Our stronghold

 

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble;

And He knows those who trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7

David Jeremiah tweeted yesterday:
"There’s no other person on earth like you, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be!
We are uniquely created by God to serve Him, and we should never bemoan the way we are. Let Him have control over your life and ask Him to work through you for His glory today!"

See Tuesday's post: Start the conversation
Monday's post: Teen suicide
Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

You'll save me

 

You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Psalm 32:7 NKJV

See Tuesday's post: Start the conversation
Monday's post: Teen suicide
Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

A clean heart

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:10,12 NKJV

See Tuesday's post: Start the conversation
Monday's post: Teen suicide
Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

Breakdown

 

Our children are being misled by information posted on social media. They mistakenly feel that everyone else is doing better than they are, that everyone else is happier than they are. It makes them feel isolated and alone like no one could possibly relate to the negative feelings or depression they're experiencing.

     I also feel like instant messaging, texting, emailing, and posting are causing all of us, and especially young people, to avoid person-to-person verbal communication. I know with our busy lives it's faster to write than to call someone, but I also know a lot of people who hide behind the written methods to avoid possible negative conversations. If we don't hear the inflections in the person's voice, then the message isn't as painful (maybe, sometimes). It's just something I think about. 

     But, back to social media. The nature of it has us posting our happiest moments, our triumphs, accomplishments. Some people post when things aren't going well, but for the most part, it's only the best of us that gets shared.

     People who are depressed and aware that their lives aren't full of those celebratory moments look at those posts and feel inadequate. Their self-esteem gets knocked down another notch. They get a little more depressed. Plus, there's online bullying and other negative forces at play.

     I don't mean to focus on the negative, but it's what a lot of our teens are going through and we need to be reminded of that once in a while. They need to be reminded that they are loved and that God created them in His image, and that He will never leave them or forsake them.

     As I sometimes go through personal struggles, this song is a reminder to be honest about how I'm feeling and to take everything to the Lord. He sees our pain. He knows we're broken. We need to take everything to Him in prayer.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV

See Tuesday's post: Start the conversation
Monday's post: Teen suicide
Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

Call upon Me

 

Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Psalm 50:15 NKJV

We're talking about teen suicide this week and praying for our youth. This pandemic is affecting them in ways that we can't fully understand. Additionally, the trials and struggles of being a teenager often make this time of life extremely difficult.  Please reach out to the teens in your life. Have a conversation with them.

See Tuesday's post: Start the conversation
Monday's post: Teen suicide

Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

Start the conversation

 

One more thing I can share from experience is if your young person is suicidal, try taking them to the ER, not the Children's hospital ER. Maybe it was just an isolated incident, but I don't feel like a loved one got the same attention at Children's for mental health (he did for physical issues) that another loved one got at a hospital ER.
     Also, please don't give up trying to talk to your children about this very important topic. I know it's frustrating. Here's an article about having those types of conversations. Click here.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 42:11 NKJV

Yesterday's post: Teen suicide

Resources:

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

CDC #BeThere campaign and suicide prevention information 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression #BeThere

Teen suicide

 

I spoke with a teacher and school counselor who confirmed what the experts have been telling us. Our kids are suffering mentally and emotionally as a result of the pandemic. Some of it is because of abuse at home, some of it because of feelings of isolation. Whatever the reason, it's a growing concern and the end result is an increase in teen suicide.

     I personally know of several people who attempted suicide during their teenage years and others who threatened it. There's nothing more devastating than to lose a child but to lose one who felt there was no other path than suicide just seems particularly cruel. For those who love and care for the child, the feeling of helplessness, the inability to sway the child to believe that everything will be okay, or to even communicate openly with him/her is such an overwhelming burden, that we don't always react to the child in a beneficial way. It's frustrating when they won't talk about what's bothering them and when they refuse help. From my own experience, it's nearly impossible to find (good) professional help for them. So what can we do? I don't know. I don't have any answers, but I am putting together some resources.

     If you interact with children in any way, please take the time to read this material from The Centers for Disease Control.

