct them to the “Son of God, Love’s pure Light”, the One who can illuminate their paths and dispel the shadows.

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

A Crèche Full of Role-Models

I have nearly 20 different nativity scenes displayed inside and outside our home this year for Christmas. Other than the Christmas tree, they are the only decorations I like to use during this holiday season because I need the reminder of what all the hoopla is really about. It is so easy for me to get focused on gifts, parties, and food—pausing only for an hour on Christmas Eve to honor the One True Gift. So, I decorate with crèches of all sizes and shapes in honor of the birth of Jesus, and, in the hopes that I will take a few minutes (or seconds) each time I look at them to remember.

We have the manger scene my husband’s parents purchased the year he was born. It used to include all the characters mentioned in association with Jesus birth, but a few of the figurines have gotten broken over the years.

As I mused over the scene spread across our coffee table, I contemplated the figures who were there at the first Christmas and considered their example for us to emulate today.

Throughout the account are angels carrying messages from God. We, too, are charged with announcing the Gospel by word and deed.

Attending Jesus is His mother Mary, who received Jesus with complete openness to God’s will. We are called to do the same—to walk courageously in faith and bring His love to the world through our service.

Alongside Mary is Joseph, who lived out the virtues of humility and obedience. Like him, we should be seeking not the glory of this world, but the praise of Jesus.

The shepherds were privileged to be first to receive the Gospel. Called in the midst of their daily work, they are a model for us to look for Jesus in our daily labor.

Coming later, the magi journeyed with only a mysterious revelation from heaven that they did not fully understand, and a star to guide them.  We are also called to journey toward Heaven along paths that we often do not comprehend, but, like those wise-men, we can trust in God’s guidance.

When we follow the examples of those people at that first Nativity, we welcome Jesus, the Son of God into our lives. The simplest little crèche can remind us of how we can find Jesus and serve God everyday—not just during Christmas.

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

It's Not Just Candy

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, lots of traditional Christmas sweets fill the store shelves. Bob’s Candy Canes are my favorite. I love to stir them into my tea or coffee, crush them over desserts, and, of course, savor their delicious flavor. Yes, there are other brands, but it’s the particular taste and texture of Bob’s that I prefer.

While teaching a teen Sunday School class, I looked into how candy canes came into being. Their development took a few hundred years and a couple of creative people.

Candy canes started out as pacifiers. Before the invention of the modern pacifier, parents gave their babies unflavored white sugar sticks to suck on.

During the 1670's a German choir director wanted to remind children attending the Christmas services of the real reason for Christmas. So, he had sugar sticks bent into the shape of a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who came to visit the baby Jesus. (Luke 2:8-12)

Canes were a necessary tool for shepherds. They were used to keep would-be thieves away, to aid in walking, and as a weapon against wolves or mountain lions.

The shepherd’s cane was also used to guide and rescue sheep. It had a crook at the top so the shepherd could retrieve a sheep that was out of reach. Sounds a lot like what Jesus, the Great Shepherd does for us. John 10:11-15 says Jesus knows us and cares about us, just like a shepherd knows his flock. He protects, guides, rescues, and willingly died to save us.

About 1900, the white candy cane received its traditional red stripes. A candy maker, who also wanted to remind people of the real reason for Christmas, was familiar with Isaiah 53:5, “… by His stripes we are healed.”

Knowing that the Scripture referred to the lashes Jesus received before He was crucified, the candy maker added the stripes to stand for those wounds. He chose the bold, red color to represent Jesus’ blood, which washes away our sins. (1 John 1:5)

We’ve all noticed what happens after we have been licking a candy cane for a while—it turns all white—a visual of that purification we receive when we trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for our forgiveness.

Unfortunately, the meaning of the Candy Cane has been forgotten by most people. However, the true meaning is still there for those who look for it. So, from now on, every time we enjoy a candy cane, let’s remember the messages that the choir master and the candy maker wanted to share, and allow this delicious treat to center our focus on Jesus, the real reason we celebrate.

