Tag: hopeforthesoul

Christmas

Beat Christmas Stress Before December

The Kedge Anchor

Peace at Christmas can be hard to find in December. The cleaning, baking, wrapping presents, hosting parties, can make the season bright but not so merry after a while. It’s built, week by week, long before the tree goes up.

My last post I covered how to save for Christmas. Weekly, consistently, slow and steady wins the race. When I put $25.00 aside each week after 52 weeks that’s $1300. And while that may not seem like a lot in 2026, it will be $1300 more than you had. You might be thinking I need that money before the end of 52 weeks. I gotcha. This really pays off the second year and well, you have to start somewhere, right? Start saving now so you can get a jump start on Christmas shopping. I like to start in October, thinking, planning, asking my family to start thinking about what they want for Christmas (Side note: Amazon Prime has lists that can be shared, just sayin’).

Now that you have decided how much you are putting aside, where are you putting it? At the time I started doing this, I had a AmEx Bluebird card. AmEx has since discontinued that. It was very convenient, I was able to schedule the transaction every week and didn’t have to think about it. There are other ways to sock away money. You could do good old fashioned cash, that takes a lot of discipline and it still works. Opening up a dedicated checking/savings account at your bank or another bank is option. Having an account from another bank might help keep them separate. Having a separate bank account will allow you to schedule transactions so you won’t have to think about it.

There are other options such as prepaid debit card like the discontinued AmEx Bluebird card such as CashApp, PayPal, and Venmo. PayPal and Venmo have auto transfer features. Check them out see which one fits your needs.

All righty then. It’s now the first week in October and you see something for Christmas for someone. At this point you should about $975, still more than you had to begin with and you got to start somewhere. However, if you have automatic transfers, the money will still be going in and adding to the total.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

The first year I did this I was working full time in a hospital. I realized I was visiting the vending machines waaaay too much. I didn’t stop completely feeding the vending machines, but I did become more conscious of where the money was going. After budgeting the money I would take $8 or $10 and allow myself to visit the vending machines once in a while or if the cafeteria was closed. Any money at the end of the week I would put in a piggy bank. I started this at the beginning of the second year. By October, I had over $300!!!! And yes, we still pay with cash when we can so any stray dollars or coins we have laying around it’s gets stashed away.

It was nice to have the money to pay for shipping packages, buy baking goods, decorations, Christmas cards or last minute gifts for someone. And whatever was left over in the Christmas account was rolled over to next year.

There was more peace at Christmas not having to worry about spending money. We even had money to donate to the Salvation Army if we happened to walk by one of their kettles, we had money to buy a gift for the Angel Tree and fill shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse. It is far better to give than to receive. Peace is built up week by week, way before the tree and the decorations are put up.

Sometimes peace can look like abundance in December.

encouragement, Uncategorized

What’s New in 2026?

The Kedge Anchor

With a new year and fresh start I have decided to do a few things differently. A while back someone had reached out to my asking why I had stopped making the coloring pages to help memorize scripture. Anyone remember Memorize Mondays? Well, to be honest, I didn’t think there was much interest. They are a little time consuming and I decided to focus on other projects.

There is something I would like to try but you’re just gonna need to stay tuned until next month. It still involves being creative and scripture. I had also been posting wallpapers for desktops and phones with scripture to help memorize verses and well there didn’t seem to be much interest in those either. So, I moved on.

I moved on to YouTube where there seemed to be more interest and that’s where I started to give more focus. I plan on staying there and focusing on that platform. I have discovered I like to make shorts and videos which brings me to my next new thing I want to try and well, I have some ideas that I am excited to share so you’ll need to stay tuned.

The Anchor Angel Project is something that has piqued interest in others and I will continue to promote that and encourage y’all to participate, but you will need to stay tuned and follow me on social media. Hmm maybe I can tie all these ideas together.

My art and greeting cards are things that I like to do and encourage others with. For as long as I can remember I was always cresting and making greeting cards. I remember I thought I wanted to work at Hallmark designing greeting cards, LOL. And I may not be working for Hallmark however I do still create them by hand and digitally, the hand made ones I sell locally, I sell the digital cards online, so I guess I have fulfilled that dream in a way. It’s not how I imagined it but how I imagined isn’t as important as I am actually doing it.