     The CDC lists these warning signs:

Feeling like a burden

Being isolated

Increased anxiety

Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

Increased substance use

Looking for a way to access lethal means

Increased anger or rage

Extreme mood swings

Expressing hopelessness

Sleeping too little or too much

Talking or posting about wanting to die

Making plans for suicide

National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784 2433)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

I don't know enough to talk about this much more than what I've shared, but I do know they need our prayers. I'll share additional resources tomorrow.

The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.

Proverbs 14:10

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are contemplating suicide. Let's pray that our Father in Heaven lighten their burdens and allow them to see that there is hope in Him. Pray that they seek help. Pray that they will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and be comforted.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #teen #suicide #pandemic #isolation #depression

You are loved

 

God our Father loves us more than we can ever know or understand. Why else would He send His only precious Son to bear His wrath for our sins?!
     While I couldn't find anything in the Bible about self-love as a good thing, I found plenty in there about our worth in God's eyes, how He loves us and protects us, and how He has a plan for us. All of these things are revealed over and over again in the Bible. If God our Creator can love us like that, and forgive us of our sins, then who are we to say that "He can't possibly love me"? Who are we to say that even though we've asked for forgiveness from Him, "I know God forgives me, but I just can't forgive myself"?
     We need to love ourselves enough to form healthy relationships with one another. We need to love ourselves enough to seek Him continually and grow in wisdom and know truth. We need to love ourselves enough to take care of these earthly bodies because they house the Holy Spirit, they are images of God. Our bodies and words and actions are pathways between the unbelievers and salvation.

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 43:4 ESV (Please read Isaiah 43:1-21)

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem #neighbor

Seek the good of your neighbor

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem #neighbor

Do everything in love

 

Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV

For we are his workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand, 

that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem

An empty heart

 

I forgot that I was going to share at least one example that, in my mind, illustrates that it's important for us to love ourselves so that we can love and care for others. (However, I do not believe that the bible tells us to put our needs before others' nor does it mean that we should love ourselves more than others.)

     Throughout my first marriage, I did not like myself. I did not love myself. In order to shield me from emotional, mental, and verbal abuse, I would beat my husband to the negative talk. Instead of waiting for him to ask, "What's wrong with you?" in that disdaining voice, I would start conversations with, "I'm sorry", or "I wasn't thinking," or "I screwed up and did or said this..." Whatever the topic, I began by putting myself down so I wouldn't have to hear him say those things, but he said them anyway. After you hear those types of statements over and over again, you begin to believe them. 

     I walked away from God a few years before I even got married, but afterward, even if I had thought to return to Him, I wouldn't have felt worthy. I had totally screwed up my life.

     I was empty and numb inside; didn't know who I was anymore. I had no sense of self-esteem or self-worth. I did still do whatever needed to be done; if someone needed my help, I was right there. Everything was out of a sense of obligation, looking for approval. None of it was because I wanted to take care of others. It was just what was necessary and it wasn't from the heart.

     What I just this second realized is that, when I returned to God, that's when things started to change for the better. The abuse didn't stop but I no longer felt so alone. I had Someone to go to and talk to. My heart changed. I still continued to berate myself, but I felt loved by God and that made a difference.

     After my husband passed away, I sought help and was blessed with smart, insightful counselors. I grew spiritually, getting reacquainted with my Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. I became a student of the Word, reading the entire bible over and over again, learning how it's one continuous book that God, in His infinite wisdom, created for our use so that we can maneuver through our time on Earth. 

I began taking care of my physical body, too, realizing what the phrase, "my body is a temple" means. The Holy Spirit lives inside of me; I need to take care of His home.

     My conclusion then is this: we need to

... love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37b-39 

     The second part of verse 39 is what many say means that we need to love ourselves in order to love others, but what I've been getting from the majority of the commentaries I've read this week is that we already love ourselves. I wanted to share three so you can make your own conclusions:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (from 1710):

There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible (from 1771)

This law supposes, that men should love themselves, or otherwise they cannot love their neighbour; not in a sinful way, by indulging themselves in carnal lusts and pleasures; some are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; but in a natural way, so as to be careful of their bodies, families, and estates; and in a spiritual way, so as to be concerned for their souls, and the everlasting happiness of them: and in like manner should men love their neighbours, in things temporal do them all the good they can, and do no injury to their persons or property; and in things spiritual pray for them, instruct them, and advise as they would their own souls, or their nearest and dearest relations. And this is to be extended to every man; though the Jews restrain it to their friend and companion, and one of their own religion,

EnduringWord.com David Guzik

It is clear enough what it means to love the LORD with all we are, though it is impossible to do perfectly. But there has been much confusion about what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. This doesn’t mean that we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else; it means that in the same way we take care of ourselves and are concerned about our own interests, we should take care and have concern for the interests of others.

