It took me way to many years to overcome feelings of being ugly, unlovable, unwanted and insecure. My worth was based on the approval of others and their acceptance of me rather than on the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

What transformed me is studying and memorizing scripture passages that tell me who I am in Christ. Realizing God’s abounding steadfast love and mercy for me which caused Him to send His only son to die on a cross and resurrected to pay the penalty for all my sin (John 3:16) and wrongdoing once and for all.

Wise counsel was shared with me to study who God says I am and focus on pleasing an audience of one – the One Holy God. That was the beginning of my transforming from fearful and insecure to realizing I am loved with an everlasting and redeeming love.

Ephesians 1:3-10 was the passage I lived in and still often review. It lists many of the things I am in Christ.

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:3-10

Here is a list of things this passage tells me about myself as follower of Christ:

• I am blessed with every spiritual blessing
• I am chosen by God before the creation of the world.
• Chosen to be holy and blameless in God’s sight.
• I am loved!
• I am predestined.
• I am adopted as God’s child through faith in Jesus Christ!!
• I am Blessed in the Beloved because of Christ’s glorious grace not something I earn.
• I am redeemed!
• I am forgiven!
• He lavishes grace on me.
• He makes known to me the mystery of His will.
• I am united to Christ!

How can we not realize how loved, precious and cared for we are by God when we take these truths to heart?! For me, I had to retrain my thinking by frequently reading this passage a few times a day for months to get these truths to make new ruts in my thinking to undo past wrong thinking of being unlovable, unwanted and and ugly. Thankfully, I had a godly counselor that helped me overcome this.

If you too struggle with self image, please begin searching God’s Word for who He says you are. This Ephesians passage is a good one to begin with. There are other passages that have helped me I will continue to share in future posts.

Dear readers, may each of you realize how blessed, chosen, loved and cared for you are by Jesus Christ who gave His life for you.

Blessings,

Deb

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris 1880

We recently downsized and I am evaluating what are the things in my life that detract from the passions, gifts and purposes God has for my life. I am considering quotes like this but adding a Christian perspective. I have tweaked William Morris’ quote to fit my viewpoint. “Have nothing in my home that I do not consider useful or believe to be beautiful or helps me to fully pursue and glorify God.”

“Have nothing in my home that I do not consider useful or believe to be beautiful or helps me to fully pursue and glorify God.”

I am pondering that and looking to rid my life of what detracts from the pursuit of and glorification of God. What things or events detract from this? How do I best use my time and energy to fulfill that? What things need edited from my life? What things are good and need given more time and attention? Are there things or disciplines I am missing I need to add to my life?

We have downsized and are preparing our home for aging in place before we are too old to do that. Also making it safe for me with my chemical sensitivity from Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) as well as serving me with my multiple chronic health issues. A smaller home takes less time and energy to clean but quickly looks cluttered if too many extra things. My spirit is calmer and more focused when my home is not in chaos or disorder. That may be due partly to my ADD tendencies. So I am prayerfully trying to decide what things to sell, donate or bless others with and what truly serves us and helps us serve and honor God.

I am an artistic and creative soul and beauty greatly speaks to me so could never be an austere minimalist. God has made me/ us in His image and part of His image as creator is His putting creativity within us. God has gifted some more than others. I know being creative in home decor, garden design, painting, sewing quilting and writing poetry is something I will continue. My big take away is what things do I edit in my life to allow for those times as well as God’s purposes?

Below are some of my recent projects:

In the spring of 2011 I was waiting three months to discover if I had acute leukemia and would have months to live or a chronic blood cancer that would alter my life but not shorten it. God made used a series of events and spoke to me in my heart in a very dramatic way. He made it clear to me that regardless of my circumstances or health I needed to be a woman of joy and gratitude who is engaged in others around me. I began then to practice gratitude daily and each morning recount at least three things I am grateful for today. I also pray each morning that God will enable me to be a woman of joy. For the most part He has answered those prayers. If my joy were based on circumstances instead of God I would most likely become a bitter and complaining woman. For more about this read my blog post “The Choice.”

https://joyfulrefuge.com/2017/03/23/the-choice/

Noticing the simple joys around me daily helps me foster my joy and gratitude to God. Watching antics of a puppy, seeing God’s handiwork in the spring beauty all around, sharing laughter or a hug with a loved one, watching a sunset, visiting in person (a rare thing in this pandemic while being immunocompromised) and praying with a sister in Christ or watching a bumblebee flitting around pollinating blossoms all are joy filled and satisfying and point me to God.

This week I have been creating beauty and usefulness outdoors as plant flowers and our raised bed organic garden. I find some of my best times of conversing with God in prayer and contemplating what changes are needed in my life happen while my hands are working in the soil.

In my quiet times, I am researching what God desires of me in scriptures and journaling. I need to know what I am to do and keep in my life before I can do much editing. I have another three weeks in my month long break between leading Bible studies and my fasting from most social media to discover more what my life will look like. Over the next weeks hoping to include some conversations with my husband as his godly wisdom and insight is so valuable and he knows me better than anybody except God.