All that to say, please subscribe to the blog, follow me on social media to stay tuned of the new things coming in 2026. Thank you for your support.

hope, salvation

Steady, Present, Anchored: Your 2026 Reminder

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Peggy Anke on Pexels.com

Happy New Year! Time really flies as we become more seasoned in life and when we are having fun. I am thankful for another day, another week another month and another year. And just like I am not one for bucket lists I am not one for resolutions. I would rather be focused, present and intentional about my goals and projects. LOL I guess that is a resolution of sorts. 

Challenges

My family has had a few challenges over the past three years. It’s been a struggle making the season merry and bright. But God, has been through it all with us. It didn’t always feel like He was there. However, I know He has been. Focusing on God and His Word have been key. There were days I didn’t feel like it or wanted to. So, those days may have been reflective and creative. So if your holidays have been challenging and short of merry and bright, I wish you New Year Blessings. 

The challenges our world has faced in 2025 have made me become more aware of the “labor pains” in Matthew 24:8 – “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” I began to think; this could have been said 50 or 60 years ago. What’s the difference? Like a mother in labor, they become stronger and closer together. The events that are unfolding have been happening for centuries, the only difference is, these events, wars, rumors of wars, immorality, etc., it’s just happening more frequently and in some cases more intensely. 

New Hope

But there is hope. Hope came in the form of a baby over 2000 years ago. We just celebrated His birth. Jesus came to be born as a baby, grow up and start His ministry, die on the cross, be buried, rise again and ascend to Heaven. He did all that for us while we were still sinners – Romans 5:8. Jesus’s death and resurrection, His blood that was shed is for us. But it’s only for those who acknowledge their need for a savior, who confess they are sinners and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  One day Jesus gather us up and we will meet Him in the clouds –

“Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

There’s our Hope. Then one day all this, the earth, all that we know here on planet earth will pass away –

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” – Matthew 24:35

Then God will create an new Heaven and new earth –

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.“ Isaiah 65:17

When I look back at the challenges and the state of our world, I am reminded of God’s sovereignty, His omniscience and His redemptive plan for us and all of His creation. It’s all in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation and all in between. It even tells us how it ends. (Read the book of Daniel if you want to read about what has been prophesied and what has already passed and what’s to come). Today we all have a choice. We can choose God, His plan of salvation and His Hope or not. It’s that

Anchored in Hope

Here we are, stepping into 2026. I’m not chasing perfect days or forcing resolutions—just staying anchored. Anchored in truth. Anchored in Hope. Anchored in Christ. Life will throw highs, lows, and everything in between, but He’s faithful, He’s present, and He is sovereign.

Stay focused. Stay present. Stay intentional. And above all, stay anchored—because that’s where real hope lives.

encouragement, Uncategorized

Embracing Quiet Seasons: A Journey Back to Encouragement

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Hello again friends,

It’s been quiet here for a little while—and not by accident.

Life has seasons. Some are full of creating, connecting, and pouring out. Others are about rest, reflection, and letting God work in the unseen places. This past season has been one of those quieter times for me. A time to step back, breathe, and listen. Life happens and just needed time for some self care. It has also been a time to reorganize and recharge. Deciding to pause YouTube was not an easy decision.

A now I feel ready to come back.

A sense that it’s time to return—not to the hustle, but to the heart of what I’ve always loved: encouraging others, anchoring in truth, and creating things that point back to hope.

I’m coming back—not with fanfare, but with faith.
And I’ve got something special in the works.

✨ A little project is on the horizon… one that blends creativity, faith, and encouragement in a way I hope will bless you and others. I’ll share more very soon—but for now, I wanted to offer you a small gift as we reconnect:

👉 Download this free coloring page hereDownload


It features one of my favorite verses:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Print it. Sit with it. Color it slowly with a cup of coffee, a quiet prayer or some worship music.
Maybe even send it to someone who needs to hear they’re not alone.

This little page carries a whisper of what’s coming next.

So stay tuned. Subscribe to the blog or follow along on YouTube and Facebook.
Something beautiful is blooming—and I can’t wait to walk in it with you.