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem #abuse

Children of God

 

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3:1-3 NKJV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem

Do you like yourself?

 

I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about this topic, especially Ephesians 5:29 (ESV) from yesterday's post.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

     I know that everything the bible says is true, therefore this is true. So I looked at a few commentaries this morning and none of them really explain it in a way that answers my questions about self-love, but, I did realize that I took it out of context. I try really hard to look at the surrounding text before posting a bible verse but thought this was pretty self-explanatory on its own and I was running late yesterday, so, yeah, there you go.
     The passage is about men loving their wives as Christ loves the church:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Regarding verse 29, David Guzik wrote on Enduringword.com:

Any man in his right mind is going to take care of his own flesh, even if it is just in the sense of feeding and clothing and caring for his own body. He knows that if he doesn’t, he is going to suffer for it. In the same way, once we know the Biblical fact of this unity, if we are in our right minds we will nourish and cherish our wives because she is part of us.

     What kept me awake about this verse standing on its own is that I know a handful of people who will tell you that they do not like themselves. So then I wonder, if you don't like yourself, can you still love yourself? Can you love others if you don't love yourself? Can you love Christ who created you if you don't love yourself? Or, does it keep you from accepting Christ's love? Does it chisel a void between you and others, you and Him? These are things I'm looking into. (If you have any thoughts on any of this, drop me a comment, or IM me, or email or text, etc...) While I research this, remember always:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem

Self-love

 

This week's topic may feel uncomfortable. I believe it's a topic that we as Christians avoid, especially women, but one that the rest of society seems to put way too much emphasis on. I'm talking about self-love.

     I started to research this just this morning and quickly realized that I'm not going to be able to talk about it until I delve much deeper. So, I started looking at other topics but that just didn't feel right, like maybe God wanted me to stick to this topic.

     What I can do is tell you how this came about. 

- I'm a weight watchers member. One of the topics lately has been self-care, such as avoiding negative self-talk, finding time in our day to do what we need to do to care for ourselves, whether that's exercising, meditation, meal prep,...This past weekend there was a WW virtual event with Oprah. A lot of what was said made me feel uncomfortable because it's not what the bible says, but on the other hand, I was able to take what was said and apply the bible to it. One of the topics was guilt.

- Sunday's sermon was on John 8:1-11 and Pastor Brian talked about "surrender to Jesus' authority." He said that we need to seek forgiveness from Jesus and not let shame and guilt keep us from doing that. We can't let ourselves get caught up in the thinking that our guilt and shame should keep us from Christ. We can't fix it; only He can. 

- Finally, yesterday was Valentine's Day. A day about love. It can be Valentine's, Galentine's, or Palentine's Day - whatever kind of love you chose to celebrate. However, it was also a bittersweet day for my daughters and me and for my in-laws because it was the 10-year anniversary of my husband's passing.

     This past weekend was just a jumbled pot of emotions and self-reflection and that's how I came up with this week's topic. There are several bible verses that warn of self-love as a bad thing (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5), and I get that. But, I'm also a proponent of the idea that we need to love ourselves in order to be able to love and care for others. I can share examples of this tomorrow.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, 

but nourishes and cherishes it, 

just as Christ does the church, 

Ephesians 5:29 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for our individual selves and for us as the collective Church. May we realize our worth and responsibilities as children of God, being created in His image. May we go to Him even in the midst of our guilt and shame so that He may forgive us of our sins, help us to be more Christlike, and grow in our faith and obedience.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #selflove #self #shame #guilt #selfesteem

Strength of my heart

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, 

but God is the strength of my heart and 

my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy

Be comforted

 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy

Everything Has Its Time

 What do you see?