Have you edited things to better enable you to fully pursue God and glorify Him? What things did you remove or add to your life? I would love to hear your answers.

Blessings,

Deb

I recently viewed a post on social media where a woman was asking for prayer for her and husband who are counseling a couple with a deviant lifestyle that ran counter to Biblical principles. What was interesting is how many people suggested blasting them with how wrong were and how few expressed offering love and grace.

It made me consider how Jesus responded to people. He ate with sinners even prostitutes and tax collectors which were considered the lowest of the low in that day. Respectable people would not be seen with them let alone sit down and eat a meal with them. Jesus had words of healing, hope and encouragement for the lost. He built up relationships with them and did not blast them with condemnation. He compassionately saw their needs and hurts and He longed to gather them up in his arms like a mother hen with its chicks. He was the Good Shepherd who left the 99 in the sheep pen to go and search for the one that was lost to lovingly carry it home.

Jesus behaved much differently with the hypocritical, religious leaders of His day. He confronted them and called them out on their behavior and heart attitudes. He called them a brood of vipers and white washed tombs. He saw their pride and self sufficiency and their putting unbearable loads on the people. He reminds them a Doctor doesn’t come to the well but the sick and needy.

How often do I, do we, come across judgmental or harsh with those who need Jesus Christ? How often do our words and actions drive them away from our loving, merciful Christ and the gospel? Or do we break through barriers by showing mercy, compassion and kindness and be a winsome witness to the truth of Christ in you, the hope of glory? I was reminded of what I once heard a pastor say, “We can not expect the lost to live like believers. But we should encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to live for him.”

Today our world is hurting and so easily offended. How much more need is there now, more than ever, for Christ’s people to be peaceable, full of love, compassion, mercy and grace. Living that way in stark contrast to the world makes us a powerful and winsome witness of the glorious grace of Jesus within us. Let’s be that kind of salt and light.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
– Romans 12:15-18

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

Our world is full of so many tumultuous things. There is rampant anger, division, ethnic tension, partiality, political differences and upheaval, economic woes and physical losses associated with a pandemic. How do we as people of faith live in this world today? Lord, how should we approach life at the beginning of 2021?

I recently began asking the Lord how do I live as His child in this current world? And the message that came loud and clear repeatedly through His Word was, “Trust“.

I began studying Bible verses and passages on trust. As I did began seeing a theme or pattern emerging. I need to trust God with all details on my life and let Him direct rather than rely on my puny strength or limited understanding.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. – Proverbs 3:5-8

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. – Psalm 37:3-5

As I studied these passages, I found the Hebrew word for trust is “galal” and means to roll, roll away , trust. As Charles Spurgeon wrote in his Treasury of David on Psalms 37 passage we are to “roll the whole burden of life into the Lord.”

So as I live in today’s world this passages showed me several things I can do which all relate to surrender and relationship with God.

1. Trust God

– Do I roll into Him all my burdens, cares, fears, business, relationships, desires and needs?

2. Acknowledge God in all my ways

– Do I acknowledge His presence and power in every step of my life?

– Do I seek God’s guidance and leading for each area and every day?

– Are my plans based on what God is leading me to do or what glorifies Him or just on my own selfish desires?

I know I have much room for growth and change with all these questions. I pray 2021 will help my grow much in those areas.

Has God given you a word or focus for 2021? I would love to hear it.

Blessings,

Deb

P.S. Oops! This post was done in early January and got left in my drafts rather than my publishing it.

I am an artistic soul who loves creating and beauty and the idea of minimalism never appealed to me. I think I always viewed it as stark, cold, sterile and uncreative. I read an article on minimalism lately that had a quote that got me considering it differently.

This quote comes from Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist from his book The Minimalist Home:

“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.”

As a Christian, I can see so many ways this can apply. What things or activities distract me from worshipping and serving God fully? What are the passions and gifts God has given me and what things are extras that detract from growing those? What things benefit me for being intentional in promoting my love and service to God and using the gifts and talents he has given me? What things detract from those?

I have been pondering these much in my heart and am not sure all that it will entail yet. I do think one area is what do I spend my time on, does it glorify God or have eternal value or am I wasting the days God has given me?

Once I begin identifying those time wasters I am praying God reveals to me what things and activities I need to be rid of to simplify my life to promote the things I most value and God most values for me.

At this point I am not sure what all this will mean but am looking forward to God revealing things to me and making it clear. I am praying for His Holy Spirit to guide me and show me how to simplify my life to more fully embrace things of eternal value. I know I want plenty of seats around my table and dishes needed to practice hospitality as well as enough living room seating to host small groups and Bible studies and we will want a place for guests to stay in our home. So I am seeking what God has called us to and how to best fulfill that by diminishing unnecessary distractions. I am not looking to make a stark empty home that hinders loving and serving others. In several months or a year I will update on what that will mean for us.

Here are some resources I am reading that are looking into minimalism from a Christian perspective :

4 Ways Minimalism Reshaped My Christian Faith

5 Tips from a Christian Minimalist to Simplify and Focus on What Really Matters

Minimalism Is Not the Gospel