Until then…
Stay anchored. Stay encouraged. Stay hopeful. 🤍

Blessings,
Caryn

encouragement, hope

Guidance on Voting: Moral Choices in Politics

The Kedge Anchor

For the past few weeks, I have been struggling with the phrase- “choose the lesser evil.” No one wants to choose evil. Oftentimes we are caught between a rock and a hard place. There are times we are faced with dilemmas and there doesn’t to appear to be a good choice. What are we to do?

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Hearing the quote, “choose the lesser evil” leaves me feeling hopeless and discouraged. I don’t want to choose evil especially in this political climate…it’s enough to make me shut down. Though we have choices, Republican, Democrat, other or don’t vote. To some the choice is clear, to others the choice may seem murky. If choosing the lesser of evils is still evil, we’re in one of those tight spots.  

  Many feel politics doesn’t belong in the church. Perhaps, but if we can’t turn to our pastors or our churches who can we turn to when we have questions especially sensitive ones such as how do we vote? Who else can help guide us when we are between a rock and hard place? And that’s not to say a church or a pastor can tell you how to vote, but they should be a resource for those times when you are faced with a tough decision. When it comes to making a moral decision, the Ten Commandments are a perfect way help make those decisions. And I do believe the Ten Commandments can help us with how to vote. I am not telling you how to vote. But if you are on the fence I hope this blog post can help you maybe help you with another tough decision.

I wish more pastors and churches would speak about those sensitive subjects such as voting, abortion, suing, politics and current issues. These may not have a place in our churches and pastors can’t tell you how to choose, that is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. However, these topics do exist in our society that we interact with daily and we as Christians should know how to respond. Turning to scripture should be the our first line of defense against these tough choices. We should also be able to go to our pastors for guidance, not to justify our thinking or not but to help us with reading scripture. God gives us the Ten Commandments, it’s His moral law. And I believe when we are in a tight spot, when we are confronted with a dilemma we can turn to God’s word for direction and conviction.

            We are all sinners and there is not a perfect politician on the planet and if they are all evil, who are we supposed to vote for? “Choose the lesser evil” is not Biblical. I found a few articles that helped me understand this more. One article I found; “Is the Lesser of Two Evils a Biblical Principle” makes some great points. In Daniel 2:21-22 “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him” (NIV). God is sovereign. We can see this in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people“ (NIV). Joseph’s brothers meant to kill him but God used that so Joseph could save his family from the famine.

              The article goes on to say that God will use and control even the most wicked rulers for his purpose as we see in the book of Daniel. David was a man after God’s own heart even though David was an adulterer and a murderer, but yet God used him, he even used Pharaoh.

             As I was initially pondering, this, I heard God say; “Evil is not in the eye of the beholder.“ Sin is sin in God’s kingdom. There is no lesser evil in God’s eyes. The article sheds some light on our dilemmas in life by looking at what evil might look in the eyes of God, 

 Hosea 6:6 – “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (ESV)
Micha 6:8 -“No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (NLT)
Matthew 9:12-13 – ”Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (ESV)

“Meaning, I would rather you do good than offer your sacrifices. This, during the time when sacrifices, was the law of the day. God says, “I would rather you do right — to show mercy, and act justly.” (quote article)

  “Jesus taught us that healing people or allowing them to eat were acts of love and clearly overruled the written law — and so, on his terms, not sin, since Jesus never sinned.”

    When we are faced with tough choices, there is no level of evil. We must choose what is good, the right thing. “To not act in love may be the true evil in the eyes of God.” This gave me hope and helped me to change my mindset when I need to make a tough choice.

References:

The Lesser of Two Evils Principles – Myth or Biblical

Should Christians Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils

encouragement, Uncategorized

Hurt vs. Offense: Understanding the Difference and Moving Forward

The Kedge Anchor

Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com

As humans, we tend to get our feelings hurt. Sometimes we get offended. What’s the difference? Hurt is something we feel when when someone does something bad to us, i.e. talk smack or gossip harms us physically etc. Being offended is something we choose. For example, someone’s opinion, being offended is more of a reaction, that’s something we can control.