I just love the above image by Ajay kumar Singh, so I wanted to find a place for it here.* It's titled "Love Our Planet" but I get so much more out of it than that. I see that we're just visitors on this planet and in this life; in essence, we're just passing through on our way to our eternal home. I see the vastness of God's creation and how small we are in comparison. I see that He made the stars and planets and mountains and fields for our enjoyment; so that we can see His presence, His majesty and power and glory all around us, every single day. I see that He made light and darkness to show us the polarity of good and evil.

     All of this made me think of God's Sovereignty over all things and His perfect timing. And that, made me think of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which in 'turn' (pun --->) made me think of "Turn, Turn, Turn" by The Byrds. Below, you'll find a video with the bible references as subtitles. 

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

*I downloaded it from a free (& royalty-free) image sharing website, Pixabay. 

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #time #sovereignty #GodsPlan #planet #universe

Distress from grief

 

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

Psalm 31:9-10 ESV

I encourage you to take refuge in the Lord. Spend time with Him. Talk with Him and listen.

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy #covid-19 #disease

What's the plan?

 

There was an article in the Dayton Daily News that supports my "theory" about there being so many more deaths in the past year than in previous years. It turns out, 2020 was the deadliest year in at least the past 25 years for diseases other than Covid, although, they think it's possible that circumstances of the pandemic may have indirectly led to more deaths. You can read the article here for more information.
     So, I wondered what this means as far as the Church? Is God calling more of His children home because it's the start of the end? Is He trying to get our attention and remind us of our purpose here? I don't know. We can't know. But, what we do know is what the Bible tells us...(paraphrasing here)
     - We're to be ready
     - We're to be sharing the Good News
     - We're to be praying and in the word
     - God is sovereign over all things, so we don't need to worry or be anxious because He's in control and everything happens according to His plan.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy #covid-19 #disease

Grieving

 

I'm sure I've talked about the 5 stages of grief before: Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, and Acceptance. Other models are out there, one that includes Shock and Testing, and one that's diagramed below.

But, I came across this quote that I think is the best theory of all:

“There are really only two stages of grief, ... who you were before and who you are after.”

Ted Rynearson

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 ESV

See also: 

Widows

Compassion and grief

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy #covid-19 #disease

Grief and sorrow

 

I wanted to thank everyone who's been praying for my cousin, Stephanie. It's with a heavy heart that I share she passed away last Tuesday. For the past week, I've been writing in my journal about what she went through and what she must have been going through. I've looked up what a CPAP/BiPAP machine is, what an airvo machine is. I've researched what all is involved to be intubated on a ventilator, to be on dialysis, and to have a feeding tube. I've looked at diagrams and images of all of these things because that's what Stephanie went through for four weeks before her heart just couldn't take it anymore.

     Stephanie is now the second person I know to have died from COVID. Yet, there are still many people who don't believe that it's "that bad." Last week I checked the numbers and 2,240,000 people have died from this disease worldwide. Whether you believe the actual numbers or not, it's still astronomical.

     In the past year, I've lost friends and family to heart attacks, pneumonia, cancer, and covid. The number of deaths seems to be disproportional to any other year, so I would like to take this week to pray for everyone who is grieving. I'm specifically praying today for the friends and families of Robert, Chloe, Sheila, Shanda, Tim, and Stephanie; I know I'm missing several others.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they find comfort in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and may they rest in God's sovereignty over all things.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #grief #death #comfort #mercy #covid-19 #disease

Blessing and righteousness

 

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalm 24:3-5 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth #discernment

Be a doer

 

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

James 1:22-24 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth #discernment

Are you deceived?

 

We had an absolutely awesome discussion last night at women's group! I am so thankful for these Sisters in Christ and their openness and honesty. I'm thankful for their stories and thoughts and beliefs. Our topic was God's love. In that discussion, I shared something that made me think of our topic here this week. 

     I have lost so many people in the past twelve months, brothers and sisters in Christ, and now this week, I lost a dear, sweet cousin. Clearly, God is calling His children home, but with each one, I get a little more despondent. I try to rest in the knowledge that they're in Heaven, they're with Christ. They're no longer in pain. But, my selfish heart can't help but ask God, "Why? Why so many? I prayed for each one so hard. Did You not hear me? How many more are You going to take?"

