Dwell in the Shadow: Exploring the Promises of Psalm 91

With her infant brother on her hip and one small bag, 12-year-old Ariana carried all she had through the Darién Gap, a dangerous 60-mile roadless jungle crossing between Columbia and Panama. This treacherous route, often used by migrants seeking to come to the United States, is notorious for its harsh terrain, unpredictable weather, dangerous wildlife, and the presence of criminal groups. Ariana's world had recently come crumbling down upon her when her family was forced from their war-torn country. She had lost everything she'd ever known; now her parents were severely injured by the criminal group Clan Del Golfo, leaving them no longer able to continue; they had to be left behind, insistent that Ariana complete the task of freedom they started back in their own country. Ariana knew she needed to make it to Bajo Chiquito, a small village outside the Darién gap for those seeking refuge, to a couple who would help her complete the journey.  

Ariana's mind wandered to happier times, laughing with her parents. She could see the sun shining through her mother's hair, still feel her warm embrace, and hear her dad's contagious laugh. All she had were her memories of better times and the love she shared with her parents. She was now alone, left to be the protector of her brother. Suddenly, bullets started flying all around her; crazed men were firing their rifles and shouting. With tears streaming down her face and her heart pounding, she lets out a scream. From memory, Ariana cries out the verse from the Bible her father read to her at bedtime, "Lord, you are my refuge, my God, I trust You. You will save me, rescue me, protect me. Lord, deliver me. Save my life! Jesus!!!"

The verse that Ariana cited in the story is Psalm 91. Some Jewish scholars believe Moses wrote it, although some disagree. The theme in Psalm 91 is that of God's protection from danger. It also has a rich historical context that adds a layer of significance to the Psalm, making it more than just a comforting prayer. Interestingly, it has become known as the Soldier's Psalm.* A commander gave it to soldiers during WWI, who instructed them to read it daily. Despite being involved in the bloodiest battles, the soldiers experienced no casualties. It is now read in more recent times by American soldiers in Iraq, churches, and households all over the world. It is a Psalm that provides profound comfort and unwavering strength in the face of adversity, a powerful reminder that God is our ultimate protector and refuge. For myself, this Psalm has become near and dear to my heart as I read it on behalf of my family for their protection.

From the NIV translation, Psalm 91 in its entirety:
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, "The Lord is my refuge,"
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Psalm 91 begins with, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Most High and Almighty refer to God, representing His power and authority over all creation, not only in the spiritual realm but all the earth and universe. There is absolutely nothing higher than God. He has unlimited sovereign power to accomplish His good will. This verse says that as we dwell in God, putting our faith in Him, He is our consistent place of refuge, protection, and safety. There is nothing He will not do for and through us to accomplish His good purpose. Rest in the shadow of the Almighty: God's shadow is a place of power where we can dwell in Him for His protection, deliverance, care, and comfort. He is our refuge and fortress, and as we actively trust in Him, we can rest in His steadfast strength and protective guidance.

Skipping verse 4 momentarily, verses 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 list some harmful things that can happen to us. "Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." To put the terms in more present-day language to help you understand the passage more clearly, fowler's snare could be interpreted as wicked individuals who seek to entrap others. The terror of night is our fear and anxiety. Arrows that fly by day could be acts of violence, wars, or other conflicts. The pestilence that stalks in the darkness can be seen as COVID or other deadly diseases. Plague that destroys at midday can be things such as wars, terrorist attacks, shootings, and car accidents. A thousand may fall at our side can be seen as deaths in times of war, natural disasters, illnesses, or other deadly diseases again. If you notice the verses, they list the bad things that could happen, but they also list what God will do: He will save you, that you won't fear, and it won't come near you: He's saving, delivering, and protecting you from the harm. Continuing, vs.8 says, "We will only observe with our eyes and see the punishment of the wicked." This verse means we won't be harmed when the justice of God is carried out against the wicked.

Returning to verse 4, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." The imagery of being covered by His feathers and finding refuge under His wings is like that of a mother bird protecting her young with its wings; it illustrates His loving care. While we are alive, harmful things will happen; we are not immune to all danger. Yet God is our refuge. He will keep us close to Him in His protective care. His faithfulness is our shield, and rampart illustrates the defense He gives us against life's dangers.

Now to the "if," as seen in vs. 9. Other versions say "because or for you." Vs. 9-10: "If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent." The verse is conditional and suggests that a condition must be met to trigger God's protection from harm or disaster. You must actively believe that the Lord is your refuge because having faith and trusting the Lord is essential to having God's protection.  

There are 8,810 promises in the Bible. Nine of many promises made by God to man are found in Psalm 91, and we will be looking at those. They include:

1. I WILL LIFT YOU UP IN MY HANDS vs 12
2. I WILL RESCUE HIM vs 14
3. I WILL PROTECT HIM vs 14
4. I WILL ANSWER HIM vs 15
5. I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE vs 15
6. I WILL DELIVER HIM vs 15
7. I WILL HONOR HIM vs 15
8. WITH LONG LIFE I WILL SATISFY HIM vs 16
9. SHOW HIM MY SALVATION vs 16

Vs. 11-14 "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." The present-day examples of the lion, cobra, and serpent could be any evil, affliction, disease, calamity, or anything that takes our eyes off God. The Bible mentions Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But God has given us tools to combat against the enemy, such as reading God's word and prayer. When Psalm 91 is read, the angels of God hear it and are commanded to guard those who love God and acknowledge Him, thus keeping us from danger. God lifts us up in His hands to rescue, protect, and deliver us.  

Vs.15 says, "He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." God is Omnipotent, meaning He has unlimited power, authority, and dominion over everything. There is nothing that God can't do. He is Omnipresent, meaning He is always with us, no matter where we are or where we go, even in times of trouble. He will answer us in our time of need and deliver us from trouble.

Verse 15 also mentions that God will honor us. There are many ways we can honor God. To name a few, we can keep Him 1st place in our hearts, choose to live righteously, give of our time, help those in need, keep our thoughts on God's goodness, and through our righteous words. We should do these things to honor God and show Him our love. But verse 15 says that He honors us. One of the ways God honors us is by showing His goodness to and through us. He wants to be good to us. Numbers 6:24-26 says, "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." 2 Corinthians 9:8 says,  "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." These two verses say that He is always looking at you with love. He is proud of you and wants to be gracious to and bless you abundantly so that you will be abundant in His plans and purpose. He is honoring us: He will open doors that we tried so hard in our own strength but couldn't; help us to accomplish the dream that we thought was dead; He'll heal us when the doctors say there is no way. He will amaze us with His explosive blessings, showing His love in a great and unusual way that there will be no doubt that it was the hand of God. Don't doubt that His favor is in your life; it is. You have the favor of God.  

In the last verse, verse 16, "and with long life, I will satisfy and He will see His salvation." The verse promises a long life, which doesn't necessarily mean age-related, but a life lived in God's presence in His love, favor, peace, and blessings. Even though it doesn't clearly state it, the verse can also promise eternal life with Him because it also promises we will see His salvation: salvation coming through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus. Jesus, who was blameless, died on the cross for our sins so that we might have a close and loving relationship with God, who has forgiven us and put us in right standing with Him once again because of Jesus's redeeming work.

A frequently asked question is, "How can we trust in Psalm 91 if bad things happen?" Many people don't want to trust in an evil God that allows bad things to happen. I don't blame them, neither do I. The Bible says evil does not come from God because He is good and knows no evil. Bad things come from Satan. We live in a fallen world. Evil entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which can be found in Genesis 3. Someday, all evil will be banished, but in the meantime, God has given us tools to overcome evil when faced with it, and He will be present with us. Because God is so much bigger than all of the evils of this world, He can turn things around in a second if He wants to, and God does want to, but sometimes bad things happen: He doesn't prevent all evil. And nobody fully knows why this is true. Because He's God, He is the creator of the universe, and if God can create the universe from nothing, He can certainly stop all of the evils and bad things in this world. But God doesn't always.  