So often I hear of believers leaving churches and falling away from the faith because they have been hurt. I can totally understand. There have been times I have been hurt by churches. It happens for whatever reason. Long story short, my husband and I were snubbed by the lead pastor on on wedding day. He didn’t officiate weddings and the reason was because that would have been his weekend job, i get it. So we had the singles pastor (who was married, he was a great guy and I’m sure still is) perform the ceremony (side note he had been fired just before our wedding for ridiculous reasons $$$). Anyway there was also a mix up with the room we rented but it the pastor doing the ceremony straightened that out. Despite all that the day turned out great and been married 30 years : ) .

That wasn’t the only time, there have been other times in the past before that that churches got a little petty about things. I’m not going to go into detail, trust me it happens in churches and in other organizations. We are human. But I also want to be sensitive to the fact that there is some serious hurtful things that go on in some churches. Some things that hurtful physically and emotionally and should be dealt with.

Many people leave the church, not just the organization itself, they leave the faith. It’s really sad when they leave because they were offended. Even if you were harmed in some way doesn’t mean you leave the faith, your faith in God.

Look at it this way, you go to a restaurant and receive bad service. What do you do? You most likely don’t leave a tip and don’t go back. Done, easy. That doesn’t stop you from going to other restaurants or stop eating all together. You find other places to eat. The same with our faith and the church. My husband and I never went back to the church where got married but that didn’t change our faith in God. We eventually found another church. Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (NLT)

We could have gone to the lead pastor at the church where we were married and told him how his behavior made us feel. But they fired the pastor who married us for ridiculous reasons and felt leaving, forgiving and moving on was best. Wait, what, forgive? Yes. Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?’ ” ” ‘No!’ ” Jesus replied, “ ‘seventy times seven’ !”

 Though we never went back, we forgave in our hearts. (It may sound like we haven’t in this post but we never disparaged the church, we think about it sometimes, wonder where they are and yes even prayed for them. One day we all will account for it all.

So this post is to encourage those who have left their church or their faith because of something the church did or said or because of something someone in the church did or said. You have two choices; one, confront the person or person(s) or two, find another church. It’s so easy to do these days with social media. But even with social media, finding a church is like looking at a menu online, if you think you may like a church go and check it out in person, just try it. If the first one you try isn’t the one, keep searching. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Look for a church that is preaches God’s word, preaches the truth of God’s word. Many churches post this on their websites. It maybe under the “About’ tab or “Our Beliefs.” Ask friends or co-workers for recommendations, like you would for a restaurant and go.

If this has happened to you, share your experience in the comments. What was your journey finding the new church? What drew you or made you feel at home?

hope

Finding Forgiveness and Redemption Amidst the 33rd Olympic Games Controversy

The Kedge Anchor
Image by Sr. Maria-Magdalena R. SMCB from Pixabay

The events that have taken place here in America and in France have me pondering, what is happening? I’m trying to process and make sense of it all as I am sure everyone has. At first, I wasn’t going to post anything, but I kept having a nagging feeling. But, let me preface this post with, we all have our own perspectives, this is mine and it’s what God has placed on my heart.

The events that I am talking about are the attempted assassination on President Trump and the opening Olympic ceremonies. This may be part one of two because there is just too much to write in one blog post. Today I just want to cover the Olympics.

My husband and I watched the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games and we kept asking ourselves, “what are we watching?” I saw some of the beginning before I dozed off and woke up to my husband describing to me what he saw. He began scrolling through social media feeds to show me what I missed. I was even more confused and bewildered at what I was seeing. We all know what I am talking about, the spectacle of what looked a lot like the Last Supper.

People were defending France’s performance and that it was a representation of bacchanalia and it has nothing to do with the Last Supper and had no intention of representing it. Bacchanalian is defined as “(especially of a party) involving a lot of drinking of alcohol, uncontrolled behaviour, and possibly sexual activity:” “The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded popular Roman festivals of Bacchus, based on various ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia.” France is known for its for being showy, flamboyant, and well let’s face it lack modesty. I am not defending what we all witnessed, just sayin’. I don’t know what France’s intention was, I am not a mind reader. I was and still am taken aback by what I saw.