     I feel defeated, like why even bother to pray? I feel like that, yet I'm still having a constant conversation with Him. After all, He's my Father, my Confidant, and even my Friend. He's the only One who truly gets me. He's seen me at my worst and yet, continues to love me. At some point in the conversation yesterday morning, He gave me a sign and I knew He was listening to me and my concerns and my struggles. Without even thinking, I immediately changed the conversation to one of praise and worship. A burden was lifted from me and I felt lighter and at peace. It was then that I realized, I had been deceived by Satan. Satan had been pulling me down, making me question God's sovereignty and His will. It's so easy to get pulled away from Jesus in times of hardship because that's when Satan has an easy in. He fills our minds with doubt. 

     I'm so thankful that God didn't let me linger in that deception, that He let me know that He heard me and will always hear my prayers. I have to continue to understand that even if He doesn't give me the answers I want, He does hear me. He knows the big picture and I don't. Everything works to His plan, so don't let Satan fill you with doubt whenever things don't go your way. God loves you.

 

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth #discernment

Test the spirits

 

The last time I was in college (2014) we were taught how to be discerning when it comes to believing the information we find online. So if we were looking up information about energy, for example, and found a website about coal... Before using that information as a reliable reference, we should ask some questions:

Who is publishing the website?

Do they have a vested interest in swaying our opinion one way or another?

How current is the information?

Do other resources back it up?

     I think we can, and should apply this same thinking when it comes to our religious education. Before believing what Pastor So & So says, we should ask ourselves:

Is it biblical? 

Who does the Pastor associate with? 

What has he said outside of his publicized sermons? 

What do other "legitimate" religious leaders think and say about his teachings? 

Does everything he preach leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling? (The answer to the last question should be "no.")

     In the past, I've hesitated to correct people who believe these false prophets because I didn't feel like I had all the answers. I now regret those missed opportunities. We don't have to have all of the answers, we just have to know truth. The way we learn truth is by being in the word. If you know someone who is caught up with a false teacher, please talk to them. There are many books on the subject that you can share with them. 

One I shared on Monday, "Defining Deception" by Costi W. Hinn and Anthony G. Wood. 

The Netflix documentary, "American Gospel" which features Costi Hinn.

There's also "A Strange Fire" by John MacArthur which is about the charismatic movement and how it got started.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth #discernment

Act faithfully

 

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 12:22 ESV

Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

Psalm 52:2 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth

Reap what you sow

 

There's actually a whole lot in the bible about deception. These two verses, I believe, go along with what I was talking about yesterday as far as the prosperity gospel and the false prophets. Our treasures are not monetary. Our true treasures are not here; they're in the next life.
     One "joke" (or meme, or truth) circulating is: 'You never see a UHaul hitched to the back of a hearse.' As one who is constantly dealing with my "stuff", it really hits home how futile it is. I've been downsizing for 7 years, and still counting, realizing that all of the things I've been clinging to for the past couple of decades aren't memorabilia if I don't remember I have them.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth

False prophets

 

Honestly, I came up with this week's topic because my husband won a book this weekend at a men's conference titled, "Defining Deception." It's by Costi W. Hinn and Anthony G. Wood and is similar to the Netflix documentary, "American Gospel" which features Costi Hinn. (I may have talked about it last year.)

     We are easily deceived, whether we like to admit it or not. Satan deceived Eve in the Garden by casting doubt, and he continues to use that approach, and others, with us today. We want to believe the things that make us feel good about our decisions in life.

    My heart goes out to those who fall for the prosperity gospel teachings because they believe they're saved. They believe they're going to heaven. They're financially supporting the false prophets who lead them astray. It just boils my blood. They need our prayers.

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

Genesis 3:4 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 

2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV

*********

Please join me this week in praying for those who are deceived. Let's pray for God to give them (and us) wisdom and discernment and to guard them (and us) against false teaching. Let's also pray for God to change the hearts of the false teachers and burden them to share truth. Also, pray for God's encouragement and guidance for us to know and share truth with those who are deceived and to help us speak with conviction when we share His word.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #BibleVerses #bible #prosperitygospel #deception #lies #truth