I, too, have experienced tragedy. I'll never understand how bad things can happen to God-fearing people, pastors, kids, and just really good people. This world sucks and isn't fair. We are at war. We live in an evil, fallen world where there is so much sin, disease, corruption, and ugliness. What you read about or hear on the news is so amazingly heartbreaking. I won't cover my eyes and ears and try to pretend bad things don't happen. They do, and it will continue. However, I would rather pray things such as Psalm 91 and trust in God, trusting that He's got my family and me under His wings and have the faith He does, than not pray and leave them without lifting them up in prayer. At least I did something: I did my part in keeping my family safe. What else is there to do? Prayer is the best thing anyone can do. People often say, well, all there is left to do is pray. Prayer is the 1st thing we should do not only when there is a problem, but we should routinely be in the habit of prayer. We should be on our knees, hands raised in humble submission before Him. The alternative? You don't pray. I will choose to pray because I have been a Christ follower for a long time and have seen enough evidence that prayer works. Even if you don't have a close relationship with God, that doesn't matter; start somewhere. Pray.  

If you don't have a relationship with God and have never received God into your heart, pray this simple prayer, "Heavenly Father, I believe that you are the Son of God and that Jesus died for my sins. I give you my heart, forgive my sins, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, guide and help me to follow you." If you have prayed this prayer for the first time, I encourage you to join a quality bible-based church in your area. Introduce yourself. I promise you, you won't regret it.

There are so many excellent testimonies of Psalm 91. Here is one of them.

*(n.d.). Soldier's Psalm. Military Christian Fellowship of Australia. https://mcf-a.org.au/articles/the-soldiers-psalm/

Prayer moves the HANDS that rule the world

With her shawl wrapped around her shoulders, Maria hesitantly walks up to the front of the church sanctuary. She is shaking, and her heart is beating fast. Fighting back tears, she thinks all eyes are on her as she approaches a woman standing at the front of the sanctuary, smiling at her. Maria thinks the woman has kind eyes. Maria feels such a burden on her shoulders; she knows this is her last option. She needs more than the desperate pleas she sends to God inside her home. She needs prayer from one of God's people her neighbor keeps talking about. Maria hasn't attended church much, except for Christmas and Easter as a child with her grandmother. Her prayers were always, "God, if you're there, if you're real, help me!" The churchwoman takes Maria by the hand and asks for her name and how she can pray for her. Maria looks at the woman and starts to weep. All she can do is cry; she can't speak any words. The woman holds Maria and says, "God loves you so much. You are His child. He knows your heart and why you've come here today. I pray in the name of Jesus that He will help you, heal you, provide for you, and restore what has been lost." Maria doesn't know that God has already answered her prayer even though all she can do is cry: This is the faithfulness of God.

Philippians 4:6-7 is a great verse that summarizes why we pray. It says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This verse says instead of dwelling on our anxious thoughts and concerns, we are to give them all to God through prayer and a thankful heart, thanking him when you pray because He hears you. God, the Creator of the universe, truly cares for you and wants to help you. In looking at the rest of the verse, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Peace is a gift given to us by Jesus. Because of your learned faith in Him, when you pray, you'll feel the peace of God in your heart and mind. The peace of God will protect you from the negativity accompanied by fear and anxiety. When a child goes to his mother or father after falling, the parent will make the child feel better by their presence, love, and care. Our Father is the same way. You can trust He cares when you go to Him with your concerns. You can trust that He is your Defender, place of refuge, Healer, Friend, Protector, and Father. Will you trust in His power to care for you?

God wants to have a relationship with us, and one of the best ways we can do this is to pray to Him. There are so many different opinions on methods of praying. While those methods are all acceptable, sometimes all people can pray is: "Help me God!" And this is pleasing to God as He meets you where you're at with what you have to give Him, for He cares about what's in your heart and that you desire to seek Him. Prayer shouldn't be a burden; it shouldn't be a challenging task. It can be as simple as a conversation with a friend. What works for one person with a Theology degree probably won't work for someone new to a relationship with God. Or whose life has become so hard that it took everything out of them to make it to church on Sunday with three kids. And honestly, if something is too hard, we won't do it. Remember, God is not looking for perfect prayers; He's looking for a sincere heart.

From the amplified Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 advises us, "Be unceasing and persistent in prayer, (18)in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." This verse encourages us to pray consistently, which is easier than we think. The verse is a reminder that prayer is not just about asking for things but also about expressing gratitude and maintaining a continuous connection with God. One of the simplest ways to maintain a continuous prayer life is to have ongoing prayer time throughout the day. You can say things such as, "God, I love You so very much! God, I pray I get a good parking spot; you know my knee has been bothering me lately. Thank You for our beautiful sunshine today. I pray my child will get a good grade on his test today; he's been studying hard. Thank You for the restful sleep I know I will get tonight because Your word says that You grant sleep to those You love." Vs. 18 echoes the need to be thankful to God as He works within an atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving. The Bible is filled with verses urging us to express gratitude to Him. God is the source of all good things. Being thankful for His kindness and expressing our gratitude to Him strengthens our relationship and gives us a humble, grateful, and joyful heart. This continuous communication with God keeps us connected to Him at all times.

Above all, God is our loving Father, and His love for us knows no bounds. His love is our anchor, our comfort, and our strength. God longs for us to come to Him, to be drawn to Him without any barriers. Our relationship with Him and our prayers are all rooted in our faith. We need to have unwavering faith that He hears our prayers and desires to help us, which is the essence of our relationship with God-a loving Father who is always there for us, ready to listen and help, no matter what.

I've been an elder of our church for over a year now, and every Sunday, before I step out to stand at the front of the sanctuary, I pray that the Lord will give me the words to say if anyone comes to me for prayer. I depend entirely on the Lord to pray for others; I need the Holy Spirit to work through me. I have never liked praying aloud; I have always thought I sounded as if my prayers were weak. There are certainly people who sound so much more Godly than I do. But the Lord doesn't care about these things; He only cares that I am willing and have a humble heart for Him to work through me. God has also impressed upon me that it's less about me and more about the boldness of the people who come up to a stranger and share their hearts and burdens at the foot of the altar. I usually ask the person if they are comfortable joining me in praying, even if it is silently to themselves because it is their prayer and relationship with God. I've had one person say they didn't want to, and that's alright. At the end of our time together, I always ask if they have the faith of a mustard seed that the Lord will help them because God responds to faithfulness. "Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." -Mathew 17:20. I also suggest they thank Him this week. He heard the prayer; He knew what they were asking for. He responds to an atmosphere of praise, faith, and thanksgiving. "Thank you, God, for healing me. Thank you, God, for providing for me. Thank you for my child coming home."

When we pray, there is a divine reception: an act of opening ourselves up to God's blessings, favor, and grace. We don't see it, but when we pray, all prayers and petitions to God are immediately received in the heavenly realm. It is true that He already knows what we will say before we even utter a word. But when we pray, our faith in Him is activated. When we pray, He's already activating His angels to work on our behalf. It says in the Bible that our prayers are like incense to the Lord. We see in Psalm 141:2 a prayer of David, "Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Incense is sweet-smelling to God. The Bible says incense was used in the temple morning and evening as part of religious rituals. And when we lift our hands to Him, we humble ourselves before Him in a posture of dependence and surrender with an open heart.

1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And

if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." This verse says that if it's in His word, the Bible, it's His Will. You never have to question if it is His Will or not. If you see it in the Bible, He wants it.

Remind God of what is in His word, thank Him, and a bonus tip: always ask in the name of Jesus. We pray in Jesus' name because Jesus sacrificed on the cross for our sins, and we acknowledge His role as our Intercessor between God and us. Nowadays, it's so easy to ask Google what the Bible says about this or that. Find a Bible verse about your situation, and remind God what is in His word. For example, if you're looking for healing, find as many Bible verses as possible about healing and speak them out. Say, "God, Your word says in Jeremiah 33:6 behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. Psalm 41:3 says The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. Now, God, I am asking in the precious name of Jesus, you will restore me to full health." After you've prayed this prayer, believe He has healed you. Even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, that's enough; nothing is impossible.