And we just thought it was good candy :-)

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Thankful for Cheese

“Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

Who doesn’t love cheese? Creamy Provolone, wax-covered Gouda, sharp Cheddar, crumbly Feta—the list goes on and on. It’s hard to imagine strolling through the dairy section of a grocery store and NOT seeing rows and rows of cheeses in a variety of forms—shredded, sliced, chunks, sticks, cans, jars, and plastic wrapped wheels!

Yet empty shelves are what the people of Russia found day after day when the USSR was collapsing. Riddled with major economic disruptions, all cheese disappeared from the grocery shelves.

When I read about the shortage of cheese and many other food stuffs during that period in the USSR, James 4: 13-14 came to mind: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.’ You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” … kind of like cheese in Russia.

Today and its’ gifts are fleeting. Jobs can be eliminated, health can fluctuate, investments can go awry, possessions can be stolen or destroyed—in a blink. The people of Russia never imagined going into a store and being unable to buy something as simple and basic as cheese.

During this season of Thanksgiving, may we be thankful for what we DO have—and, like Hebrews 5 instructs us, be content. Each day has blessings of its’ own—breath, beauty, kindness, service—so many priceless things. Let’s not waste time and thought regretting what we have lost or wishing for what we never had. Instead, let us be thankful for what is eternal—the love and presence of Jesus—whether we are in a season of earthly feast or famine.

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Who Is My Master?

Remember the old TV show, “I Dream of Jeannie”? I recently came across this excerpt from one of the episodes:

Major Nelson: Jeannie's turned against me.

Major Healey: She can't turn against you. You’re her master. She has to obey you.

Major Nelson: Yeah, who says so?

Major Healey: I don't know, maybe it's in the genie manual.

Major Nelson: Then how come she's deliberately disobeyed me?

Major Healey: Maybe she wasn't issued a genie manual.

As only our Heavenly Father can do, God used this little clip to speak to my heart, asking me to consider who or what is my master? 1 Peter 2:16 tells us we are to live as God’s slaves. And, Romans 6:16 admonishes us that if we offer to be someone’s slave, we must obey that master.

Who or what occupies my time, thoughts, attention, and energy? Who or what requires my obedience?

While I really wish I could honestly answer, “It is You, Father God!”, often times it is something far less deserving—my phone, computer, vacuum cleaner, laundry basket, wardrobe, wallet, mirror, appetite, my peeps (as great as they are, they cannot hold the place reserved for God)—the list is endless and personal for each one of us.

A little introspection can show us who or what is our real master. Taking a few moments at the end of the day to review how we spent our time, our money, our attention over the last 24 hours can help reveal our master to us.

And, unlike Jeannie, who lacked an instruction manual on how to treat her master, we have God’s own Word that shares all we need to know about serving our ultimate Master. Joshua 24:14 challenges us to “Choose this day whom you will serve!”

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Gifts of the Day

St. Ignatius Loyola told Jesuits never to omit from their day time to recall with thankfulness every good thing that happened during the day. It is an exercise guaranteed to infuse our hearts with joy.

As I read St. Ignatius’ words on SacredSpace.ie, I felt called to make a list of good things God has blessed me with in the last 24 hours:

My loving, helpful, thoughtful, selfless husband

Watching together a wholesome program called, “The Murdoch Mysteries”

A decaf Mocha Latte from Dunkin Donuts, delivered to where I work

My job—I LOVE my job

Watson snuggling his warm, furry body against me and putting his paws around my neck

The pink of the sky at sunrise

A sip of hot, sweet tea

Dick deciding what’s supper—and making it

A friendly smile and a bit of conversation with clients at work

The strength I heard in my mom’s voice yesterday after a bad fall this past weekend

The love of my sisters for me and our mutual love and caring for our mom

A “just because” phone call from our son

Hearing of our daughter’s wisdom in a tempting situation

Fitting pieces in a challenging jigsaw puzzle

Toasty warm blankets

My list could go on and on and on. During this month when we celebrate Thanksgiving, may we follow the advice of St. Ignatius and carve out that essential time to recall God’s gifts to us each day. Anne Voskamp, in her book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, says, “A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.”

