Category: Treasures for the Heart

Everyone can use encouragement!

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God is My Super Glue by Dawn Mondt

God is My Super Glue

On June 14th, my youngest Son passed away. He was only 29 years old, the baby of the family. He was a Son, Brother, Grandson, Father, Husband, Friend and so many other things to people. He was funny, intelligent, caring, giving, special and super sweet. He was a 10 year Cancer survivor. That only tells you a few things about him.  To me he was my baby, my sweet boy who made his mom laugh and shared my love of pugs just to name a few things. 

June 14th was a Monday, I was sleeping still when my husband came to wake me up and tell me Johnny was gone.  As is my nature I wanted to run to him but was told no. I remember sitting on the side of my bed feeling like my world had crumbled and all was dark.  The next days were filled with all the things that have to be done and oh so many tears.  I can’t tell you much about those days except to say I felt like I was walking in a daze.

As the days turned into weeks I began to see myself as broken. Broken beyond repair by mans standards. I couldn’t do anything to make myself better. I couldn’t bring my Son back.  I wouldn’t want to do that.  He is finally completely happy, no pain, no sorrow, no tears.  But God can make me better so I talk to the Lord on a constant basis because you see He never left me.  Hebrews 13:5 …..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  I can tell you that is very true.  It took a while before I could read my Bible without crying but that did not matter because His Word is Hid in My heart.  Psa_119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart,….  I can tell you that is true also.  And I turned to the same verse God gave me when Johnny had cancer. Psa_125:2  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 

As I looked at my broken self I began to see that I couldn’t be fixed.  I will never be whole in the way I was before again.  But what I did see is that God does not fix us he fills in the cracks and broken pieces of our heart with Himself.  Kind of like when you crack or break something like a vase and you fix it with super glue.  God fills in those cracks and broken pieces of our heart with Himself just like super glue.  But its better its God Glue!  

I feel like I am living in that Poem “Footprints In The Sand.” God is carrying me as He glues me together. How long will I need to be carried, I don’t know.  Will I be able to stand on my own sometimes.  I think so.

As I go on this journey with my Lord I have been asked by many. “How do I talk to a grieving person?”  The first thing I would tell you is make sure if you really want to ask them how they are doing.  I am a very honest person and not everyone can hear the truth well.  The second is if you do want to ask and really do care say “How are you doing today?”  That last word is very important!  In grief things change quickly.  Sometimes minute by minute.  The truth is I am still in the process and will be for a long time.  I have written this while tears stream down my face.  What the grieving person needs the most are your prayers and your love.

https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/god-is-my-super-glue-dawn-mondt


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Weathering Change by Stephanie Miller

Welcome to the 13th day of September 2021! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend! This week’s devotion is “Weathering Change” written by Stephanie Miller! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today! I hope that the Lord blesses you each with an awesome week!!!

Last month when I was asked to write a devotional for the “Helpers of Joy” page, I was beyond surprised. You see, I have only met Amy once in my life. I was going through a very hard time and honestly felt like I was alone and could trust no one outside of my family. I’m not sure if Amy could see this or not but she approached me at a lady’s retreat and told me about her ministry for pastors’ wives and asked for my phone number. I don’t usually give my number out to strangers but for some reason that day I did. The very next weekend I was surprised to see that little bit of encouragement she so faithfully sends out each week pop up on my phone. It was like a breath of fresh air; it was exactly what I needed. Over the last few years, like many of you, I have had the privilege of watching Amy weather the ups and downs of life so gracefully.

As I prayerfully considered what direction the Lord would have me go with this devotional the Lord gently led me to the subject of ‘Change’. I sweetly told the Lord that the subject of change was good, but I was thinking about doing something else. After going back and forth with the Lord a few times and suggesting a few other topics, I decided to settle on the subject of ‘Change.’ Isn’t it amazing how God works! 😊

Change is not something new, it is not something that has come about over the last year and a half simply because of COVID. Although there has been a lot of change for many of us during this time; change is something that happens to each of us whether its expected or unexpected, whether we are prepared or unprepared, whether we are walking close to the Lord or not walking with Him at all.