In Mark 11:24, Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Believe you receive when you pray. You don't need to keep asking Him repeatedly for the same thing. Instead, say, "Thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for restoring my health. Thank you for being my God, good Father, Healer, Restorer, Provider, and close Friend."

You don't need to worry about how you sound when you pray, nor be afraid your prayers aren't effective, for it says in Romans 8:26-27 that the Holy Spirit, our advocate, hears our prayers and prays to the Father on our behalf. The Spirit intercedes for us, praying according to God's purpose. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God's will."

What if you've been praying about something for a long time, and you're not seeing a breakthrough? A no from God doesn't necessarily mean no forever. It could also mean, "Wait, not yet. I love you too much to give this to you right now." The Bible speaks of God's ways being higher than ours, which means God's perspective, wisdom, and plans are far beyond human understanding. There could be a few reasons for a prayer not being answered, and we need to have faith and learn to trust in His goodness. If a prayer involves other people, it could mean God needs to work on the other party involved. He must change their heart and circumstances before the prayer can be answered. Or it could mean that if God gave you what you're asking for right now, it wouldn't be the best timing. It is hard to wait as humans, but God knows the end from the beginning; He created you and knows what is best for us and what is not. He looks after us so well, truly understanding what we need at every moment of our lives.

Keep track of the things God does for you. The times He's answered your prayers with a yes, the prayers He said no, and the things you're still waiting to come to pass. In doing so, you will be able to look back and see all the times the Lord answered a prayer with a yes, and for the no's, you'll look at it with a better understanding of why it was a no. Keeping track of your prayers will increase your faith. I keep track of my requests on my phone. I have my prayers that I have brought to God that are still waiting to come to pass; I have several yeses and a few no's. I'm genuinely okay with the no's. And the prayers that haven't been answered yet, I'm okay with also. I know God has my best interests at heart.

As an elder, sometimes people come to me with anger and unforgiveness towards another. From the words they have spoken, the anger spills out of them. After I pray for God to release this bondage and hurt, I will typically give them advice. I ask them to name one good thing about the other person and encourage them to write down other qualities when they get home. Funny story: I asked this of one lady I had been praying for for several months. I sat down with her and asked her to name one good thing about her ex-husband, and it probably took her about five uncomfortable minutes to come up with something. It was a little comical; she kept tilting her head to one side and then the other, piercing her lips. But she did eventually answer. I ask people to do this because holding onto anger and unforgiveness only hurts us: it opens the door to the devil, and it damages our spirit. But, if they can start seeing the person in a more positive light, the way God sees them, if it's just a little, it'll bring healing to their life. I also ask them to pray for the other person if they aren't already. I tell them that if they can't think of anything to pray about, then pray the Lord's prayer, which is found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. It is a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. When you do this faithfully, it'll get easier, and the Lord will bless you. I have heard it said that it is almost impossible to stay mad at anyone you're praying for. Unfortunately, this is true for the most part, but not always. But, by praying for another person who has wronged you, you're giving them over to God, who will not only help your hurts and pains, He's going to help the other person to change their behavior by 1st releasing the bondage Satan has over their life.

Keep praying for others. Don't just ask others if you can pray for them; tell them you are. Don't wonder if they're a Christian. You are! You're dismissing the power of God by not offering to pray for others, whether Christian or not. When you pray for others, you sow a seed, and God's angels go to work. The chains that were holding them back are loosened. Your prayers make a huge difference, even if you don't see an immediate victory. When God hears you praying for others, He sees your generous heart and will meet your needs.

"Prayer moves the hands that rule the world."-Charles Spurgeon. Prayer is one of the simplest and most rewarding actions we can do. It is the most potent force God gave us as it causes Him to make things happen that we never could on our own. Don't complicate things; talk to your heavenly Father. No prayer is ever too silly or complicated for God, so trust Him.

If you don't have a relationship with God and have never received God into your heart, pray this simple prayer, "Heavenly Father, I believe that you are the Son of God and that Jesus died for my sins. I give you my heart, forgive my sins, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, guide and help me to follow you." If you have prayed this prayer for the first time, I encourage you to join a quality bible-based church in your area. Introduce yourself. I promise you, you won't regret it.

Being uniquely you

Okay, confession time; right after we put on our church outfit, our Sunday best; sometimes, when my husband and I walk into church on

Sunday mornings, we'll say, "Time to put on our church faces." It's a term used to describe the facade some put on, the 'perfect' version of ourselves we present to the world. Then, immediately after church, we rush home and change into our sweatpants. For me, it's my Oscar the Grouch "scram" shirt and sweatpants. If the facade isn’t happening at church, it’s at work, with friends, or around your neighborhood.

"Let the world feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it." With today's technology, we can use filters to hide our imperfections before posting on social media. We are also hesitant to hit the publish button before exposing our thoughts. We worry about the judgment. We'll even hide certain people from seeing a post. Not you? Is it just me? It can't be. I finally decided they shouldn't follow me if I had to hide people from a post.

Everyone has an opinion about how you should live your life. So many people hide who they truly are, fearing what others will think of them and what would happen if people knew the truth. You deserve to live as yourself, and others need to be okay with it. It’s a liberating feeling to be yourself without the fear of judgment. It's not because people aren't judging you; they probably are. It's because you've chosen not to care nor let their opinions hold you back. You ultimately will not be happy if you're constantly worried about what others think.

Be unique. Stop apologizing for being authentically you because the world needs more genuine people: people who are brave enough to show who they really are and not hide behind the filters. Wear the shirt with the leather pants, turn that song you love up, dance even though you suck at it, and live out your dreams. You only get one life, so live the way you want to. If you live the way you think is best for you, one life is enough.

Many years ago, I worked for a company in Beaverton, Oregon. One of the auditors, Cathy, had a young daughter. I remember her telling us with excitement everything she had planned for her daughter on her birthday on Saturday. She had everything set up for her daughter and was genuinely excited to spend time with her. However, Cathy never attended the birthday party. Cathy didn't meet her work deadline and never made it to the party; she worked instead. I thought about her recently and discovered she divorced and re-married.

People need to work because we aren't meant to stagnate, but to have a purpose and money is essential. However, work should never be more important than family. Giving more attention to your employers and co-workers can have disastrous implications.

Proverbs 23:4 says, "Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth; Cease from your own understanding of it." This verse is a call to rest, and it encourages people not to be so consumed with work that they neglect the other areas that God has given us: our family, church, home, gifts, talents, etc. Only focusing on work isn't fruitful for the different areas of life. When you over-work to gain more money, it's like you're telling God, "I don't trust you to provide for my needs. Money is more important."

My husband's work is usually an off-limits subject to talk about at the dinner table. His boss hasn't always treated him well. So, I want to hear about other aspects of his day, such as an interesting person he met. Or visit topics about our future plans and goals.

Work has become such a driving force in this world that when we meet someone, we ask, "What do you do?" When we ask someone to tell us something about themselves, they usually respond by saying what they do for work. Your work isn't who you are; it's what you do to earn money. It isn't your entire identity and doesn't define your self-worth.

Take the time to nurture your connections with your family and yourself. Engage with your loved ones each day. Pursue interests and goals outside of your professional life, and make it a point to try something new each week. Doing so will enrich your life and deepen your relationships, finding a balance that will truly allow you to enjoy life.

It's a familiar story, isn't it? The societal, parental, and cultural pressures that seem to dictate our lives. Get an education, find a job, start a family, buy a house, accumulate stuff, and keep working to pay for it all. Where's the passion? It's a script we're all too familiar with, and it's time we realized that what society expects is often a bunch of crap.

I, too, am a victim. I have attended several colleges and earned a master's degree. Oh yawn. I earned it in my 40's. I swear I got it just because I wanted a master's so I could put it on my fridge like one of my kids' pictures. Pffft. I've been married twice, have owned two houses, and raised my children. I've never known what I wanted to do, and I still don't. I know what my talents are and am working to utilize them. Unfortunately, I am not a stranger to criticism from unapologetic others who have chosen to be cruel because my lifestyle isn't the same as theirs, a touchy subject. I know I don't want an ever-increasing mortgage, a house full of crap we don't use, to freeze each year in the winter, having the same walking routes, and rarely seeing my husband. I don't want to one day have regrets that I didn't choose to have courage, the magic that makes dreams come true.