Will you join me in taking the time to recognize all that God gives on a daily basis? May our souls overflow with thanksgiving and may we respond in kind, giving generously to others.

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

No More Excuses!

“I have something I want you to do for me,” God said.

Sarah: “Me? I’m too old!” (Genesis 18:12-13)

Moses: “I’m not qualified.” (Exodus 4:10)

Gideon: “Not me. I’m nobody.” (Judges 6: 15)

Esther: “I am afraid.” (Esther 4:11)

Jeremiah: “I am too young!” (Jeremiah 1:6)

Jonah: “I don’t want to.” (Jonah 1:1)

John: “I’m not good enough.” (Matthew 3:11)

Philip: “I can’t afford to!” (John 6:5-7)

Peter: “I’ve never done that before.” (Acts 10:14)

Do these excuses sound familiar? Each one is the initial response of an individual whom God called to serve. How very much like us these men and women were. And yet, God used them to accomplish His purposes.

How were these reluctant and unqualified servants able to fulfill God’s call? Judges 6 holds three keys to setting aside fears and failures to do what God asks: “Go, in the strength you have…I will be with you.” (vs. 14-16)

Key 1: Take the initial step of faith. God simply said, “Go, Gideon.” “Go, Esther.” “Go, Moses.”

Key 2: Use the strengths you have. God starts with what we have. Look at these examples:

With a handful of flour and a bit of olive oil, the widow of Zarephath prepared food for her, her son and Elijah for many days. (1 Kings 17: 10-16)

Esther had only her beauty to offer, yet through her God delivered his people from their enemies. (Esther 9:22)

The disciples found only one little boy with a small lunch but were able to feed 5,000 men, not counting the women and children. (John 6:11)

Key 3: Remember, God is with us. With God, we can do whatever is asked of us. We can say with the assurance of Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

While what God asks may seem impossible under our own power and strength, Matthew 19:26 tells us “With God all things are possible.” When we say “Yes!” in response to God’s call, we never act alone. God is ever-present.

Sometimes, like us, even the faith giants of old needed reminded of this truth:

God says to Joshua, “I will always be with you; I will never abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5b)

Jesus encourages the disciples, “Be sure of this: I am with you always." (Matt. 28:20)

God assures Paul, "Do not be afraid and do not give up for I am with you.” (Acts 18:9-10)

God calls ordinary people like us—people aware of their weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures—to do the extraordinary through His power at work in us. There is no excuse we can come up with that God hasn’t already heard. So, when God calls, may we be like Mary and say, “Yes, Lord. I am Your servant. May it happen as You have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Brighter Visions

“Brighter Visions Counseling. This is Pam. How can I help?”

I started a new job a few weeks ago—administrative assistant at a counseling office. I love it! Everyday I am learning new things and meeting new people. And God is opening my eyes to the truly vital work that these caring counselors offer.

In each place that Dick and I have moved over the last 45 years, God has given me different opportunities. I have been a church secretary, a substitute teacher, a teacher’s aide, a grocery store clerk, manager of a nursing home gift shop, sign language instructor, high school janitor, cashier in an educational dairy/mercantile/greenhouse, foster parent, and ESL aide.

No matter where God has called me, He has also provided me with openings to minister to others in some way. Often it is just a listening ear, a smile of encouragement, a phone call to the right agency, an offer of prayer, an especially apropos Scripture, or a word of empathy. Sometimes it is connecting individuals who can be mutually helpful to one another.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work willingly, from the soul, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” We can work for Jesus in any and every job.

At one point in our ministry, Dick had to take a second job to make ends meet. He worked at Weis Markets stocking shelves and a variety of other assignments. One morning he was handed a broom and asked to sweep the parking lot. There were cigarette butts everywhere. At first, he labored begrudgingly, mumbling to himself about the dirty habits of some people. But as he swept, God was at work in his heart. What if these were the streets of gold mentioned in the Bible and it was God’s parking lot, not Weis Markets’? He would be thankful to serve God in that capacity! Dick’s attitude was changed immediately and he approached his task with much more enthusiasm.