Trying to process all that I, we witnessed, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. I really had to process. What I was feeling was grief. I am saddened by what I saw. It broke my heart. Let’s remove the whole Last Supper reference, to me it was just bad taste. Kids were watching this. This is the Olympics, it suppose to be family and kid friendly. Never would I imagine that the opening ceremony would need to be censored. Add in the Last Supper and that just took it to another level.

Some may be arguing that perhaps many of us aren’t educated enough to understand Bacchanalian, or it’s just Greek mythology, this is just French culture, and some will argue that DaVinci got it wrong with Jesus and the disciples sitting and not reclining at the table. While DaVinci may have not had the proper seating, it wasn’t perverted. So to the people who think Christians need more education about this, maybe those who don’t understand Christianity need to read the Bible and understand that we don’t take it or what God means to us lightly. And while perverting the Last Supper may not have been France’s intention, I don’t know. I do know WE ALL one day will have to give an account for our words and actions.

We are all sinners. We ALL fall short of the glory of God (Roman’s 3:23), we ALL need a Savior and that Person would be Jesus Christ. This isn’t the first time Jesus was mocked. And none of this has taken God by surprised. He knew before the foundation of the world, this would take place. God is a gracious God. Read Genesis 6:9-22 when God wiped out all of humanity except for Noah and his family. Read Genesis 19 about Sodem and Gomorrah and see how God dealt with that situation. Read Revelation and see how God will deal with sin in the future. Matthew 12:36 “and I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak” (NLT). Romans 14:12 “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God” (NLT).

My heart has been hurt, I am grieving. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t mad, I am and hurt. I know many of us are feeling similar feelings if not the same. But can we forgive? Can we forgive as Jesus forgives us? Ephesians 4:32. Jesus was mocked when He hung on the cross and said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” – Luke 23:34 (NKJV). “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7 (NIV).

We could use this opportunity to share the Gospel and help others understand why this grieves us and God. Perhaps we could use it as an opportunity to show forgiveness. Let keep fighting the good fight, let’s not grow weary of doing good, spreading the Gospel, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (NLT).

Uncategorized

The Meaning of Ohana: God’s Design for Community and Family

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Tru1ea7n Long on Pexels.com

I may be dating myself a bit, but every time I think of luaus or Hawaii, I think the Brady Bunch episodes where the Brady’s tag along with their dad to Hawaii on a business trip. At the time, the Brady’s weren’t recognized as a blended family. But, that is indeed what they were. A widow with three girls and a widower with three boys that’s how “we became the Brady Bunch.” If you know, you know.

The Hawaiian word for family is Ohana, it can also mean community. God created us for community, we weren’t meant to do life alone. God gave Adam, Eve, In Genesis 2:18, said “it’s not good for a man to be alone.” Jesus had a blended family, having step brothers and sisters, His disciples are a another example. They traveled together, they shared meals together, they did ministry together. Just as the Brady’s were a blended family, there are other versions of blended families today, some have step parents and step siblings like the Brady’s, some have half siblings, there are foster families, our co-workers can be like a family and our church is definitely a family.

There are several other examples of families in the Bible. Naomi and Ruth is a good example that comes to mind. If you’re not familiar with their story I encourage you to read the book of Ruth and see how God brought them together and provided for them. It’s not that long and if you’re up to it read a commentary.

A little background, Naomi had a husband and two sons and lived in Bethleham, until a famine hit when they traveled to the foreign land of Moab. Only for Naomi to lose her husband. Her sons both both married Moab women, Ruth and Orpah. About ten years later Naomi’s die.

These three woman are now without husbands and are childless. These are good circumstances for these women. Back in their day, Naomi, Ruth and Orpha would have returned to their hometowns, their own people. Orpha remained with her people in Moab, but Ruth remained loyal to her mother in law and went back to Bethlehem with her. Ruth 1:16 – “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Naomi and Ruth were once connected by Naomi’s sons, now they were connected by God and His people. We may come from different parts of the country, of the world, we may come from a different culture but as a followers of Jesus it’s His blood that connects us and makes us family, makes us Ohana.

I want to be sensitive to the fact that not everyone has a family, for whatever reason. Many experience loneliness on a daily basis. They don’t have anyone to connect with or to. But, when we become a part of God’s family we have the opportunity to build genuine, loving, lasting relationships through Jesus, He connects us, He connects us with and to God, our Heavenly Father, who forgives us and gives us eternal life.