My husband has been on the work hamster wheel for most of his life. It's an ongoing cycle normalized: Work, pay bills, spend just a little time with family, and then return to work on Monday. He works hard, and what does he have to show for it? Hmmm, I'll get back to you on that. He wants to retire soon so we can travel, spend Christmas on the beach holding a margarita, and dance to his heart's content in his yard. He prefers clothing optional.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." My advice is to find a vision for your life. Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you. What are your passions, talents, and your dreams? You don't want to wake up one day and wonder what happened. What did I do with this incredible life I was gifted with? It's never too late to make a change. Start by taking small steps toward your vision, and soon, you'll find yourself living a life that's truly fulfilling.

"They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12: 44

I talked with this woman today after church for about an hour. She is a kind and intelligent woman with a heart of gold. She doesn't currently have a job but is looking. She has no income and only $7 in her bank account. Afterward, we walked over to talk with and pray for a sometimes homeless man. He is a joyful, inspiring, and talented illustrator. After I offered up a prayer on his behalf, she generously gave him all she had in her wallet, $2 (pfft, I only had .75 cents), so he could take the bus to McDonald's. I pray the Lord will show her much favor and bless her abundantly. May we all have this kind of faithful generosity. Picture was taken at Smith Rock, Terrebonne OR

You can see the world through any set of glasses. You can see it through dark and gloomy glasses or rose-colored. What you focus on is what you'll find. Choose to see it through glasses full of love, beauty, and goodness: we are surrounded by many of these qualities if that's what you focus on. A smiling face from you as you pass by someone or even a simple hello can mean so much to others.

Brett and I like to hike Dog Mountain, a 6-mile roundtrip strenuous hike in Cook, WA. We could either choose to focus on how hard it is with its 2800 ft of strenuous butt and quad-killing hills: or we can know our efforts will be awarded by the spectacular, breathtaking views of flowers and surrounding hills at the top. The choice of perspective is yours, and it can make all the difference.

After angrily slipping and sliding in gooey mud on one hike, I encountered an older woman who changed my perspective of nature.

She had her hand on one cheek and was in awe. I saw what she was seeing; the view was of the nearby mountain. The cloud cover was hitting the hills at the right angle, with the sun beaming and the perfectly blue sky, also making the clouds a nice shade of blue. She was grinning ear to ear and said to me, "It is just stunning, isn't it?" I smiled back and replied, "It really is."

Goodness of God

In life, we've all struggled with something. It could be an illness, divorce, loss of a loved one, mistreatment, wayward child, or job loss. Whether God has healed you or brought you through to victory, or He hasn't yet, we all have a story to tell. Through our prayers and faith-filled words of encouragement, God will use you to bring others healing, hope, and comfort.

James 5:15-16 says, "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." It takes faith to cry out to God prayerfully and believe for your healing or another person's. If another's faith in restoration is lacking, you can be a friend with faith. Your faith-filled words alone can open the doors for God's blessings and restoration power. God will use you to be a person who brings a smile, hope, and love to others. You don't always have to even do anything. Your presence alone, sitting in silence with someone, can be enough to bring them restoration.

I recently became an Elder at our church. I love having the opportunity to pray with others who need prayer, whether for a bit of encouragement, prayer for direction in their lives, healing, or they have sinned and want to confess it to someone and receive prayer for repentance. I'm grateful for the opportunity because they trusted me enough to approach me.

While praying for someone is my privilege, I'm not some magical person standing at the front of the church holding a magical wand. I don't have supercharged prayers that will be echoed throughout the church as if God were speaking them. My prayers are simple, while other elders sound like they are taken right out of the Bible: This doesn't matter to God. He uses us how we are right now and doesn't compare us to anyone else. My qualities are precisely what He needs to help others. And you have what others need, too, just as you are right now at this very moment. Never think you're not qualified enough to be a blessing to someone: To speak faith-filled words into someone's life.

When I finish praying for others, I always ask them one thing, and before I ask them, I say, "Okay, now I need to ask you something." Their eyes usually get big. I ask them, "Do you have full faith that God wants to and will help you?" So far, everyone has responded with "yes!" The truth is, He knows these people's hearts. He knew what they would ask even before it was spoken and He knows what they need. He knows they were bold enough to approach a stranger to ask for prayer. That's huge! God, of course, wants to help them. It may take time, or it may be immediately. God is extraordinarily patient, and it is always in His timing. He's never late or early. He's always on time.

Sometimes, before prayers are answered because another person is involved, He needs to change that person's heart. Or perhaps He isn't ready to answer the prayer because it isn't the best timing, or maybe it's a prayer you'll eventually thank Him for saying no. Have faith in knowing God knows what He's doing in your life or whoever you're praying for. Isn't it refreshing knowing that the God who created the universe knows us so well and looks after us? He knows exactly what we need and when to give it to us, and He knows what isn't suitable for us now. But, when the timing is right, He opens the doors of heaven and pours out a flood of blessings beyond our wildest imaginations, beyond anything we could ever think to ask Him for.

I've been asked what I would do if someone I was praying for said they didn't have faith that God would help them. I'd tell the story of the mustard seed. Matthew 17:20 says, "Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Then, I would tell them that I'm believing for you, that I, too, at times, have had a barely get by faith, and that God has always come through. I'd also pray that God would increase their faith and that they would look to Jesus and trust in Him because He is the source of our faith. I'd encourage them to keep reading the Bible, praying, and attending church regularly, and then I would ask to see them again.

Currently, there are around 280 million people in the world who have depression, according to the World Health Organization. 50% more women than men have it. And about 700,000 people die from suicide every year. So many people have depression, yet many people don't care to share the details of their depression nor admit they even have it. It is a silent illness, but it shouldn't be.

One of the symptoms of depression is loneliness. There are so many people who are lonely. I admit there have been times when I would not talk to anyone for many hours throughout my day. It was just myself and my pets. I hated it, but I didn't know how to make a change. My husband would come home, we'd eat dinner, and then we'd go off in our separate ways. I think people need to be open with their depression. Open with a trusting friend, relative, pastor, or counselor. It's time to start dialogues. Dialogues of "I too feel sad, I need help." And it's time for others to reach out and respond, "How can I help?"

When I was going through the worst of my depression, I felt very lonely and bored. I would often say, "If my life is like this in 5 years, I will kill myself!" I'd want to get a horrible disease just so that I would have something to do. I had completely lost a sense of who I truly was, the real me that had been pushed down inside me. I felt so trapped. I was trapped by what I thought were adverse circumstances, the things I had wanted in life but didn't get, and my negative mindset. I blamed everyone around me for my problems, even my poor dogs, who were innocent. I'd even question if God was real. I thought He didn't love me, and I felt utterly abandoned by Him. I had lost my faith, not faith in God, but that He would help me. I thought that I would never break out of my depression and feel better.

At my lowest point, after a lot of begging God for help, God gave me the idea to listen to Christ-centered podcasts that were uplifting daily; I volunteered at our church, I began to sleep better, and I began to tell myself positive affirmations. Slowly, I began to improve. God protected me throughout those times when I wished something terrible would happen to me to escape my boredom. Now that I am feeling so much better, depression speaking, I can honestly say I'm completely healthy. I feel happier, and my home life is happier. Now, I'm able to tell my story of how my faith was restored and how I was delivered from depression to others.

A man was taking his young son on a hike through the mountains. Suddenly, the boy slipped and fell about 20-30 yards down. The boy grabbed onto a bush and yelled, "Somebody help me!" He heard a voice boom back, "Somebody help me!" Confused by what he heard, he yelled, "Who are you?" The voice yelled, "Who are you?" Aggravated, the boy yelled, "You're a coward!" The voice yelled, "You're a coward!" The boy shouted, "You're a fool!" The voice shouted back, "You're a fool!" By this time, the dad got down to him, and he asked his dad, "Who is that?" The dad said, "That is called an echo, but it is also called life." The dad said, "Let me show you something," the dad yelled, "You're a winner!" The voice shouted back, "You're a winner!" The dad shouted out, "You've got what it takes!" The voice boomed back, "You've got what it takes!" The dad yelled, "You can make it! The voice shouted back, "You can make it!" The dad told his son, "Son in life, whatever you send out will always come back to you." What are you sending out about yourself? Send out good things about yourself and pass those words of encouragement on to others.