I am very thankful for the perfect niche God has given me at Brighter Visions. I love seeing lives changed for the better and people truly experiencing brighter visions for their futures. I look forward to serving Jesus in this particular place.

What opportunity is God providing for you to minister for Him, right where you are, whatever you are doing?

Be encouraged!

Pam 

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Precious Jewels

As Granny Warnick lovingly rubbed her hand over the lacquered top of the old jewelry box, she said, “Your Uncle Sonny sent me this from Okinawa a long time ago.” She and I sat on her bed, looking through her jewelry. It was one of our favorite pastimes. I would look at a piece while she told me a bit of a story behind it. The precious time spent together gave these inexpensive trinkets great value.

One day, a slim, gold band caught my attention. I wondered who it belonged to. Picking it up, I noted that there were no initials inside—only the 14K gold stamp. It appeared to be my size. I slipped it on my finger and asked, “Granny, is this yours?”

“Yes, it is,” she answered. “That was my wedding band.” Several beats of silence passed as she processed the memories associated with it. “Would you like to have it?”

Granny’s generosity would have extended to the shirt off her back. So, I wasn’t surprised when she offered me the ring. Among the baubles and beads, she gave me the one thing that was truly valuable. Looking into her paling blue eyes, I nodded. “Thank you, Granny. I love it.” I reached over and hugged her. “Good! I’m glad it fits,” Granny said, moving on to the next box.

Granny rarely talked about her marriage; this time was no exception. From tidbits my mom and aunt shared, I learned that Granny married at age 15 and soon bore four children. Her husband, a college graduate, couldn’t make a living as a teacher so he went to work at the one of the local brick yards. Tragically, he died of lung disease caused by breathing the silica dust, leaving my 27-year-old grandmother with four little children.

Grief and responsibility overwhelmed Granny. To escape, she spent many hours at Meloni’s Bar. I distinctly remember going there for supper on my 12th birthday. Several years later, when I started dating, I took Dick to Meloni’s to visit with Granny. Seated at the bar wearing white knee-high go-go boots, a mini-skirt, and thick, cat’s-eye glasses, she was smoking a cigarette and sipping a bottle of Rolling Rock beer.

One day while Granny was working in her flower beds, a local minister walked by and stopped to admire Granny’s beautiful plants. After a bit of small talk, the pastor asked Granny about her relationship with God. He explained God’s love and forgiveness, and with that conversation, God granted my 60-something grandmother a brand-new start in life!

The change was dramatic. That same week she stopped drinking and smoking. From then on, Granny carried a heart-felt burden for others to experience God’s grace, just as she had, and generously shared with family and friends the spiritual truths she was learning.

She and I continued our “jewelry” explorations, only now Granny often spoke of what Jesus was up to in her own and others’ lives. Today, slipping Granny’s ring on my finger magically transports me to her bedroom and those precious hours spent sifting through her jewelry, and gleaning gems of godly wisdom.

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams

writepam71@gmail.com

By the Light of the Moon

“Wow! Look at the moon!” Dick said, “It is really big!” The giant orb hovering above the horizon shone brightly, even as dusk was just beginning.

Much later that night I looked out again. The moon bathed the entire neighborhood in light, vivid enough to walk around without stumbling or fear!

The moon shines because its surface reflects light from the sun. And despite the fact that it sometimes seems to shine very brightly, the moon reflects only between 3 and 12 percent of the sunlight that hits it.

Jesus told us that we are light for the world. By walking close to Jesus, our lives fill with His light. In turn, like the moon reflecting the sun, we can redirect the light of God’s Son onto others.