When we have family and friends we have one of God’s blessed and precious gifts, because we were meant to live in community. Having God’s people as our people, we can have a support system we can count on when we need prayer, encouragement on hard days and the opportunity to be blessed by serving God’s people. One way we can connect with God’s people is by attending a local Bible believing church, getting involved and sharing our faith with each other and unbelievers.

The best connection is with God Himself who promises eternal life when we repent of our sins and promises to never leave us or forsake us. Being a part of God’s people we will always have family.

Leave a comment below how you have been blessed by God’s people.

scripture

God Bless America!

The Kedge Anchor

Free phone wallpaper to help memorize scripture

What has happened to 2024! Where has the time gone? It feels like summer is slipping away and Christmas… the thought of it, the get ready, the shopping, shuts m down. And as it should right now, it’s not time to think of Christmas, unless you’re a crafter or greeting card designer. lol

Right now it’s time to think about summer, vacays, cookouts, warm weather, fireflies, and one of my favorite times of the year – the 4th of July! In my hometown of Bristol, Rhode Inland, we celebrate the country’s oldest and longest parade in the country. We celebrate for an entire month with concerts, races, fireman musters, contests, a carnival, balls, pageants, and our famous red, white, and blue stripe. There are family gatherings with relatives coming from all over, the streets are busy and everyone decorates their house or storefront.

Why do we celebrate? Freedom! In some cases I think many have forgotten about why we celebrate. Our freedom is sometimes overshadowed by the parties and festivities. But when the troops are marching in parade we are quickly reminded of the MIAs and POWs, the wounded survivors and the sacrifices they and their families have made. They have made scarifies, in some cases given their lives to keep our country free.

We are free to worship in the USA. Our troops fight for religious freedom in this country and I worship The One True God who gave the ultimate sacrifice of His Son for the cleansing of our sin. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one goes to the Father but through Him, John 14:6.

As part of exercising religious freedom, download this free wallpaper for your phone or device to help you memorize scripture, just click the image and save. If you want more free wallpaper search Memorize Mondays.

Time marches on and goes by quickly. We can easily lose sight of why we celebrate the 4th of July with all the parties and decorations. Let’s not take our freedom for granted. God Bless America.

Thanks for stopping by and please remember to like subscribe and share.

encouragement

Lighthouse of Encouragement: Embracing Prayer, Scripture, and Support Networks

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

It’s kinda funny. I decide to devote a month to encouragement and it’s probably been one of the most discouraging weeks so far. In the last post, I mentioned having “lighthouses” to help us navigate through the storms of life. And well I guess it’s time for me to practice what I preach. One lighthouse is friends and family, a support system, trusted people we can reach out to for prayer. I think that’s always my first go to. Prayer works and when you know you have your people praying for you, for me it’s like someone propping me up. Like in Exodus 17 – The Israelites were in battle with the Amalekites, verses 5-12- “The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So if you’re reading this, I could use some prayer.

Another tried and true lighthouse is reading scripture. Currently, I am doing Summer in the Psalms. David and the Psalmists weren’t exempt from discouragement or stormy lives. Yet. they cried out to God and they remind us God hears them, He hears us.

Psalm 103:8 – “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (ESV) God loves me, He loves you on the good days and bad days. We can rest our minds in this truth. The days that I am discouraged for whatever reason, He still loves me. When our minds are swirling and our thoughts are out of control, we need something firm and true to hold to and God’s word, His truths are just what we need to ground us. Without truth to stand on we can easily start to believe the lies and worst case scenarios.

I mentioned that friends and family are great lighthouses. We can reach out to them for prayer. However, we should pray ourselves. Hebrews 4:16 – “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” We should reach out to God ourselves. We can go to Him with anything. Yes, He already knows, but He wants to hear it and He wants to hear from us. He loves us!

So far we have three lighthouses, friends and family, a support system to hold up our arms in battle. Prayer, we can go boldly to the throne of our gracious God, where we can receive mercy and grace when we need it the most. And scripture, there we can find truths, solid ground for us to fight our battle. Stay tuned this month, head over to my YouTube channel I have a short tutorial to make a card to give to someone to help encourage, quick and easy.