It's essential to change the messages in your head. What are the things you hear yourself saying and thinking? Are they faith-filled or negative and critical? If you're thinking thoughts like, "I'll never get well, and I'll never break this addiction." Those negative thoughts will drag you down and make you feel worse, not build you up. We must say uplifting things, such as, "God is restoring health back unto me. I'm beautiful, smart, and worthy of many good things!" That's what a woman named Kate did. As a teenager, she was badly bullied. The once-happy young lady became someone full of anger and bitterness, which caused her to fall into depression. She said it was the lowest point in her life. When she went to college, all the bullies were gone from her life, and she began to focus on herself. She started instilling confidence in herself by changing the negative messages in her head to positive ones. She says, "I worked really hard to change the messages in my head, I was led to believe that I was ugly, worthless, and disgusting. I internalized these messages, and they became part of my identity. I began to tell myself that I was smart, loved, and beautiful." Kate recovered and is now a clinician and author.

Proverbs 3:27 encourages us not to withhold good from others when it is in our power to act. I've been hearing so many powerful stories of restoration from children. Kids are so innocent and full of faith and love. I firmly believe God moves when a child shows love to others, especially when the other person needs it the most.

I heard a story of a 5-year-old boy named Michael. His mom was pregnant with a girl. Michael was extremely overjoyed with excitement. He couldn't wait to see his baby sister. Every day, he'd put his hand on his mom's belly and sing to his sister, "You're my sunshine, my only sunshine." He would do this week after week. When it was time for his mom to deliver the baby, there were some bad complications with the delivery. The doctor said there was very little chance the baby would survive. You can imagine how completely distraught the parents were. The baby was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. Michael didn't know what was going on, and the doctors informed the parents that the baby wouldn't likely survive through the night. Michael knew this might be his last chance to see his little sister alive. Children were not allowed in the intensive care unit, so when the head nurse wasn't watching, Michael's mom snuck him in to see his baby sister. He was initially taken aback by all the cords and tubes coming in and out of her. When the head nurse saw him, she said he needed to leave.

Suddenly, Michael started singing to his baby sister again, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are gray." The head nurse noticed the baby's rapid heart rate slowed and told Miachel to keep singing. He continued, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when the skies are gray. Please don't take my sunshine away." The baby's heart rate returned to normal, and her pale blue complexion returned to normal. Because of the faith of this five-year-old boy, his words brought healing to his little sister. The baby went home several days later. There's power in our faith-filled words and the healing energy that Christ is able to pour through us onto others.

The book of Proverbs says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." The tongue can be used for good or bad to yourself and those around you. Our words can be used as a weapon to harm and destroy, or they can be used to bring love and healing. What kind of impact do you want to have on those around you? You can be that person who is so full of faith that your faith brings encouragement, healing, blessings, and life to others. Even smiling as you walk by someone can be enough to restore someone's day.

When you know who you are in Christ, you can walk with your head held high, knowing He loves you and, in return, bring love to those around you. You are God's child. Just as He is pleased with Jesus, He, too, is pleased with you. There's a song that we sing at church. It's called "Goodness of God." A few lyrics are, 'Cause all my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh, I will sing of the goodness of God." God is so faithful to us: He is so good. Let's show others His faithfulness by shining God's love onto others. With every breath that we have, let's sing of His goodness.

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, please call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit SAMHSA's webpage.

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline SAMHSA’s National Helpline

God Gives You Your Desires

We all have ideas, desires, or dreams that come up in our lives that we’d like to pursue. It could be to go on a mission trip, pursue a dream career, volunteer our time, have a child, go back to school, start a ministry, or use your experience to mentor others. So when I heard a pastor say, “God gives you the desires for what He requires,” it reminded me never to disregard any idea or desire because it could be coming from God. Pray, give it to God, and believe in Him: having faith to see it come to pass. God’s Word is truth, living, active, and will not pass away. If it is His will for that dream or desire to succeed, and we trust in Him, it definitely will.

According to Bible Gateway, there are 5,467 promises of God in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ which means ‘Yes’ ascends to God for his glory.” This verse says that every single promise is for those who are believers in Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. All promises have been fulfilled in Christ.

2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.” Taking a look at the verse, to be faithless means “without faith,” having the sense of “unbelieving” or “disbelieving.” If we are unbelieving, God remains faithful. The verse also says, “for He cannot deny Himself.” This tells me God’s Word is true; He cannot lie. So if it’s in the Bible, it’s His Word, and everything in His Word will come to pass, even if we lack faith.

In the book of Genesis, we read about Abraham and Sarah. He was 80 years old, and Sarah was now well past menopause; she couldn’t have any children. Yet, they desired them. God made a covenant with Abraham. He told Abraham to go outside his tent and look up. God promised Abraham that he and Sarah would be the father and mother of all nations and that the number of stars in the sky was how many descendants he and Sarah would have.

Sarah hadn’t borne any children for Abraham and became impatient. Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with Hagar, Sarah’s slave Hagar. Hagar conceived a child, and his name was Ishmael. Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

When Abraham was 99 years old, God promised that all the earth’s nations would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants. God promised Abraham that Sarah would conceive the promised child, Isaac. God would establish His covenant with Isaac as an everlasting covenant for his descendants. Jesus was in the lineage of Isaac. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed. They questioned the news in utter disbelief. Sarah may have laughed, but God’s promise to them, the desire for a child, came to pass. She gave birth to her son, Isaac. His name means laughter. Abraham and Sarah, for a brief moment in time, lacked faith in what God had promised. But their lack of faith didn’t prevent God from holding back on His promises.

God promises to all believers the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has many roles: Comforter, advocate, helper, teacher, guide, convictor of sin, empowerer, and comforter. And the Spirit gives gifts to us. They are the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I’ve heard some people say (I, too, am guilty) I never have any peace or joy. This statement is entirely untrue. You do have peace and joy. You don’t need to ask Him for the fruit of the Spirit; you already have all of them. Don’t doubt His gifts. Thank Him for them, and walk in them.

God doesn’t always heal everyone from illnesses, injuries, and diseases, but He promises He will never leave you, just as He never left His Son’s side as He died on the cross. I heard about this 26-year-old man named Willy from Singapore who, at work one day, began having horrible chest pains. At first, he inaccurately thought they were due to his coffee consumption. His doctor initially prescribed him painkillers, which didn’t help. The pains were so severe they caused him to fall to the floor, gasping for air. He was rushed to the hospital. His doctor performed many tests to determine the cause of his pain, but they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He lost confidence in the doctors. When Willy was at his absolute lowest, he remembered the God he knew from his younger years: the God whom his girlfriend (now wife) in high school knew. He says, “While praying, I thought, God, I am at a complete loss. I don’t know what to do. If You are real, can You do something to help? And as I finished praying, I felt an inexplicable peace wash over me. Through the prayer, I felt that God was in control of the situation and that I could trust Him to deliver me.”

Willy had to have several blood transfusions, a bone marrow aspiration test, and then chemotherapy. It was then that he was told he had leukemia and would need a bone marrow transport. There was only a 25% chance of finding a bone marrow match from a sibling, or he’d have to get on the global donor list. Willy said his best friend came to visit him in the hospital and shared with him Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” For much of his life, Willy had it pretty trouble-free, but his sickness brought him to his knees. The verses completely humbled him. Willy accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. By the grace of God, his younger brother was a donor match, and after several very intense treatments lasting 1 1/2 years, he was healed of cancer. He asked God why he wasn’t healed instantly, but the Lord showed him that He wanted him to go through the whole treatment so he could be a testimony to others battling cancer as a hope of God’s goodness.