Jesus shines His light in the dark times of our own lives, giving us hope, comforting us in our pain, drawing us to Himself, and scattering our fears. When we share the Source of our optimism, our healing, our confidence, and our peace, we reflect His light to others—family members, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances—drawing them to Jesus, too.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had been in the presence of the Lord. (Exodus 34:29) By spending time with Jesus—in prayer, in studying God’s Word, and in spending time with other Christians—we absorb Jesus’ light. Though we may be unaware of it, others can see that Light reflecting off of us. They may ask things like, “How can you be so upbeat when you are facing cancer treatment?” “How do you keep from worrying when your son is stationed in a war zone?” “How do you find the strength to go on when you’ve lost your husband?”

Just as Dick and I take notice when the moon is full and bright, the world is watching us as Christians. Are we staying close enough to Jesus to reflect His light to others, no matter what darkness we (or they) may be walking through?

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Is My Faith Too Tiny?

In my daily Bible reading I came across a verse I have read and heard so often it usually goes in one ear and out the other. But not this time.

Matthew 17:20 jumped off the page and lodged in my mind, refusing to go away. As the thought penetrated my consciousness, I realized these words hold great power.

Perhaps it is because of a few recent conversations with friends about faith doubts. If we are truly honest with ourselves and others, we will admit that at times we wonder, “Is this faith thing all for real?” “Does God really hear and care and act?” “Does God even exist?” “Am I deluding myself?”

 I know these questions have fleeted through my thoughts from time to time. I have been too frightened to actually entertain them, but they still hover there in the back of my mind on occasion.

I ask myself, is my faith too weak to call myself a Christian? Is my faith too small for God to recognize? Is my faith too underdeveloped to hope for answered prayer?

Matthew 17:20 says otherwise! “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed. . .”

A mustard seed is about .039 of an inch. To be more precise, it is about the size of the head of a straight pin—the kind used by seamstresses to pin a pattern to fabric. That is very small. And, yet, from that tiny seed, a bush can grow that reaches 20 feet! And it only takes one such seed to produce that tall bush!

Likewise, even in the midst of my uncertainties, God always reminds me of some small faith fact that I can’t deny—His reflection in the face of a pansy, the arms of my husband, or the encouraging words of a friend. And from that tiny kernel of conviction grows faith that can face doubts, challenges, and tests.

Do I have faith the size of a mustard seed? Yes, I do! My faith may not resemble the sea coconut-sized (12 inches) faith of Billy Graham, but even at its tiniest there is that still, small voice of God that whispers, “I am here!”

 

And Jesus says, that is enough.

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Hens and Chicks

For about a year, I worked in the greenhouses at The Lands at Hillside Farms. While I loved all the colorful flowers, my favorite plants were the Hens and Chicks that grew on the wall just outside the back door of the main greenhouse.

Hen and Chicks are also known as Sempervivum, from the Latin semper, meaning ever or always, and vivum meaning living. No matter what season it is, these plants thrive!

Hens and Chicks are a group of small succulents, a term that indicates a plant that can store water in its fleshy parts and therefore don’t require much watering. What I like most is their hardy determination to grow just about anywhere, whether conditions seemed conducive to growth or not—like on the rock wall at Hillside or in the cement blocks lining my patio!

Hens and Chicks propagate very easily. They put out shoots (Chicks) that can be removed and planted elsewhere to enlarge the area that they cover. These Hens will grow and produce Chicks of their own, creating a nice ground cover that can survive sustained temperatures well below freezing.

It seems to me that, as Christians, we should emulate Hens and Chicks. Like the succulent’s ability to retain life-giving water, we should store up God’s life-giving Word, taking His teaching to heart (Deuteronomy 11:18) and soaking up His love. (1 John 4:16) In turn, wherever we are, like the Hens creating new Chicks, we can reach out to others and invite them to become new followers of Jesus, (Matthew 28:19) spreading the Good News of God’s saving grace further and further into the world.

I pray that you and I can be as hardy and tenacious as these little plants in living for Jesus, no matter in what situation we may find ourselves.

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams

writepam71@gmail.com

Filtering Our Friendships

“No man is an island. . .” John Donne

Were you taught this old adage? It’s true; no one is completely self-sufficient. Everyone must rely on the company and comfort of others in order to thrive. Friendships are important. Friends fill a need in our lives to belong. They provide a sounding board for questions. They offer us a shoulder to cry on and a partner when we want to do the happy dance.