Sometimes we can do everything in our power to be ready for change but when that change finally comes it often seems to knock the wind out of us. From Adam and Eve to the Apostle Paul, the Bible is full of people who had to weather change in their lives. Today, I simply want to share a few things that I’ve learned over the years about weathering change in my life.

When Weathering Change:

REMEMBER THE LORD AND ALL HE HAS DONE!

Psalm 77:10-12 KJV “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

When change comes it is easy to focus on the change itself. The problem is that when we are focused on the change that focus will bring uncertainty, and that uncertainty will bring worry, and that worry often brings fear. But when our focus is on the God of change; that change no longer seems so uncertain and we can rest knowing He is in control.

REMEMBER TO SEEK THE LORD!

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 KJV “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”

1 Chronicles 16:10 KJV “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.”

I found this in the Websters 1828 Dictionary, “To seek God, his name, or his face, in Scripture, is to ask for his favor, direction and assistance.” If we remember to seek the Lord through the change that comes in our lives and leave the results in His hands then we will have cause to rejoice. This sounds so simple, but how often do we try to control the outcome instead of giving the outcome to Christ?

REMEMBER TO TRUST THE PROMISES THAT GOD’S GIVEN YOU!

2 Peter 3:9 KJV “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

When we are facing change in our lives it is a comfort to cling to the promises of God’s Word. The Bible is full of promises to cling to, so dig in! With my oldest daughter now at college I have been clinging to this promise.

Psalm 84:11 KJV “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

How does this apply you may wonder? This verse reminds me that if my daughter seeks the Lord, He will take care of her. He will not withhold any good thing from her. Her life will be a life full of blessings, and I can rest knowing that she is in His hands.

Malachi 3:6 KJV “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

In a world that is full of change, it is a comfort to know that we serve a God that does not change.

https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/weathering-change-stephanie-miller

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Back 2 School

Thanks to an unexpected provision our family is making some unforeseen transitions this year. My daughter will be attending Christian School. It was an amazing and unexpected last-minute blessing. She will be able to attend school with her cousin who has quickly become a close friend as well.

With attending traditional school this year, there have been a lot of emotions shared between us. While homeschool has its benefits and we enjoyed it (though the last few years have been difficult for me due to my lightning strike injuries), Dezirae had thought it’d be nice to attend a traditional school to help her get ready for college but was hesitant because of her dyslexia and uncertainty of unknowns. I told her to pray about it and if God wanted her in school that we might be able to do it next year for her senior year.

God had other plans. He provided the money the very next day!!! Praise the Lord!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

To help calm and encourage their hearts, God laid it on my heart to give the gals a Scripture verse for each day and to pray with and for them each day. In doing so, it spun this month’s Scripture Journaling theme. I hope it helps you as well.

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What the Future Holds

by Dr. Paul Chappell

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:4-6

I’m sure you’ve seen the photo sections in newspapers where they ask various people to respond to a question. I recently came across one where they were asking people how they viewed what lies ahead. A thirteen year old girl said, “My computer screen is brighter than my future.” There is no question that we live in a time of great uncertainty and confusion regarding what will happen next. Things that people counted on as stable and long-lasting proved to be anything but reliable. People we expected to remain steadfast faded away. It is no wonder that many people are unsettled and fearful concerning the future.

As believers, our trust is not to be in men, institutions, or our resources, but in God. When we recognize that He is in control and provides His mercy to accompany us every day, we realize there is no need to be fearful regarding the future. Our lives may be filled with hardship and difficulty, but we will never be forsaken by the Good Shepherd. We can always rely on Him to both know what is best for us and provide for all our needs. Corrie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

When we allow worry and fear to control our thinking and our actions, we are demonstrating a lack of faith. The promises of God are certain and sure, and our future is settled. We do not see what lies ahead, but God already knows. We simply need to trust in His love and care for us every day.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The faithfulness of God is the foundation of our hope for the future.

https://devo.paulchappell.com/

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How is Your Day? -Lucinda Metsinger

Happy Monday!!! Are you ready for another great week to spend with the Lord?!? This weeks devotion is “How is Your Day?” written by Lucinda Metsinger! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us today. I hope you have an amazing day!!!