Willy’s father grew up in the church but never accepted Christ because his parents were Buddhists. His father was diagnosed with tuberculosis with a suspicion of cancer. His father initially wanted to wait until his mom had passed away before he accepted Christ, but due to his health condition, he knew he didn’t have time. That night, Willy talked to his dad about the gospel, and his father accepted the Lord. Not too long after this, his father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer with only 3 months to live. Even though this was during the heavy Covid restrictions, arrangements were made for his mom and siblings to visit. He openly shared the gospel with them. He passed away the next day.
https://ymi.today/2022/04/meeting-god-in-cancer-and-death/#comments

What happens when things are taking too long? When you start to feel impatient that your prayers haven’t been answered yet? Have faith. Know this: God is extraordinarily patient. His timing is always the right timing. He’s never late, not always early either, bummer. I, too, have been on my knees in prayer to God to take away my depression, only to be met with nothing. I hadn’t heard from God or felt His presence for a long time. But in hindsight, He was always there with me and, at times, carrying me.

See with your eyes of faith. Believe that God will do what you feel is impossible because nothing is impossible with God. Hold firm to your faith and believe in Him. Abraham had absolutely no reason to believe the promises God made to him. But he did, and all of those promises came to pass, and he waited 25 years.

It can be a test of faith when you come up against opposition, and it seems like all the odds are against you. Put away the negative mindset. Have a positive outlook regarding your life and possibilities for your future. See things as they could be, not as they are currently. Speak out loudly how you want your circumstances to look. For example, don’t say, “I really want to go on a mission trip, but my funds are lacking right now. I never get any good breaks.” Instead, say, “God, thank you for your favor. Thank you for increasing my funds. Thank you that I am a lender and not a borrower.” God goes to work on your behalf when you say encouraging, uplifting words and don’t complain.

Stacey Womack is an attendee of a church in Hillsboro, Oregon. She was not an abuse victim herself, but she felt the call on her life to start an abuse recovery ministry. She opened the business in 1997. Abuse Recovery Ministry Services (ARMS) is now serving nationally and internationally. ARMS serves both victims and perpetrators of abuse from a faith perspective. Stacey was awarded the Judge Stephen B. Herrall award in 2012 for outstanding collaborative efforts to end family violence. So many people have been helped because she responded to her desire to start this ministry.

Get to know God and His Word. Rely on Him, who is your provider. Never think of any desire or promise God has placed in your heart as too complicated. Take your eyes off the impossibilities; you’re only looking at things in the natural. Look to the supernatural: Look to God. Rely on Him, who is your provider. Even if you lack faith in the promises of God, this doesn’t mean God won’t deliver on His promise. Walk by faith, not by sight, believing in His promises. And lastly, don’t laugh too seriously, friends.

The Church Needs Your Joyous Spirit

I grew up in the church. I attended a Methodist church with my parents for many years until I started attending my first Foursquare denomination in my teenage years. I would initially go with my sister and brother-in-law before I could drive myself. I loved to go and would attend as much as possible. I enjoyed the high school and college age groups and Sunday morning and evening services. The Sunday and youth night worship was longer. I’d lie down in the phew, close my eyes, listen to the worship, and feel God’s presence. I never wanted to leave. And the church was so Spirit-filled. Every week, people were constantly being saved. The church kept exploding with growth.

Many years later, my husband, children, and I still attend church within the Foursquare denomination. Then, we were empty nesters. Our adult children attend their church, while my husband and I attend a different large church in Beaverton, Oregon. The church hit a rough patch with the spread of COVID-19 and sad times with a pastor. People left the church. Some came back; some didn’t. But it has continued to thrive. It is where we call home. It is where we have friends. The Spirit of God is always moving there, touching lives and mending hearts.

Being a part of a church is one of the great joys of being a believer in Christ. I want to look at what the early church looked like and its purpose, why people are leaving the church now, and why they should return. Before we look at why people are leaving, we should remember why God created the church in the first place.

After Jesus’s death and resurrection, the early church began. Known as the day of Pentecost, many were in one place when suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon them and rested. They were all filled with God’s Spirit and spoke in other tongues.

In Jerusalem, many God-fearing Jews from every nation were amazed at what happened but questioned the languages they were hearing. They even mocked those newly saved and speaking in tongues. Peter stood up and addressed the crowd in a powerful speech when he heard the Jews questioning the languages that they were hearing. In Peter’s speech, he points the people to Jesus to interpret the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus and the promise of the Holy Spirit: a gift to all believers who believe in Jesus as the Lord and Savior and put their faith in Him. After Peter’s speech, about 3000 souls were saved.

Looking at the book of Acts, we can see what the early church looked like. Acts 2:42-47 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." This scripture shows us how God intended His church to look. When we look at the early church, we can learn a few things about its characteristics in studying the scripture from Acts: The church met constantly. They were utterly devoted to the Apostle’s teachings of the Word of God, as seen in scripture. They communed together, eating meals, including the Lord’s supper. They cared for each other’s needs through prayer, selling their possessions, and sharing the income from the proceeds. The early church was devoted to worship, praising God, and displaying goodwill towards everyone. Because of all these things, their hearts were filled with gladness, simplicity, and generosity. And the church grew.

When COVID hit and was spreading, the church and most companies had no choice but to shut their doors. The affects of the closures not only hurt many companies but also the church. Not being allowed to come together as the body of Christ was devastating. Churches started to have services online so that people could still hear the message from their pastor. At first, people were grateful to have some kind of connection to the church. People became used to watching sermons online, and it somewhat became comfortable until it didn’t for many. I remember the first few times we were allowed to get together. We would meet outside in the church parking lot during the summer months. Although thrilled to be back, it felt awkward, as if I were doing something wrong. Later, the church began to meet inside. You had to register for the service and get a ticket. They had plexiglass everywhere, and you had to sit in every other row. As COVID symptoms improved, the conditions at church slowly improved, and people let their guards down.

Soon after COVID, we learned that our pastor was being let go from his position for wrongdoing. His actions hurt the entire congregation. During the transition, I became bitter. We were not getting a lot of answers as to why the pastor was fired and who would be the replacement. After the congregation was told the truth, my husband and I processed the information prayerfully together. But we had enough; we needed a break and left the church for several months. We didn’t really go anywhere new. Honestly, we hiked on Sundays. We went a couple of times to the church our adult children attended and then tried out a new church. But nowhere felt like where God wanted us to be.

Thankfully, during the transition, the church was being led by an interim transitional lead pastor who eventually became the lead pastor, much to our joy. Months later, after taking time away, with rested spirits and new strength, the Lord called us back to our home church. We returned for our friends and because of the many people who’d walk through the church’s doors. These people needed a smile from others to mend their hurting hearts, someone who’d pray for them and offer a Godly word of encouragement, and needed to know Jesus. We knew God was calling us back to help offer that.

Around 40 million people have left the church in the past 25 years. It’s not just the Christian church but Americans of all faiths. 40 million, that’s a lot. There are other reasons besides COVID as to why people are leaving the church. Many leave because they were hurt by the church. I have so much sympathy for people who have been hurt by the church. I have sat down and heard many different stories about the disrespect, neglect, and even abuse people have endured, and my heart breaks for these people. I, too, have been hurt. But, I have learned that avoiding church altogether only brings on more pain through attacks of the enemy. I know this first hand. It hurts. I encourage those to seek help because we are the church; we don’t go to church. There are so many loving Godly brothers and sisters of Christ who would love to hear your story and will love you as only Christ can.

Other people leave the church because they have moved away or lost their friends who attended for one reason or another. With COVID, people had grown comfortable staying at home. They leave because of boredom. If you’re bored at church, you must ask yourself honestly why. Are you paying attention? Perhaps taking notes would help? My church has a sermon discussion group that meets each week. Maybe something like that would help you to understand the sermons better. But, if you’re going to the same church because you’ve always gone, all of your family goes, and you have never gotten anything out of the service, then yes, perhaps a church change is in order. Find a church that is better suited for you. But commit to going somewhere.