Parents constantly warn their children and teens about hanging out with others who are a bad influence. But that warning applies to us as adults, too. The opinions, convictions, and ideas of our close, intimate friends affect our own sentiments, values and thoughts. Our BFFs rub off on us—for good or for evil—no matter what age we are.

While God has blessed me with wonderful friends everywhere that we have lived, there have been times when I have had to walk away from friendships that affected me negatively—a roommate who did not share my moral convictions, a lady who constantly disparaged her husband, two women with contagious critical attitudes. We’ve all experienced the difficult but necessary decision to end an unhealthy relationship.

God’s Word has a LOT to say about friends—those with whom we choose to walk around this island in the universe. I found these 12 particularly intriguing:

Psalm 1:1 Don’t join in with those who have no use for God.

Proverbs 1:10-18 Stay away from bad influences.

Proverbs 12:26 A righteous person is a guide for their friends.

Proverbs 13:20 Stay close to those who are wise; avoid those who are foolish.

Proverbs 17:17 True friends love us at all times.

Proverbs 22:24-25 Don’t make friends with hot-tempered people.

Proverbs 34:1-2 Don’t make friends with evil people.

Proverbs 27:17 People learn from one another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other.

Romans 16:17-18 Watch out for those who go against the teaching you have received.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 Avoid immoral Christians.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Bad companions ruin good character.

So, whether we are 9 or 90, we do well to heed God’s caution to carefully filter our friendships.

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Parenting

Whether it’s the terrible twos or the terrifying teens, parenting is difficult at best. Dick and I have two children and fostered 18 others. Even at 66, being good parents (and now grandparents) is still vitally important to us. Even after our children have married and become parents themselves, we continue to seek out good advice for parenting (and grandparenting). So, while preparing for a church Bible study, the following verses jumped out at me.

“We were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children. Because of our love for you, we were ready to share with you not only the Good News from God but even our own lives. . . You know that we treated each one of you just as a father treats his own children. We encouraged you, we comforted you, and we kept urging you to live the kind of life that pleases God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12)

God points out that good parents are gentle, ready to share the Gospel, and willing to share their lives. Godly mothers and fathers encourage, comfort, and urge their children to live a life that pleases God.

Like many of you, we wish our children had come with an instruction manual tied to their ankle. Alas, even in this advanced technological age, there is no microchip we can access to give us the scoop on parenting a particular child.

However, in addition to my recent find in 1 Thessalonians 2, over the years Dick and I have discovered some other Biblically-based guidelines that worked for us:

1. Pray, pray, pray! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
2. Be an example. (Titus 2:6-8)
3. Be consistent. (Galatians 6:9)
4. Love your children. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
5. Listen more than you talk. (James 1:19)
6. Laugh often. (Proverbs 17:22)
7. Teach your children. (Proverbs 22:6)
8. Share faith and salvation with your child. (Ephesians 6:4b)
9. Admit when you are wrong. (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. Do not purposely provoke your child. (Ephesians 6:4a)
11. Spend time with your child. (Proverbs 29:15)
12. Discipline your child. (Hebrews 12:11)

 How these verses can be applied varies with the age of our children, but their basic truths still stand. Throughout every stage of parenting, (for we never really stop being a parent), we need God’s guidance and wisdom. Have you searched God’s Word for parenting advice? What Scriptures have you found that have helped you on this journey?

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Johnny Jump Ups

Everywhere spring flowers are popping up! One of my favorites are Johnny Jump Ups (AKA violas), miniature Pansy-faced flowers of deep violet, mauve, yellow and white. They can be found as lone survivors poking up through a crack in the sidewalk, sprouting in the middle of a grassy yard, or huddled in the middle of a scrubby field.

At times we may feel like those displaced Johnny Jump Ups--squeezed in where we don’t seem to belong. Perhaps we are the lone Christian in our workplace or family, the only person who mentions God’s Word on a controversial Facebook post, or the one whose ideas reach “outside the box” during church committee brainstorms.