How is your day?

One of the best things my father ever taught me was, “Never let anyone else decide what kind of day you’re going to have or what kind of person you’re going to be.” He was usually telling me this wisdom when I came crying to him about some ornery thing my brother had said or done. At the time, I just wanted my dad to scold my brother for being ornery. However, he knew that he would not be able to correct every person that came into my life and hurt my feelings or made me cry. My Dad was trying to help me realize that allowing someone else that kind of power in my life was giving them power that only God should have. God, and God alone should be the One to decide what kind of day I’m going to have or what kind of person I’m going to be.

Throughout my life, I have recognized that this wisdom can be used over and over again, not just on ornery brothers, but other prickly people.

– You can use it when it comes to the church lady who has to let everyone know ALL the gossip.

– Use it on the fella who cut you off in traffic.

– Use it when dealing with people who are unkind to your children.

– You can even use it on your willful child who seems to know just the right buttons to push to send you into “Crazy Mommy” mode.

No matter who the person is, they should NOT get to decide what kind of day you are going to have or what kind of person you are going to be. Only GOD should have that power.

Along the way, I’ve also realized that I can use this wisdom when it comes to hard circumstances that come my way. Hard times WILL come. We cannot control when they will happen, but we can decide what our response to them will be. Many things in life can knock the props out from underneath us.

– The loss of a job

– A wayward child

– A cancer diagnosis

– The death of a loved one…etc

Satan will use any number of things to try to make us bitter or angry or jealous or even spiritually paralyzed. As a Christian, we can decide to give God the hard circumstances that come our way, then, sit back and watch Him use them for our good and for His glory. Only GOD can do that!

Don’t let anyone or anything but God decide what kind of day you are going to have or what kind of person you are going to be!

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Isaiah 26:3-4, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/how-is-your-day-lucinda-metsinger

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The Napkin by Dianne McQueen

Welcome to Monday!!! Are you alive alert and enthusiastic?!? This week’s devotion is “The Napkin” written by Dianne Mcqueen. Please take the time to read as she shares her thoughts with us on folding a napkin! I hope you have the best Monday ever!!!

John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

The Napkin

Image by RitaE from Pixabay

The gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin which was placed over the face of Jesus was not just thrown aside like the other grave clothes. The Bible takes the entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separately from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning while it was still dark Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciples, John, the one whom Jesus loved. She said they have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb and I don’t know where they have put him. Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see …the other disciple, John, got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw that the linen cloth laying there but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrapping’s lying there while the cloth that had covered Jesus’s face was neatly folded up and lying to the side. Was that important ..absolutely, it is really significant.

It had to do with the Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the master and servant and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

The servant set the dinner table the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait just outside of sight until the master had finished eating. The servant would not dare touch the table until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table wipe his fingers, his mouth and clean his beard and would wad up the napkin and toss it on the plate. The servant would then know to clean the table for in those days the wadded up napkin mean’t I’m done but if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin and laid it beside his plate the servant would not dare touch the napkin because the folded napkin meant I’m coming back.

Praise God we know he’s coming back and we look for his coming. Not even the angels in heaven know that day or hour, only God knows.

We don’t have those Hebrew traditions but the next time you’re done eating, consider where you put your napkin. Will you wad it up and put it on your plate because you’re done serving your Sunday school class, your bus route, working in the nursery, whatever ministry you have or will you fold it neatly, you’re coming back to because we haven’t finished our course, let’s get busy on our next course for the Lord

https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/the-napkin-diane-mcqueen

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Suffer the Little Children…

Thankful that my Heavenly Father cares about the needs of young and old alike. All of us are in need of a Saviour and are capable of receiving His blessings. Let us learn from His example not to count anyone unworthy that is willing to learn and seek after Christ.

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