Another reason people leave the church is because they’re searching for something they feel the church can no longer provide for them. Or because it’s due to a change in family dynamics. Sometimes, it’s the children’s ministry. Some people have special needs kids, and the church they are going to can’t provide their children with what they need. Possibly, it’s time to look elsewhere if the church can’t accommodate you. Or, your kids are absolutely bored and never want to go. They’re kicking and screaming on the way out the door. I did this as a child, and I turned out ok. I waited until I thought I would get away with not going. But my mom always came in and pulled me out of bed. Finding a church with a good children’s program is essential. According to a survey taken a few years ago, more than 80% of people accept Jesus as their Lord and Savor before the age of 20. Our kids need the church.

https://ministry-to-children.com/childrens-ministry-statistics/
*2/3 of Christians came to faith before the age of 18.
*43% came to Christ before the age 12.
*Less than 1/4 of current believers came to Christ after the age 21.

When our kids were little, we’d take them every week to Sunday school, and they’d joyously go during the week to youth group. They, like me, grew up in the church because of our commitment to go every week. Because of this, they met many quality pastors who spoke truth into their lives and looked after them, and I contribute these people to helping raise them. Our kids wouldn’t have met these God-fearing men and women without us attending church. Our children would not be the Godly women they are today if it were not for the church. The Lord will reward your obedience for going.

"Attending church ever since I was a child gave me a built-in community where I can always have someone to lean on. It has given me a sense of purpose and direction in my life, through being a mentor to students or being able to grow in my skill of digital art."-Kayla Thompson.

Whatever the reason, know this: God never intended for the church to separate and not to be united. He intended for us to unite with a common purpose: praying, learning, and worshiping Him as one body of believers.

To the people who have decided they are done with church, you miss out on the command to gather together in corporate worship. From the amplified Bible it says in Hebrews 10:24-25, “and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.” This verse encourages believers to gather together often and to encourage one another. I believe those who have stopped attending church miss out on the encouragement. By our presence, the presence of other believers, and our commitment to attending church, we can stir others toward loving one another and doing the good works God predestined for us. People need others. We were not meant for solitude.

However, you can absolutely stay at home and watch church online. Church’s have made this so easy to do. You won’t miss out on that aspect. But you should not make this a habit; other believers need you. You can indeed pray with your family and friends. You can have Bible studies and share in partaking in communion with others. You can do many things that do not require a church building. Why? Because the body of believers is the church. We are the church with the Holy Spirit dwelling within each of us. It doesn’t matter if we meet in a building or we don’t. I know a wonderful church in Oregon that meets in one another’s homes: they have worship, learn from scripture, eat, and pray together. They even have fun together, like a church meeting in a building.

There is a handful of things you will miss out on if you don’t attend church regularly. People can get out of the habit of attending each week. I get it; it’s easier not to get up early, rush to get the kids dressed, get in the car, and head to church in hopes you won’t fight along the way and will make it on time. There were many times I’d get upset with my husband or something one of our kids did before getting to the church. I’d be upset with my husband while worshiping. I’d be so mad. On the outside, it looked like I was joyfully singing the words on the screen, but I wasn’t allowing them to get into my heart because I couldn’t let the anger go.

You miss out on corporate prayer. This type of prayer means praying with others. There are many Bible verses about praying together. Matthew 18:19-20 says, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” I heard about a young lady, Meghan, a few years ago who was born with a displaced kneecap. Through her church in Oregon, she went to a youth winter camp at Mt. Hood. She was prayed for during a powerful night of prayer and worship. Several gathered around her, laying hands on her, and they all prayed together. One person who laid hands on Meghan felt a tingling sensation in her hand. That night, Meghan was healed. She said she felt a warm pressure on her knee, and her kneecap had shifted back into place. There is power in being prayed for by other believers in Christ.

You miss out on experiencing the Holy Spirit dwelling in the church's fellowship. 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." We need the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, to empower us to live as God wants us to live: righteously. We need His grace, provision, revelations, and wisdom daily. But, mostly, we need His love.

If you have read my other blog posts, you'd know that my husband and I had a prophecy spoken over us regarding our wayward daughter. Long story short, we both were distraught and didn't want to be at church that night. We were on our way out when we heard the pastor speaking about a wayward daughter who would come home. I was utterly taken aback as I've never had a prophecy spoken over me. We heard this prophecy because we went to church that night. Prophecies are still happening. You can read about the story of my daughter on my blog entitled Wayward Daughter Coming Home.

God's Spirit dwells in every believer's heart. It is extremely powerful when we come together to worship Him. We magnify His name and angels all around us. All of Earth and Heaven rejoice. There are so many other things that you could do with your time than go to church on Sunday morning. But, giving a few hours of your time reaps so many blessings that they cannot be contained. You're not seeing the smile on God's face when you go, learning from His Word and worshipping Him. You can't see the angels surrounding your child when they attend their own Sunday service. The future impact that taking them each week has on their life and yours. Invest in yourself and your child. Make it a habit again to attend church because if you live in a country where you're not persecuted for your Christian beliefs, you're blessed. You are needed. The body of believers needs your smile, encouragement, wisdom and to see the love of Christ shining through you.

Rising Above a Victim Mentality

If we are to think back on our life and write our story, we're most likely going to highlight mainly the good things that have happened: moments that made us smile, the significant events, achievements, unique gifts given to us from someone special, the sound of the ocean or a memorable vacation. But you may also write about the not-so-good moments and lessons learned. Life certainly is full of good times, but it can also have bad breaks, sad times, and things that happen to us that are beyond our control. How we view and handle these trying times when they come will determine how fast we can rebound. If we're not careful when trials and tribulations come, we can get stuck in a victim mentality. God didn't create us to live in this state. He created us for good: To live happy, joyful, and purposeful lives. But, when we choose to continue to live as victims, we are not living how God created us. We can overcome a victim mentality through a personal relationship with Jesus.

A few years ago, I complained to my doctor that I was suffering from depression. After a few tests, she prescribed depression medication. Circumstances at that time were troubling enough to warrant the prescription. I was unable to handle my problems properly. Some were my fault, a few bad breaks, and others were beyond my control. At the physician's office, I scored poorly on the depression and anxiety quiz given by the doctor. I confessed to the doctor that I had thoughts of suicide, but I wouldn't have gone through with it. I didn't want to die; I wanted to live differently. That was in 2021. I've been on Lexapro for almost three years. 2020 and 2021 were difficult years. I read that antidepressant dispensing rose 63% during that time.

I would think, "Am I suffering? Sure, I have days of sadness. But am I suffering?" I have often wondered if my depression was due to perimenopause, bad breaks, or my responses to the inappropriate behaviors of those around me. But was I suffering? I'm married to a good-looking and God-fearing man. I have two healthy adult children, a home, and food, and I'm not living in a war zone. I always thought if you're suffering from something, you're stuck, wounded, and a victim who doesn't accept help and chooses to live in a hopeless environment. I've done this for a time. Depression hurts, and I've allowed it to hurt me. I've allowed my negative thoughts to consume me. But, I sought out help. Help from my doctor, family, and friends. I'm no longer allowing my depression to treat me like a victim, telling me that I'm unworthy and incapable of contributing to this world positively.

If you're looking for a story when the poor me goes to God and is instantly healed, this is not that story. I have often gone on my hands and knees, begging for God to help me, to heal me, and heard nothing, felt nothing. Nothing happened, and I was left more wounded, wondering why my Father in heaven didn't help me. But, when I look back, I was wrong. He was always there, carrying me through my difficulties. He is helping, just not instantaneously. Through the years, I've learned much about myself and have grown closer to God abundantly. I will give you examples of what I have learned up to this point.

I remember when God spoke to me in His gentle voice, suggesting I had become negative. I questioned, "Am I just like the Israelites because of my complaining and dwindling faith that my God will help me? Is this why I am not getting my breakthrough?" We'll talk about the Israelites later.

Enough about me; let's look at the Bible. Three of the Gospels talk about a woman named St. Veronica. She had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She spent all the money that she had to pay doctors, hoping they'd heal her, but without success. Because of her bleeding, she was weak and unable to bear children. Back then, a woman unable to bear children suffered with shame. Their lack of ability to bear a child suggested there was sin in their life.