God knows we face these situations. In fact, He often places us in them! He blesses us to make us a blessing. God gave the people of Israel His message that they might, by their life and testimony, let the Gentile nations know about the true and living God. It was a hostile, idol-ridden environment. But God wanted them to show the other nations what He could do for those who would trust and obey Him.

God offers us the same opportunities! He wants people to come to know Him! But, as He asks in Romans 10:14, how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? Though we might feel like a lonely Johnny Jump Up, God encourages us to live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to us. (1 Corinthians 7:17)

Wherever God plants us, He goes with us (Matthew 28:20), helping us to shine the Son-light of Jesus, reveal the invasive weeds of the world, and point out what God has done, is doing, and can do. Let’s bloom where we are planted.

Be encouraged!

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Lonely Places

I Thessalonians 5:18 says we are to pray at all times. That means while we drive, during church, at a ballgame, in the school cafeteria, among family or friends—whenever and wherever we are, we can, and should, be praying.

But sometimes, with all the hustle and bustle and crowds and shouts and conversations, it can be hard to feel connected with the Lord. People and duties and circumstances constantly vie for our attention.

Despite His intimate relationship with Father God, Jesus felt the need to get away from it all—all the people, all the distractions, all the clamoring. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus would go away to lonely places where He prayed.”

Jesus knew that we need that lonely time, too. Jesus told His followers, “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.” (Matthew 6:6)

Are we intentionally spending time in “a lonely place” so we can connect with our Heavenly Father? Or are we limping along, sustained only by fleeting prayers flung heavenward while we ferry the kids here and there, vacuum the house, consult with co-workers, and murmur along with others in church, reading unison prayers pre-written by someone else?

While all of those opportunities for prayer are good and necessary, it seems obvious that if Jesus Himself needed alone-time with God, we most certainly do, too. Billy Graham said, "[Jesus] prayed briefly when He was in a crowd; He prayed a little longer when He was with His disciples; and He prayed all night when He was alone. When we are alone with God, we are able to be more vulnerable with Him. We can give him our concerns without fear of others judging us.”

What will our alone-time with our Heavenly Father look like? Where is your or my “lonely place”?

For my friend Debi, it is in her bathroom with the door locked and the fan running. For John Wesley it was 4:00 AM. One friend’s lonely place of prayer is walking in a farm field; another looks forward to those moments after everyone else has gone to bed.

Where is your lonely place—the sanctuary where you and Father God can talk? Haven’t found it yet? I encourage you to make the time, find the place, and open yourself to God in complete honesty. Those precious moments are life-changing!

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

Facing the Giants

Worry, fear, and anxiety, common words in many conversations today, can loom like giants bent on destroying our peace and rest. Survival relies on our natural ability to feel anxious about genuinely dangerous situations and to be on guard. It is when this life-saving mechanism is triggered at inappropriate times or gets stuck in the "on" position that it becomes a problem.

The members of my family aren’t the only ones who struggle with fear and anxiety. Even in the Bible people expressed anxiety—Sarah, Jacob, David, Jehoshaphat, Martha—the Bible says each one of them worried and fretted. And the problem still goes on today. Just glimpse the titles of recent meditations from popular Christian websites:

Planning Funerals That Won’t Happen                           Lord, Help My Anxious Heart

The Hollow Frame of Worry                                               Fearless Parenting

The Bible mentions some form of the words “worry” and “anxiety” nearly 100 times;” fear” over 200 times! Today, as in Bible times, even God’s people sometimes allow worry to overcome trust, fear to overcome love, and anxiety to overcome obedience.

With so many of us admitting to battles with these challenges, how do we deal with it? Most often the best remedy is faith-filled prayer—sharing our worries with God and completely putting our trust in Him.

I am not saying it is easy. Even standing right in front of Jesus, Martha wrung her hands, overwhelmed by her circumstances. But trust truly can overcome spiraling worry, love can overcome irrational fear, and obedience can overcome paralyzing anxiety.