Because she had a bleeding disorder, she was considered unclean. She couldn't go to the temple. The temple was where people could experience God's presence and receive forgiveness for their sins. This woman was likely cut off from her family. If she were unmarried, she would likely be unmarriable due to her inability to bear children. If she was married, her husband likely would have divorced her, or he would have taken a 2nd wife to bear him children. This woman had no authority, wealth, or power. She had forgotten her value, and she had lost her dignity.

But she refused to live as a victim any longer. She was walking through a crowd to get to Jesus. She knew she'd be healed if she could touch Him. Because she was considered an outcast, going through this heavily populated crowd, she risked making others unclean if she touched someone else accidentally. But she knew Jesus would heal her. She believed that with all of her heart. So, she pushed through the crowd, and she touched Him. Immediately, she was healed. He turned around and asked who had touched Him. She, realizing what had happened, fell to Jesus's feet, trembling from fear, and confessed that she had touched Him. Jesus moved with compassion, looked at her, and called her 'daughter.' She is the only woman in the New Testament He calls daughter. When everyone else rejected her, and nobody advocated for her, Jesus looked her in the eye and called her 'daughter.'

Nobody can make you a victim; you have to permit them. God created us to enjoy our lives, be joyful, live purposefully, and help others. Don't hide behind your hurts. Satan wants to keep you in hiding. Come out of hiding; come out from behind what you fear, shame, and regrets. God can't heal what you keep hidden, so confess it to Him and allow Him to do the restoration work so you can walk side by side with Him in a close relationship.

The Israelites wandered the desert for over 40 years when it was only supposed to be an 11-day journey. They didn't like the long journey, the heat, the lack of water, or hunger. They complained a lot, their faith was weak, and they rebelled against Moses and Aaron and worshipped other gods. Even after God supplied them with necessary items intended to be a blessing, they still would not stop complaining and thus kept them in the wilderness. God supplied them with water and food; He parted the Red Sea to deliver them from Pharaoh’s armies. God provided them with His presence: He manifested Himself as a pillar of a cloud during the day to guide them and give them shade, and a pillar of fire at night provided them with light. We see in Exodus 15 that God says, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” God was testing their faithfulness. But they kept complaining. To God, this felt like they were rejecting Him. They couldn’t trust Him as the God who provided, loved, and wept with them. But what does God do? Because of His unfailing love, He kept providing for them. He never stopped pouring out His love to them.

Don't be like the Israelites when you find ourselves in the wilderness, in the storms of life. Instead of complaining about what you don’t have, thank Him for the things you do have. Trust God to give you the things you need. Ask Him for those things with a spirit of praise and thanksgiving. When you do that, that’s when He will provide. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Complaining will only keep you in the wilderness longer. It is displeasing to the Lord and causes you to doubt the goodness of God. Not complaining keeps you blameless and pure.

I recently heard a pastor say, "Complaining is always the response when we're powerless to change something we don't like." But you see, we're not powerless. We have the God who created the universe as our Father. He loves you more than anything. If you doubt His goodness and love at this moment and feel so stuck that you can't possibly do anything to help yourself, there is something you can do. It is so powerful that mountains have been moved, multitudes of people have been fed, and seas parted. That one thing is prayer. You can pray. It is a gift from our Father as a way to communicate with us because He strongly desires a relationship with us. And if you have even the faith of a mustard seed, He will help you. I heard about this 3-year-old boy whose mom was sick. He put his little hand on her stomach and said, "Jesus, mommy sick, heal." She was healed instantly.

Frida Kahlo is an artist from Mexico. She had polio as a child. As a teenager, she was in a horrible bus accident that left her with fractures to her ribs, spine, collarbone, a shattered pelvis, broken foot, and a dislocated shoulder. Frida ended up having over 30 surgeries. She could have lived the rest of her life as a victim, but she rose above adversity. Frida started to paint while in a body cast. She went on to paint over 200 self-portraits and drawings. They depict her pain from her injuries and turbulent marriage. These

paintings are bold, beautiful, and passionate. Frida writes, "I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone because I am the person I know best." And "My painting carries with it the message of pain." She is celebrated in Mexico for her message to women through her work. She truly is an inspiration of hope to many. Frida teaches us that even though you've been through a lot, put your feet on the floor each morning and keep walking forward. We all have the gift of being an inspiration to others. https://www.fridakahlo.org/

Joyce Meyer is an American Christian author, speaker, and president of Joyce Meyer Ministries. She was sexually, mentally, emotionally, and verbally abused by her father, beginning at an early age until she moved out of her parent's home at the age of 18. Her mother knew about the abuse. She had caught her husband sexually abusing Joyce. But she let her fear of her husband prevent her from helping her daughter. Joyce was saved at the age of nine and had prayed many times for the abuse to stop, but it didn't. Once Joyce was out of her parents' home, she married the first guy who showed any interest in her. But he, too, mistreated her. He cheated on her multiple times, would often be gone for days at a time, and he was a thief. https://joycemeyer.org/

Joyce had a high school degree; she didn't attend bible college. Yet, she began preaching the Word at a time when women didn't do that. Many years later, she is a very successful Bible teacher and author. Joyce refused to become a victim but a victor. She responded to God's call on her life. The story doesn't end here. Many years into her ministry, she obeyed God by buying her parents a home, taking care of them, and walked her father through his repentance and salvation. Joyce is also an advocate for other victims of abuse. Friends, don't let Satan have his way. Defeat evil with good. Joyce says on her website, "But God always had a plan for my life, and He has redeemed me. He has taken what Satan meant for harm and turned it into something good. He has taken away my shame and given me a double reward and recompense.

I heard that kids laugh as much as 400 times a day, yet adults will laugh about 15. I enjoy listening to Joel Osteen on Spotify while running or walking. Joel is a pastor and author from Houston. He is funny, and laughing is good for our spirit. I even started watching re-runs of the Golden Girls because they are funny! Watch funny shows and read humorous books. You'll find your spirits lifted.

God comes first. He needs to be a priority in your life. Spending time reading His Word needs to be a priority, as well as spending time in prayer. I read the Bible every morning. I read two chapters from the Old Testament, two from the New, 1 Proverb, and 1 Psalm. I've been doing it faithfully for over eight years. Reading the Bible like this works for me, but not for my husband, who has a full-time job and other responsibilities. He reads for about 15 minutes every night. Just because I'm reading more definitely doesn't make me more spiritual than he is. Not at all. We also attend church on Sundays together, a monthly worship night, and he serves in a different area at church than I do. This is what works for my husband and I. You may do something different. You may find reading the Bible works better at night or during your lunch break.

I'm learning to control the negative thoughts that come to my mind and recognize them for what they are: always garbage. But, if I let the negativity sink in, I can become bitter and upset. For example, I sent my newly married daughter a few texts one day, and she didn't answer me. She usually is quick to respond. So, I had the thought, a lie from Satan, that she was annoyed with me and I was texting too much. Well, later, I called her and cleared it up. She was busy and hadn't had the time to answer. That's all. If we'd learn to talk to others face to face or by phone, we wouldn't defeat the majority of the attacks from Satan nor live in so much bitterness and confusion. Our relationships could heal.

If you are dealing with hard times and feel like you're a victim, this is not how your story ends. You are not a victim. Lift your head in prayer. Let our Father heal you. Even if you think your faith is too small for Him to help you, He doesn't think that. Your faith is enough. Mathew 17: 20-21 says, “Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Our heavenly Father loves you and wants a close relationship with you. He wants to help you. I want the best for my two children and would do anything for them. I love it when they stop by to visit me. I even let them raid our cupboards and fridge. LOL. I don't mind. Our house is their house. I love them. God is the same way with you. He'd do anything for you. His love knows no bounds, which means His love is 100% unconditional.

Get together with trusted others who want the best for you and talk about what you're going through with them. Make an appointment with your doctor. Seek out a professional counselor or try an antidepressant if needed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having to go on prescription antidepressants. What's wrong is continuing to live in sadness and not seeking help.

You're not a victim until you quit for good. You are a victor!!