Another source of reassurance is snuggling in with God’s Word. The 32 verses found in the poster compiled by Casey Adams, author of “One Well Momma”, are excellent places to turn to when we are facing the giants that want to destroy our peace.

And for me, the third source of sanity in the midst of fear is talking with my best friend, who just happens to be my husband Dick. He can bring me down from the heights of anxiety with a listening ear, a quiet word, a recommendation for a simple, defining action. Your go-to person may be a family member or friend.

May today be an anxiety-free day for you, a day filled with peace.

Be encouraged!

Pam

P.S. I am not talking about those suffering with chronic anxiety (around 40 million adults in the U.S). This very real, very debilitating disorder often requires medication and counseling.

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

A Kitten in the Hedge

“What’s moving out there under the hedge?” I asked my husband.

Dick walked to the window. “It looks like . . .Why, it’s a mother cat and a kitten!”

We headed outside. Before we left our porch, the momma cat scurried into the bushes. The kitten, however, stood her ground.

Squatting down, Dick tried to pet the kitten, but it arched its back, fluffed up its fur, and hissed profusely before darting away after its mother. I sighed with disappointment, knowing feral cats live short, difficult lives.

Oddly, that kitten reminded me of my dad. Whenever I even casually tried to talk with him about faith in Jesus as his Savior, he invariably got defensive. Bristling, he remarked, “I’m not so bad. I never killed anybody. I never cheated on your mother!”

Then he would hurry away, mumbling about needing a nap or a shower or to go get gas in his truck. Sad and concerned, I would sigh and let him go. Thankfully, near the end of Daddy’s life, he did place his trust in Jesus.

Like the kitten’s reaction when Dick tried to befriend it, when we share Christ, we won’t always receive a warm welcome. How the person responds is up to them, not to us. God merely asks us to go and teach them about Him, sharing the Good News of forgiveness through Jesus. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Although we can’t force faith on our loved ones or friends, we can reach out—and let God capture their hearts. We are simply to obey Philippians 2:15-16, “Shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.”

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com

What Bugs Me!

I hate insects. Gnats can actually ruin a picnic! Aside from their itchy bites, gnats lodge themselves in your eyes and persist in buzzing around your head when you are trying to play badminton.

Mosquitoes hide out in bushes and grasses just waiting for unsuspecting victims to stand still for five seconds. Stinging yellow jackets hole up in the ground where bare feet trod, unaware. And woe to those who drive at night—swarms of gutsy bugs commit hari-kari on car windows and headlights.

And don’t even get me started on fleas or lice!

I can see why God chose insects—gnats, flies and locusts, as plagues upon the Egyptians when they refused to free the Israelites from enslavement. He wanted them to change their minds and was willing to allow them to suffer these hordes of bugs to try and convince them to change. (Exodus 8 and 10) That would certainly wear me down.

At times, circumstances in our lives can seem like a cloud of annoying, biting, stinging insects—an exasperating co-worker who isn’t going away any time soon, a chronic health issue that must be accepted, a child who is pushing every last one of our buttons, a series of minor financial set-backs (a frig on the fritz, car repairs, a tooth that needs pulled) that won’t let us get ahead of our debt, etc., etc.

Is it even possible for something good to come of those things that bug us? Could God be using them to reveal attitudes or actions that need adjusted, like the Pharoah’s? Or character traits that could use some bolstering? Or, dare I say it, sins that require repentance?

Even bugs have their usefulness—bees pollinate, gnats transport nutrients between plants, mosquitoes provide food for bats and birds. So, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that God allows those situations that bug us in order to mold and make us into better Christians.

Perhaps that annoying co-worker could actually help us cultivate patience. And those pesky financial set-backs might teach us how to be a better steward of all God has given us.

If God can find a use for fleas, wouldn't you agree that He can use even our most frustrating annoyances to bring about His purpose?

Be encouraged!

Pam

©2019 Pamela D. Williams
writepam71@gmail.com